Max Westwood
The NAIDOC Week celebrations at Northern Health began on July 8 with a didgeridoo performance by Matthew Weegberg, followed by a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri elder, Uncle Perry Wandin, at the entrance to the hospital.
In his opening address, Northern Health chief allied health officer Associate Professor Jason Cirone spoke about how the hospital is a safe space for all cultures.
“At Northern Health, our vision is to be a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities feel welcomed in a culturally safe environment, ensuring that our services are culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of our Aboriginal community,” he said.
Northern Health staff have also had the opportunity to participate in a range of activities during NAIDOC Week, including Aboriginal art classes and Aboriginal culture and history sessions.
Northern Health Aboriginal liason officer Toni Gabelish relayed the importance of inclusivity during NAIDOC Week.
“During NAIDOC week, we all come together and share our histories, cultures and celebrations and we invite all of Australia to be part of this, all of the allies, anyone trying to learn about the culture, to come together and celebrate with us,” he said.
