Kellyann Johnson

Meet Kellyann Johnson, District Manager for Aboriginal Health with Southern NSW Local Health District.

We sat down with Kellyann to find out how she’s been involved in the planning for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and what it will mean for the future of Aboriginal health and the  community. 


Tell us a bit about you. 

My name is Kellyann Johnson and I am the District Manager for Aboriginal Health with Southern NSW Local Health District. I am a Yuin woman, with bloodlines all the way down the coast from Nowra to Wallaga Lake. 

Could you tell us about the site of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital? 

The site of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital is the traditional home of the Walbunja people. It includes more than 20 acres of beautiful land with stunning views over to the mountains. 

The site provides lots of open spaces for people to feel connected to Country, and for the hospital to grow. 

How have the Aboriginal community been involved in the planning and design of the new hospital? 

The Aboriginal community have been able to influence (the new hospital) in a variety of ways. One key aspect is the ability to birth on Country for Aboriginal women. The hospital design includes spaces outside the birthing suites that allow the families to take new babies outside, onto Country. 

The hospital also includes the creation of outdoor spaces and yarning spaces and quiet spaces, spaces to reflect and just wander through the environment. 

It's important to have a nice environment and lots of space, particularly for Aboriginal people, because hospitals are not traditionally a place of good memory. 

Being able to go outside and connect to Country, within nature, helps people come to terms with whatever suffering or stressors they're having because they’re at a hospital. 

How will a single Eurobodalla Regional Hospital benefit the local Aboriginal community? 

I think the benefit of having a single Eurobodalla Regional Hospital is that people can be treated at home on Country. 

It will be a level 4 hospital. So, it'll have all the services or the mod cons of what you would expect with a new hospital. 

The hospital environment is being informed by Aboriginal groups so it will be a very culturally, welcoming, space. The Aboriginal Health team will be located at the new hospital together and be able to assist both with inpatient services as well as programs in the community. 

They will be connectors, to care for Aboriginal people. 

What would you like the community to know about the new hospital? 

I would like community members to get excited about what the new hospital is going to bring for them and what it's going to mean for their health. 

More specialist services, will be provided here in the Eurobodalla and they'll be provided to community members from Durras all the way down to Wallaga Lake 

In addition to the new hospital providing a culturally safe space for Aboriginal people to seek treatment, it will be a safe and welcoming environment for the whole community of the Eurobodalla.