NADA in partnership with Health Infrastructure NSW instigated a creative collaboration with Aboriginal Community in Goulburn resulting in a number of art pieces for the redeveloped Goulburn Hospital. This was achieved through consultation with local Elders, Pejar Local Aboriginal Land Council, Mulwaree Aboriginal Organisation, Southern Tablelands Arts, and key community stakeholders.

Central to this project were the Aboriginal community engagement meetings where key decisions were made collaboratively regarding culturally appropriate themes and locations for the artworks. 

There were three main opportunities for artwork in this project:

The internal stair, a repeated motif for the external stair at the Emergency entrance and a large feature artwork for the main entry of the hospital. For the internal stair artwork NADA worked with local high schools and their Aboriginal students to create a unique collaborative design. Each artist selected to have their artwork included in the final design were acknowledged and paid for the use of their work. A motif from an artwork by one of those youth artists was selected to be cut into Corten steel on the external stair creating a larger-than-life representation of a meeting place.

This design was licensed by Health Infrastructure for use in multiple areas within the hospital precinct with Brock being paid an additional license fee for his work.

Seeing my artwork come to life has given me more motivation to continue my artwork and strive to learn more about my culture.”

Brock Chudleigh

The main entry artwork was a collaborative piece facilitated by artist Monica Bridge. Monica was selected through an expression of interest and selection process to work with community in development of the theme for the artwork and to support with what culturally significant animals, flowers, and landscapes were to be included.

Photo credit: Images courtesy of Health Infrastructure