Traditional Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony celebrates planned redevelopment works
To celebrate planned redevelopment works, a traditional Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony was recently held at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.
23 Dec 2021
The ceremony was hosted by Georgiou Group and facilitated by Noongar Elder Neville Collard, who provided a brief history of local Aboriginal culture and traditions.
Mr Collard also hand-crafted Aboriginal Message Sticks which were given to attendees at the ceremony’s commencement to encourage communication throughout the project.
The ceremony was attended by members of St John of God Subaico Hospital’s Executive Team, as well as representatives from Georgiou Group, Silver Thomas Hanley and Bridge42.
St John of God Subiaco Hospital Acting CEO Colin Young said that in addition to being immensely enjoyable and thought provoking, the event allowed members of the redevelopment team to celebrate upcoming works while respecting local Noongar traditions.
The major redevelopment project has been approved by St John of God Health Care’s Board.
Upon formal planning approval by the State Development Assessment Unit, the redevelopment will be the largest transformation in St John of God Subiaco Hospital’s 123 year history and will ensure the health care needs of the community are met into the future.
Georgiou Group has been awarded the majority of works within the project’s first stage.
These works include the upgrade of St John of God Subiaco Hospital’s existing kitchen to allow hospital-wide a la carte room service, construction of a purpose built Pandemic Ward, installation of new lifts, and expansion of the Sterilisation Services Department.
For more information about the redevelopment, visit sjog.org.au/Subiacoredevelopment