An award-winning First Nations artist has been selected as the first to be featured in the arts program for the Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment.

The work of proud Gunai woman, Kirli Saunders OAM, will be featured throughout the hospital redevelopment’s main entrance. It will pay homage to Country, including the much-loved blackbutt tree on the hospital’s grounds.

Shoalhaven Hospital General Manager, Frank Brazik, said the artwork will integrate natural, cultural and architectural elements to connect staff, patients and visitors with Country, culture, and community. 

“We are thrilled to have Kirli contribute to the Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment. Her work will add to the creation of a welcoming, culturally safe and supportive health facility to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for our staff, patients and their families,” Mr Bazik said.

“We are all excited to see Kirli’s artwork come to life as we draw closer to the completion of the hospital redevelopment project.”

Saunders was appointed to commission the artwork via a culturally informed competitive tender process and advice from local Aboriginal stakeholders. She is the first of several artists who will be invited to contribute to the Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment as part of the NSW Government’s Arts in Health program.

The initiative integrates arts into NSW Health capital works to create engaging public health spaces and improve clinical health and wellbeing outcomes. The program supports spaces for First Nations culture by providing opportunities for First Nations artists and organisations, with projects founded in community engagement and consultation.

“I’m really looking forward to designing this work for the Shoalhaven Hospital,” Kirli Saunders OAM said.

“I am a proud Gunai artist with family connections to this area. I'm excited to offer a culturally informed process and create a work that reflects the values and stories of local First Nations communities.”

As part of her work, Kirli Saunders will meet with local stakeholders to provide an opportunity for feedback on the design and to ensure the artwork reflects cultural values of local communities and environment.

The artwork commission process saw several local artists submit their concepts to the project’s Arts Working Group, which   includes representatives from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, local creative organisations Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Bundanon and South Coast Arts along with Health Infrastructure and community representatives.

When the redevelopment is complete, the Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment will become the major health hub for the region, providing emergency, critical care, acute, sub-acute and non-admitted health services locally, reducing the need to transfer patients to Wollongong or Sydney.