Traditional indigenous art is being used by health professionals in Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) to teach local people about essential body systems and good health.
The art was commissioned by the Department of Health and Families and painted by artists from the Injalak Arts and Crafts Association in Gunbalanya - approximately 300km East of Darwin.
Oenpelli Clinic's General Practitioner Dr Hugh Heggie said clients at the clinic take an interest in the paintings because they can immediately identify they are Aboriginal art from the area and are painted by people they know.
"They are a fantastic tool to encourage health discussion and promotion.
"The paintings are a form that the local people can understand and recognise. It is much easier to explain complicated health conditions using pictures.
"When they realise it's been painted by people in the community - their uncles and cousins - it then encourages discussion of the body systems and so it's a perfect starting point to build the doctor-patient relationship.
"The artists have a more intricate knowledge of anatomy than many mainstream European doctors because of their experience of hunting animals for food. Given that organ systems are generally the same in all mammals, the artists understand the basics of hearts, kidneys and blood flow. They also know a lot about the nervous system and bones," said Dr Heggy.
And the paintings have since been photographed to be printed on posters and on other health promotion material.
"We have the designs on t-shirts that have become our uniform each Tuesday. We've included messages on them encouraging our clients to stop smoking and generally look after their bodies.
"The designs really are unique. In Darwin they'd be worth anything between $10,000 and $20,000 and much more interstate," said Dr Heggy.
Media Contact: Cameron Jackson, DHF Media Liaison Officer 0401 116 144
Date released: 7 November 2008
