Celebrating Aboriginal culture
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Stage 2 Redevelopment (the Redevelopment) project team is committed to honouring and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and language in the hospital.
Roberts Co, the builders of the new Paediatric Services Building, invited Uncle Brendan Kerin, an Arrernte and Barkindji Elder and prominent member of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, to visit the project team. Uncle Brendan shared stories demonstrated the use and purpose of traditional tools and performed the Yidaki (Didgeridoo).
The project has actively involved Aboriginal stakeholders to ensure Aboriginal voices and cultural perspectives shape the Redevelopment.
"I am proud of the project's comprehensive efforts since inception. It's crucial that we collaborate closely with our Aboriginal community and staff to establish a welcoming environment."
Caleb Tah, Senior Project Director - The Children's Hospital at Westmead Stage 2 Redevelopment
Planting with purpose
The Redevelopment features a vibrant Aboriginal Gathering Space thanks to the planting efforts from many helpful hands in the garden of our new forecourt.
The gathering space will provide an area for families, staff and visitors to come together, connect to an indoor meeting place and the Aboriginal Health office after the Paediatric Services Building opens.
"I enjoyed helping with the Acknowledgement of Country and digging up the dirt. I hope the garden will be used as a place where people can learn about my culture, kids can enjoy the outside and where mob can yarn."
Vula, 10-year-old patient at Westmead
The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network is working to create spaces where Aboriginal families, staff and communities can feel connected and comfortable in our health facilities.
Once complete, the revitalised forecourt will feature a fresh food grocer, additional retail fit outs, and be a vibrant, welcoming space for the whole hospital community.
Karen Beetson, Director of Aboriginal Health - Sydney Children's Hospitals Network“Incorporating cultural healing practices alongside clinical interventions is an integral part of Aboriginal Care Navigator Joshua Toomey’s role within the team. I will have the privilege of watching these plants grow along with our cultural responsiveness of our services to our community's needs. It’s heartening to see how we are changing our hospitals and incorporating more cultural practices, art and language to support patients, families and visitors to connect with country.”
Engaging Indigenous-owned businesses
Since 2022, the building contractors has engaged over 20 Indigenous-owned businesses to help deliver the new Paediatric Services Building, multi-storey car park, ‘KidsPark’ forecourt and refurbishment programs within the existing hospital.
The project has spent over $5 million on Indigenous-owned businesses, representing the direct spend on employment, subcontracting or purchases with Indigenous-owned businesses – contributing to the project’s Aboriginal Participation in Construction targets.
The strong numbers represent Health Infrastructure’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Aboriginal people, which has positive flow-on effects to their communities.
The project’s commitment to Aboriginal procurement is helping to lift diversity within the supply chain and allow the project to benefit from the expert services and professionalism of Indigenous-owned businesses.
Early works contractor Ford Civil Contracting exceeded its Aboriginal procurement commitment on the project by nearly 300 percent.
The project procured from businesses such as Bamal Projects and Orana for traffic controllers, labourers and amenities services, and with First Nations owned and led waste management companies Djruwa and Indigi Bins to help remove construction waste to make way for the new 8 storey car park.
“Participating in projects like the redevelopment shows respect for their knowledge and beliefs, enabling inclusivity and teamwork. Collaboration with Indigenous-owned enterprises can help them take on larger projects and extend their services, boosting economic growth.”
Beaudie Cullen, Bamal Projects
The project’s support is also contributing to better long-term outcomes for Aboriginal people and businesses. Bamal Projects provided driving lessons to Indigenous people to make them safer drivers, increase employment opportunities, and enable the purchase of equipment for boxing classes as part of their mentoring program.
The project remains committed to the social, cultural, and economic contribution of the Aboriginal community through to completion in 2025 and beyond.
Contact us
Phone: (02) 9978 5401
Email: NSWH-HI-Kids@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Westmead Hospital, Corner Hawkesbury Road and Darcy Road, Westmead NSW 2145
Post: Locked Mail Bag 2030, St Leonards, NSW 1590