Summary

Artist's statement:

This painting depicts how workers within healthcare use their passion and skills to nurture (care for and protect) the people within their community. They are giving back to the community that they are a part of, ultimately strengthening each person and the community as a whole.

The circle in the middle symbolises healing energy like that of the sun. The healing yellow, orange and red rays radiate out onto the wider community. The hands around the circle symbolise the healthcare workers and how they access this healing energy when offering their health services to their clients.

This has a positive effect on the wider community, which is made up of many interconnected smaller communities, coloured purple to symbolise spiritual healing. The background colours of blue and green represent the lands and waters.

JCU General Practice Training Program Artwork Series

James Cook University (JCU) General Practice Training program is the regional provider of general practitioner training in regional, rural and remote Queensland. JCU is committed to delivering a high quality program for GP Registrars and working with partners to achieve better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

In 2018, JCU commissioned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Queensland to design artworks that were representative of a story about the provision of healthcare in the community, for the community, and by the community. The resulting 13 artworks are now proudly displayed in our regional offices across Queensland and featured in JCU resources. This series of commissioned artworks, consisting of paintings, prints and graphics, represents a wide range of artists from early career to professionals who regularly exhibit. Artists included in the series are Sharon Caulfield, Lyndon Davis, Kevin Edmondstone, Karen Hall, Matthew Humphries, Michael McGuane, Anthony 'Gesa' Pilot, Nicky Bidju Pryor, Brian Robinson, Chern'ee Sutton, Janeece Thompson "Goungee" (Water Lily), Belynda Waugh and Nicole Wone.