Summary
Kidney Services at PA Hospital have introduced two new shirts showcasing a commitment to cultural safety.
The Aboriginal shirt and the Torres Strait Islander shirt reinforce the identity of each culture making both feel seen and heard.
The project has worked in partnership with community representatives to reinforce trust, relationship and culturally responsive care.
The team in Kidney Services at PA Hospital have made a safety statement with style after introducing two new shirts for the team.
The Aboriginal shirt and the Torres Strait Islander shirt are now a wardrobe feature for the multidisciplinary team who are committed to cultural safety for their growing cohort of First Nations patients.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Kidney Health Worker at PAH, Annika Frew said the care we provide needs to recognise and respect a person’s identity, culture and experiences.
“When we think of cultural safety, it is where an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person walks into a room and they feel safe; they feel heard and supported,” she said.
“The shirts are a visual representation of cultural safety. When members of our community see the shirts we are wearing, they see family, they see mob, they see a community coming together.”
The team members who are non-indigenous are also wearing the shirts which makes a strong statement of connection and cultural safety before patients have even interacted with the team.
“It is visually representing that mob can feel safe in a large hospital which can be a scary space,” Annika said.
While a simple concept, the shirts have involved a long journey of development with Gary Torrens and Brett Mooney commissioning the artwork and seeking approval by the Yuggera Elder, Uncle Steven Coghill. Cultural endorsement of the final product was also endorsed through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Kidney Transplant Reference Group which is made up of members who have been transplanted at PAH.
From there, a cultural brief was shared with the team to articulate the meaning of both prints; how they represent culture, and how the community can feel safe through visual identity.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Kidney Health Workers at PAH, Brett Mooney and Annika Frew are building cultural safety by prioritising trust, building relationships, showcasing that PAH has a culturally responsive workforce including representatives from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
“To our community, someone wearing artwork that represents their culture is someone that gets it,” she said. “It is a visual cue that it is a safe space to ask questions.”
About the shirts
- Queensland is the state that services majority of both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
- The team shirts are not a merger of both identities. They individually represent each culture which was important for cultural safety and making both cultures feel seen and heard.
- Our health services put these cultural elements in the centre of our business, in partnership with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and community organisations.
Torres Strait Islander Artwork by Deb Thaiday
This artwork is a story of physical, spiritual and emotional health. It speaks of the connection between body and nature, creation and spirit. Life within the waters gives itself to nourish life on the land producing health and prosperity for all. The story of this artwork celebrates the endless provision of the ‘Life Giver’.
Aboriginal Artwork by Charlie Waters
The centre piece symbolises our people both men and women. The tools represent strength and innovation when it comes to healing. Boomerangs – Digging sticks – Coolamons. Our totems from our environments are spiritual elements that show we are cared for during tough times. The rainbow serpent shows us that our culture is well connected wherever we walk.