Celebrating Arts and Health Month 2023

2 Nov 2023

Incorporating arts in the services we offer helps fulfil our mission to promote life to the full by encouraging personal growth, fostering artistic interests and abilities and supporting healing. 

“The creative arts therapies, music therapy and the exhibition of art works play an important role in the provision of holistic care, supporting a patient in the physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and social dimensions of their wellness,” St John of God Health Care Acting Group Coordinator, Arts and Health, Paul Davis said.

“St John of God Health Care has over 20 arts and health related services and pilot projects happening this year and I would like to extend a big thank you, and encourage caregivers to show their appreciation, to the arts therapists, artists, music therapists, performing artists and the curator who bring joy and healing to our patients and staff.”

A valuable contribution to our buildings that has significant impact on patients and caregivers is the curatorial work of St John of God Health Care Art Curator, Carina McPherson. Carina manages, preserves and installs our art collection across several St John of God Health Care locations and collaborates with artists to manage site-specific art works for new and existing buildings.

Innovation and sustainability are key principles of arts and health at St John of God Health Care. A dedicated  arts and health funding program supports research and development of new models of arts based services that can be replicated across our hospitals and community services, nationally.

Examples include:

• Mums and Bubs music group at St John of God Bunbury Hospital
• Consumer-led postnatal arts group at St John of God Raphael Services in WA
• Creative Engagement Framework for patients with dementia at the Ursula Frayne Unit at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital
• Day oncology art therapy at St John of God Berwick Hospital
• Individual art therapy at Midland Head to Health, now replicated at Armadale Head to Health.

Arts and Health Month is also an opportunity to promote the significant impact and evidence-based contribution of the arts to health and wellbeing. Recently the World Health Organisation announced a forthcoming Lancet Global Health Series focused on the health benefits of the arts.

“Feedback from patients and their families shows that the benefits of the arts to health and wellbeing are broad. It can range from providing joy and distraction during a hospital stay to providing an avenue to express themselves and gain insight as a part of their mental health care, or opportunities to connect with others or their community,” Paul said.

Arts and Health Month was originally started by the Australian Centre for Arts and Health in 2009, “Numerous other countries celebrate the contribution of the arts to health and wellbeing at different times throughout the year, and I think it’s important that we continue this tradition here in Australia.”