Echuca Regional Health celebrated NAIDOC Week early in collaboration with two local schools.

As part of the event, First Nations students from Echuca East Primary School and Echuca Primary School visited the hospital on Tuesday, July 1 and Wednesday, July 2.

ERH Aboriginal Health liaison officer Merinda Slater said the event was a chance to highlight this year's NAIDOC Week theme.

“The 2025 NADOC Week theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy,” she said.

“That’s why we have brought the Koori kids from Echuca Moama to the hospital, because we felt that finally, there is a theme that represents them ... It’s all about them.”

Ms Slater added it was also an opportunity to shift the students’ perceptions about the hospital.

“Part of my job as the Aboriginal liaison officer (is working on) the fear and the unknown that our community has of our hospital because of the past histories,” she said.

“We thought it would be really beneficial and important to start with the children — bring them to the hospital, show them that it’s safe, show them that we’re helpful, show them that it’s not a scary place.”

As part of the event, the students began with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony performed by Colin Atkinson.

While Mr Atkinson was preparing the smoking ceremony, Uncle Gilbert Wanganeen spoke to students about the significance of the ceremony.

Students were then taken into the hospital, stopping at the hospital’s entrance to appreciate the artworks by the late Aunty Vera Cooper.

They then continued on to the maternity ward, to learn about the possum skins and other items, that are gifted to Indigenous mothers who have just given birth.

After the maternity ward, the groups paid the emergency department a visit to learn more about what happens in the department.

Students also got the chance to practice CPR on a dummy and to have their arms and wrists bandaged.

To wrap up the day, they got creative with a clay turtle making kit, followed by a bush foods talk from Mr Atkinson.

ERH Population Health manager Danielle Paterson said the event was created to align with the vision of their Reconciliation Action Plan.

“We want it to feel like... you’re still on country when you come to Echuca Regional Health,” she said.

“(The students) are great at talking to others ... but also talking to the older generation too, that this can be a place of healing. It is a place of birth for many as well.

“We do acknowledge the past and the history, and we've done that with the children today when we’ve looked at the timeline, but it’s really important that we move forward and walk together as one.”

NAIDOC Week will officially begin on Sunday, July 6 and will conclude on the following Sunday, July 13.

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