This collaborative patient care initiative, was a true team effort led by Aunty Janet Dunn, Khaliyah Nagas, Dr Kate Thompson, Dr Deanne August, Stephanie Hall, and Dr Katherine White. The project involved community volunteers and St Paul's Presbyterian Women's Craft Group to create culturally appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designed baby bedding for babies admitted to our Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit (GSNU).

Addressing the need for culturally safe care, nursery staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, and a community craft group worked together to create baby bedding using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designed fabric. 
Families hospital stay can last for months (sometimes three or more months), separating them from family, community and Country. This project is a very important step towards making the very stressful nursery environment more welcoming for some of our most vulnerable families. 

Families are able to choose the design of the bedding for their little one, with five designs available, and partnered with the unique cultural story behind the artwork. The initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, speaking to the impact of this initiative in creating a culturally inclusive, safe, and family-centred environment. 

The funding ensured creation of over 40 items of culturally appropriate baby bedding, to enhance the nursery experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families during admissions. A further 100 items are in production, ensuring this project has longer term reach to even more families for years to come.

"Made me feel safe in such a dark time and accepted"

“We are from a very small community out west and it makes us feel more comfortable being in such a large city and hospital"

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers feedback has been overwhelmingly positive too:

"Impacts families in a big way having culture in the unit".
 
Moving forward the team has collaboratively developed a yarn to formally evaluate the project, working with Dr Kate Thompson a Gooreng Gooreng and Yuggera Social Worker from the University of Queensland.