Emma Thompson (Ronald McDonald House Charity SEQ Chief Executive Officer), Angela Young (Children's Health Queensland Executive Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement) and Frank Tracey (Children's Health Queensland Chief Executive) at the opening of the First Nations family lounge.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families now have a dedicated culturally safe space at the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH), with the opening of a First Nations family lounge.
The new space, named Jimbulang Nye-nan-ba or Family Sitting Place, provides a peaceful place of respite for children and their families when they visit the hospital. It gives communities the opportunity to maintain connection to Country, particularly those from rural and remote communities across Queensland.
Jimbulang Nye-nan-ba was designed through consultation and co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, staff, designers and artists to recognise culture, the desire for connection and a reminder of home for First Nations families visiting the hospital.
The project was made possible by a $100,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities Family Centred Care grant.
Children’s Health Queensland Executive Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Angela Young (Kullalli/Koa) said it was important to provide a healing environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families.
“Jimbulang Nye-nan-ba, has been created with family, connection, and Country in mind. It has direct access to outdoor areas, open sitting areas and private yarning spaces, access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care workers, and lots of activities to keep young ones busy.
“We are really proud to offer a space, centred in culture for Mob to use when they are here,” she said.
The Family Sitting Place features work depicting land, rainforest and reef from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists including Casey Coolwell-Fisher, Quandamooka, Nunukul woman of Minjerribah.
Nathaniel Chapman, a proud Goenpul Yuggera artist also collaborated with First Nations artist Sam Harrison to hand-paint a floor-to-ceiling column as families enter the space, depicting interconnected trails and safe meeting places.
Other artists represented in the space are from communities across Queensland including Mornington Island, Moa Arts, Lockhart River, Aurukun, Pormpuraaw, Wujal Wujal, Palm Island and Girringun.
Jimbulang Nye-nan-ba was officially opened today on Level 2 of the hospital as part of National Reconciliation Week 2024.
Read the full First Nations family sitting place supports connection to Country at Queensland Children’s Hospital media release.