❓ The Minister for Health details the findings of a report on the use of arts to improve health and healing in WA hospitals, highlighting strong interest and existing programs.
AnsweredQoN 469Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ARTS AND HEALTH REPORT
469. Mr M.H. TAYLOR to the Minister for
Health:
I note that the minister launched an
arts and health report today. Can he please advise the house on the findings of
this report?
469. Mr M.H. TAYLOR to the Minister for
Health:
I note that the minister launched an
arts and health report today. Can he please advise the house on the findings of
this report?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
As we have just heard from the Premier, the current government has a very
strong interest in supporting the arts, and further development of the arts in
its many forms, in the Western Australian community. I was very pleased this
morning to launch this report, '' Use
of the Arts to Improve Health and Healing in Western Australian Hospitals ''—a
very significant publication following a lot of work and research undertaken
under the auspices of the WA Arts And Health Consortium Reference Group, which
has been jointly funded by Lotterywest, the Department of Culture and the Arts,
the Department of Health, St John of God Health Care and also the Chamber of
Arts and Culture. This consortium was established to promote the implementation
of the national arts and health framework, which was endorsed by arts and
culture ministers and health ministers around Australia back in 2014. I remember
that ministerial meeting that I attended and the fact that we were strongly
supportive of the decision to establish a national arts framework. At that
stage, of course, I had no expectation that I would ultimately have
responsibility for both portfolios at the one time, and it is certainly very
welcome and fortuitous that that has occurred. The report highlights the very
strong interest in the arts in the health system from clinicians and members of
the public, whether they be patients or visitors. For example, 20 metropolitan
public and private hospitals and six WA Country Health Service regions
representing 60 hospitals were invited to take part in the survey. Ninety per
cent responded—a very high response rate—and 75 per cent
indicated that they already use art in clinical settings to improve health
education and outcomes for patients. In particular, the report found arts in
health practice to be most evident in the fields of paediatrics, mental health,
aged care and Aboriginal health. Some of the examples of how this sort of
practice is put into effect is through artists-in-residence programs; dance
artists working with patients in the Bentley adolescent unit; and WA Symphony
Orchestra's hospital orchestra project, which provides concerts,
workshops and bedside visits at Princess Margaret Hospital. There is also a festival
at Graylands Hospital during Mental Health Week and there is a weekly lunchtime Music on the Bridge program at Royal Perth
Hospital. I encourage members with an interest in this area, which is hopefully
the majority, to have a good look at the report, which is available on the
Chamber of Arts and Culture website. I will certainly be very much encouraging
the health system in Western Australia to further take up the possibility of
using arts practice in providing health care, whether it be through prevention
or in responding to health conditions and treatment in Western Australian
hospitals.
As we have just heard from the Premier, the current government has a very
strong interest in supporting the arts, and further development of the arts in
its many forms, in the Western Australian community. I was very pleased this
morning to launch this report, '' Use
of the Arts to Improve Health and Healing in Western Australian Hospitals ''—a
very significant publication following a lot of work and research undertaken
under the auspices of the WA Arts And Health Consortium Reference Group, which
has been jointly funded by Lotterywest, the Department of Culture and the Arts,
the Department of Health, St John of God Health Care and also the Chamber of
Arts and Culture. This consortium was established to promote the implementation
of the national arts and health framework, which was endorsed by arts and
culture ministers and health ministers around Australia back in 2014. I remember
that ministerial meeting that I attended and the fact that we were strongly
supportive of the decision to establish a national arts framework. At that
stage, of course, I had no expectation that I would ultimately have
responsibility for both portfolios at the one time, and it is certainly very
welcome and fortuitous that that has occurred. The report highlights the very
strong interest in the arts in the health system from clinicians and members of
the public, whether they be patients or visitors. For example, 20 metropolitan
public and private hospitals and six WA Country Health Service regions
representing 60 hospitals were invited to take part in the survey. Ninety per
cent responded—a very high response rate—and 75 per cent
indicated that they already use art in clinical settings to improve health
education and outcomes for patients. In particular, the report found arts in
health practice to be most evident in the fields of paediatrics, mental health,
aged care and Aboriginal health. Some of the examples of how this sort of
practice is put into effect is through artists-in-residence programs; dance
artists working with patients in the Bentley adolescent unit; and WA Symphony
Orchestra's hospital orchestra project, which provides concerts,
workshops and bedside visits at Princess Margaret Hospital. There is also a festival
at Graylands Hospital during Mental Health Week and there is a weekly lunchtime Music on the Bridge program at Royal Perth
Hospital. I encourage members with an interest in this area, which is hopefully
the majority, to have a good look at the report, which is available on the
Chamber of Arts and Culture website. I will certainly be very much encouraging
the health system in Western Australia to further take up the possibility of
using arts practice in providing health care, whether it be through prevention
or in responding to health conditions and treatment in Western Australian
hospitals.
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