Aboriginal artwork welcomes patients to the FSH ED
Pictured Turtles in the Water with Stars by Artist Linda Loo alongside the ED Aboriginal Cultural and Safety working group
Fiona Stanley Hospital’s (FSH) Emergency Department (ED) is now adorned with Aboriginal artwork donated by local artists to assist in creating a welcoming and culturally safe environment for Aboriginal patients attending the ED.
Linda Lee Loo, a Noongar artist from Western Australia, has displayed her piece ‘Turtles in the Water with Stars’ in the ED main corridor. The story of Linda’s artwork is described in her own words below.
In the quiet depths of the river, where the water cradles ancient secrets, turtles glide gracefully.
Teir shells, like polished stones, bear the weight of time.
Each ripple they create is a whispered memory, a dance with the currents.
Above them, the stars twinkle in a celestial waltz.
They are not mere pinpricks of light; they are storytellers.
The Noongar people have woven their tales into the constellations-the Dreamtime etched across the night sky.
The Milky Way, a river of stardust, mirrors the earthy rivers below.
Other art displayed include ‘Soak wells’ by Artist Jackie Craigie and ‘Nannup’, by artist W Foiger.
The artwork has been coordinated by the ED Aboriginal Cultural and Safety working group and the Aboriginal Strategy team, who are working to improve health outcomes and reduce ‘did not wait’ incidents for Aboriginal patients.
FSH Emergency Department Associate Nurse Unit Manager, Kate Papaphotis said that in addition to the cultural competency training undertaken by health care workers, the artworks contribute to the creation of a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal people to seek emergency care.
"We are very grateful to Linda, and the other artists for the incredible contribution of their artwork and culture to the hospital ED, thank you to all involved," Kate said.
This NAIDOC Week, we’re reiterating our commitment to provide culturally safe and excellent care to Aboriginal people.
