A set of specially commissioned Aboriginal artworks has been unveiled by the Tasmania Department of Health at a southern dental care centre.
The artworks are the product of a partnership between Public Health Services and the Department of Health's outreach health services initiative TAZREACH.
The collaboration, which began in 2022, saw the inception of the Health nayri project, which commissioned a Tasmanian Aboriginal artist to create artwork reflecting "Health Nayri", meaning "good health" in Palawa Kani language.
A call for submissions saw prominent Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Takira Simon-Brown selected from six submissions.
Ms Simon-Brown's Health Nayri tell a story of mob coming together to heal.
The three artworks, designed as individual pieces but can also be displayed side-by-side as a triptych, incorporate Tasmanian Aboriginal imagery including a healing hire, native hens representing exercise, raspberries and blackberries representing bush tucker, good foods and medical plants.
Water also runs through each of the three artworks to acknowledge the waters of life, cleanliness, and resource, and a bark canoe represents mob coming from across the rivers and oceans returning to communal healings.
Secretary of the Department of Health, Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, said improving cultural visibility within Tasmanian health services is a priority of Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
"The commissioning of the Health Nayri artworks is one initiative to increase cultural visibility and create safe and welcoming environments for Aboriginal people,'' Ms Morgan-Wicks said.
"As a Department, we are committed to providing a culturally respectful health system for Aboriginal people in Tasmania, and making a positive impact on the health, wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal people in Tasmania.
The opening of the new artworks, which are now displayed at Oral Health Services Tasmania's Southern Dental Centre in New Town, was attended by Takira Simon-Brown, representatives from Tasmanian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Tasmanian health leaders, and representatives of Public Health Services, TAZREACH and Oral Health Services Tasmania.
The TAZREACH programs aim to improve health outcomes for all Tasmanians by supporting various health professionals to provide outreach services across the State, especially to people living in rural and remote communities.
Many of the programs aim to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal communities through improved coordination of services and linkages between Aboriginal organisations and the range of services available.
In addiction to the artworks, the Department of Health has also introduced Health Nayri template resources that are available for Department of Health staff to use.
