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Walk on Country held at site of new Shellharbour Hospital


Monday 29 November 2021

On Tuesday 16 November, Health Infrastructure in partnership with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) held a Walk on Country event at the proposed site for the $700 million-plus development of the new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project.  

Walking on Country is an important step in gaining an understanding of the stories and heritage of the land from local Aboriginal communities. 

Facilitated by Yerrabingin, an Indigenous consultancy specialising in collaborative opportunities for Indigenous communities, the event brought together about 50 people from Aboriginal communities, the ISLHD’s Aboriginal Health Workers and the project architects Cox-STH.  

A Welcome to Country was performed by Uncle Gee and Dr Jodi Edwards, where Jodi sang three songs for guests. This was followed by a walk to the highest point of the site where the importance of landscape and nature in the design of a hospital was discussed. 

Luke Worth, General Manager of Shellharbour Hospital, said the event was important to better understand the land where the hospital is proposed and to start important conversations with local Aboriginal groups about the health priorities and models of care for their communities. 

“We’re at a very fortunate stage of the project where input from local communities can inform the design and models of care in the new hospital,” Mr Worth said. 

“The New Shellharbour Hospital provides the district with a great opportunity to engage and improve health outcomes for local Aboriginal communities – an incredibly important task for us all.”  

“Thank you to the New Shellharbour and Shoalhaven Hospital Aboriginal Advisory Committee along with the SIHG Aboriginal Advisory Committee for their advice and support for this important event.”  

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