2024 will see the development and delivery of initiatives that support and commits HeartKids to being an inclusive workplace, embrace working across diverse cultures nationally, act on true reconciliation and create and maintain strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.
HeartKids is developing its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and will launch the HeartKids Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Strategy which will give broader focus on building meaningful relationships and the delivery of culturally safe and responsive resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.
HeartKids commissioned Wiradjuri artist Paul Calcott to design and create a piece of artwork that reflects the national footprint and story of HeartKids, and the journeys of people impacted by heart disease.
Joined by Paul and family, Strong Hearts Strong Mob was launched during NAIDOC Week in our Sydney office. Here Paul reflected on the importance to ensure Strong Hearts Strong Mob reflects the diverse communities and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The many nations are represented using colours and symbols, saltwater people in the blues and greens, mountain, urban and desert people in the browns and yellows, river people in the blue, rainforest people in the green.
Central to the piece is the HeartKids logo and is reflected across the piece to demonstrate our links and relationships with communities across Australia. The horseshoe symbols and circles are significant to many Aboriginal cultures as they represent the marks we leave in the sand when we sit for gatherings and the many people in our reach and aim to meet. The circles represent HeartKids joining with communities in various settings to have discussions about heart disease and share the many ways in which we provide support.
Accompanying the artwork is an animation that describes Strong Hearts Strong Mob in more detail and how HeartKids are working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop resources, share stories, listen and learn to improve the social and emotional wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
To maintain cultural protocols, there are two versions of the animation, a male voiceover provided by Paul representing men and a female voiceover representing women provided by Wiradjuri person Aunty Leila Constable. Both versions are accessible to anyone.
Strong Hearts Strong Mob and the animation can be viewed below and will be used across HeartKids resources and initiatives such as the RAP and the HeartKids Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Strategy.
