A SERIES of Indigenous artworks is being created to make the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre a more welcoming environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund has provided a $9500 grant to Albury Wodonga Health for six artworks by Wiradjuri artist, Teisha Maksymow-McGuinness.

Trust Fund board member, Kerry Strauch, said the pieces would hang in the cancer centre to help create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

“It will help them feel comfortable, accepted and confident that they will be respected,” Ms Strauch said.

“The physical aspects of spaces are critical in creating welcoming environments for all patients of the cancer centre.

“We need to ensure that we are meeting the needs and circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that they feel comfortable in accessing the services provided.”

Albury Wodonga Health Operations Manager Cancer Services, Diane Davey, said the project would offer a more productive and meaningful partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Our hope is that this will help improve health outcomes for Indigenous communities and result in more health equity,” she said.

The project has been welcomed by Wirdjuri woman and former cancer centre staff member, Megan Clayton, as an important step forward towards helping improve health outcomes for First Nations people.

The artworks were expected to be installed by June.