During 2024, North Coast NSW PHN (Healthy North Coast) provided additional funding to our care finder team in that region to undertake a range of activities to build the team’s cultural competency in First Nations engagement. The team worked with BANAAM, a First Nations training and consultancy service based in Bundjalung country who supported the team to apply a cultural lens to all their activities including our promotional information. This included the role and importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in establishing a connection to community through its expression of identity, culture, spirituality and relationships to Country.
Tywana Caldwell (Nunj), First Nations artist in Northern New South Wales (NSW), Bunjalung Country was approached to create artwork that would speak to local elders and people requiring aged care services.
This piece highlights commitment for our ageing population. It recognises and appreciates our elders in a way that represents their knowledge, wisdom, inclusiveness, and strength.
The middle flowing channel depicts changing and evolving times for the older generation, the outside circles on either side of the channel represent their families and communities. Four hands symbolise support from Footprints Community and services which are provided to support our elders which include Ageing, NDIS, Mental Health, Community and Homelessness. The green meeting symbols represent Footprints Community locations throughout NSW and Queensland.
