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Hibiscus Coast Community Health Centre visitors are enjoying a colourful new reception area.
As part of a team building exercise, staff at the Red Beach centre were given a small canvas and invited to create their own masterpiece, using one of three colour palettes – yellow, green or blue.
Each canvas was then grouped together by colour and turned into a larger artwork to be hung on the walls of the reception area.
“This was a great way for the different teams working in the community health centre to connect with each other,” team manager for Rodney adult community mental health, Paula Abbey says.
“Plus, it generated lots of laughter and tea room conversations.”
Staff could do anything they wanted – paint, draw, collage or even cross stitch.
Some chose to focus on their own history and what was important to them and others took a more artistic approach.
“Regardless, the results are fantastic.”
One team member said their initial thought was sheer terror.
“Art was the only subject I failed at school!” they said. “But it was fun and got us all talking about it. The clients coming to see us also love them.”
The new reception art has been a talking point for patients who have shared their appreciation.
“Our art helps patients see us an individuals. It makes our interactions more personal and builds connections which is so important for both patients and staff,” another staff member said.
Abbey previously organised the redecoration of health centres in Tauranga and Whakatane by staff, and has plans to do the same in Warkworth and Helensville.
