[9-8] “It takes a village”: Building partnerships to deliver an Arts in Health program within a major paediatric hospital
Presentation language：English
The Queensland Children’s Hospital opened at the end of 2014 and is the only standalone facility offering tertiary and quaternary care to paediatric patients, newborn to 18 years, in the state of Queensland. The hospital was designed from the earliest stages of planning to incorporate a multi-faceted Arts in Health therapeutic program to enhance patient experience and recovery. This includes a bespoke visual arts collection and a regular schedule of creative, participatory activities integrated into the daily routines of patients, clinicians and visitors. The success and sustainability of this initiative are dependent on formal partnerships with major cultural and educational institutions which provide direct programming support. This presentation will demonstrate the potential that can be realised when the creative community partners with the healthcare sector to care for the whole child - body, mind and spirit. Three case studies will be described, involving innovative projects co-designed by clinicians and cultural workers, to deliver specific, meaningful benefits. These include the commissioning of VR-based artwork; the establishment of a hospital choir; and a narrative medicine workshop series.