A year of yarns at Prince of Wales Hospital

6 August 2024

Staff at Prince of Wales Hospital (POWH) have been celebrating the first birthday of the hospital’s Aboriginal Yarning Teas, an opportunity for mob to come together and connect. 

Celebrations involved cultural activities such as coil weaving, creating artwork and of course, yarning. The Yarning Teas take place every second month across varying locations in the hospital.  

Proud Ngemba/Murrawarri man and physiotherapist Ryan Taylor says the Yarning Teas are incredibly important to Aboriginal staff. 

 “The purpose of the project is to promote a culturally safe workplace for us. It creates an opportunity to connect with mob, have a yarn and have a good feed,” said Ryan.

“As a mob, we have in depth discussion around cultural safety, connection to culture, developing leadership skills and career development pathways.” 

“This platform supports another one of our ongoing aims, which is to improve the relationship between the hospital and local Aboriginal community, support local Aboriginal business and networking with each other to improve the health service offered to Aboriginal people.” 

One of the important elements that fortifies cultural safety and connection to culture is cultural mentoring. Some of the more senior staff provide professional guidance and cultural knowledge to junior members of the yarning tea. This support network nurtures the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal staff.  

A lot of conversations are also casual in nature, which gives staff an opportunity to debrief and have a yarn about their feelings and experiences. This, Ryan explains, is an integral part of the project. It offers members a chance to relieve themselves from stressors associated with the workplace and personal life.  

An artwork was created during the Yarning Tea to celebrate the first anniversary as well as NAIDOC Week. 

“It symbolises the journey we have taken to come together as a mob and the services we offer in our varying roles at the hospital. It is also an acknowledgement of the 2024 NAIDOC theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak Loud and Proud!” said Ryan.  

The idea for the artwork was created by proud Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri woman Rhi Honeysett and completed by the members of the Yarning Tea and Aboriginal Health Directorate. 

The Aboriginal Yarning Tea is also thankful for the ongoing support and funding provided by the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation.  

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander staff member at Prince of Wales and would like to be involved, please email ryanferry.taylor@health.nsw.gov.au