Radiation Oncology depicted the Aboriginal Dreamtime story of ‘The Birth of the Butterflies’ as a way of showing commitment to recognising and celebrating the history and culture of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, their families and our team members.
15 July 2022
In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2022, all areas in Canberra Health Services were invited to participate in a NAIDOC Week Decorating Competition.
After much deliberation from the panel of judges, the team in Radiation Oncology have been dubbed the winners. Thanks to the Canberra Hospital Foundation, they will receive $1,000 to spend on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artwork to display in their area.
The team told the Aboriginal Dreamtime story of ‘The Birth of the Butterflies’ as a way of showing commitment to recognising and celebrating the history and culture of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, their families and our team members.
Radiation Oncology received positive feedback from an Aboriginal patient, who stopped to take photos of the display to share with his family. He told the team he was so impressed with the team for celebrating Aboriginal culture and loved how the Dreamtime story was told through the decorations.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Service Manager and organiser of the NAIDOC Decorating Competition, Joyce Graham, was pleased with the feedback.
‘Hearing this type of feedback is the whole reason why we have the competition.
‘I feel honoured this competition is helping to make our health service more culturally inclusive.’
Special thanks to the other participants in the competition:
- Pharmacy
- Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit
- Breast Screen ACT
- Cotter Ward at UCH
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