Toronto Private Hospital hopes that a new artwork to be displayed in its foyer will help to put indigenous patients at ease.
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The artworks by local Aboriginal artist Saretta Fielding were unveiled at the hospital on Thursday.
The work entitled Ngaliinba Yapung (Our Path) will be added to a reworked history wall at the main entrance to the building.
A second work, Kunta Nikinpa (Place of Lake Macquarie), will be hung in the hospital's board room.
The hospital's chief executive officer Jason Penberthy said 5 per cent of patients at Toronto identified as Aboriginal.
"But a lot of our Aboriginal patients are still nervous about engaging with western health care," he said.
The history wall, with the new painting and its interpretive panels explaining the rich symbolism in the artwork, will detail elements of Toronto's historic ties with the Awabakal people.
"Other elements in the hospital will continue the story," he said.
Ms Fielding, from the Wonnarua Nation, said a key element of the work was the depiction of "two peoples moving forward together".
Ms Fielding gave a short presentation to hospital staff, explaining some of the symbolism in the artworks, and detailing her longtime ties with the area.
"I grew up here in Toronto, went to Toronto West Pubic School, and I've lived here all my life," she said.
Childhood visits to Yengo National Park with her family had shaped her artwork, she said.
"We'd visit sand engraving sites at Yengo National Park," she said.
"Sometimes we'd go at night and it was when one of my relatives put a lantern down on the ground that the grooves would stay dark, and we could clearly see the engravings."
Engravings have since become a feature of Ms Fielding's highly textured artworks.
She said her Ngaliinba Yapung (Our Path) artwork featured a timeline acknowledging the past, present and future.
Middens and Mount Yengo were depicted, as were six major gathering circles which also reflected the six key values of the hospital.
"And I've linked the symbols for two people which emphasises diversity and moving forward together," she said.
"It's saying we're inclusive, and we're working together with a shared vision."
Ms Fielding has previously been commissioned to create artworks for organisations including John Hunter Hospital, The Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Newcastle City Council and Catholic Care.
- Visit saretta.com.au
