Acknowledgement of Country
Toronto Private Hospital acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community.
At Toronto Private Hospital we invite you to join in our Acknowledgement of Country and pay respect to the traditional custodians of this land, waterways, and sky the traditional people and their Elders, past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and extend our gratitude for their contributions to health and healing.
Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander?
Please let our staff know on admission if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. We will work with you to ensure you receive the care and services that are culturally appropriate for you to contribute to your comfort as a patient at Toronto Private Hospital.
Please note that all information collected by our health service is subject to privacy laws to guarantee your information is protected and used appropriately.
We encourage you to also connect with our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Support services.
Art as Storytelling, Healing and Connection
Art plays a powerful role in how we create welcoming and meaningful healthcare spaces. It allows stories to be shared, conversations to begin, and connections to form beyond words.
As part of our ongoing commitment to inclusiveness and cultural acknowledgement, Aurora Healthcare is proud to share Aurora – A Place of Healing, an original artwork by First Nations artist Jessica Rigby of J. Rigby Indigenous Designs.
Aurora – A Place of Healing
Created by Jessica Rigby, a Gamilaraay and Bigambul woman with Torres Strait Islander heritage from Mer Island, this artwork reflects both traditional healing knowledge and contemporary healthcare practice.
The piece draws inspiration from the role of water as a source of healing for First Nations peoples. For generations, families and Elders gathered by oceans and freshwater waterways, combining natural remedies, spiritual practices and ancestral connection to support those who were unwell.
Jessica shares the meaning behind the artwork
Part 1
Healing waters Represents a place of healing.
First Nation and Torres Strait Islanders have used water for one of many healing remedies.
If a family member wasn’t well, our People would gather
Families and elders by the water’s edge, Ocean or freshwater creeks. The first nation people would take their ill family member to a Medicine man, where he would use natural remedies from Country and knowledge that has been pass down from generation to generation.
Our Elders would speak out loud in Traditional language to our ancestors asking Country and Ancestors to heal the ill one as the flow of water washes over them.
Jessica’s mother always told her, “Your ancestors walk with you every day, they will hear you when you speak to them and show you in your dreams”. Jessicas mother had a very deep connection to dreaming as most of her elders did, a sight through dreams that not many people had.
The aqua, teals and beige dots represent the waterways, ocean and sand.
The lines connecting the connection circles represent the journey.
The Indigenous symbols represent the People gathering by the flowing waters. Indigenous symbols have been used by our People for thousands of years leaving their markings on rock art, it was a Tribes way of letting passing by Tribes know that part of Country was already home to another Tribe.
The white dots represent the natural energy from Country’s elements.
Part 2
This original piece also represents Aurora.
A place of healing for everyone.
The Indigenous symbols represent the doctors and nurses as they gather around a soul using their spirit to heal others.
The lines and aqua dots connecting the connection circles represent the hallways and the footsteps the nurses and doctors make walking between wards.
The Teal, aqua, blues and grey represent Aurora Private Hospital where the nurses and doctors are the healing waters.
Jessica Rigby