YouthBlock unveils Aboriginal artwork co-created by staff and Artist Trevor Eastwood.
 

A new piece of art has been unveiled at the YouthBlock Youth health Service in Redfern, bringing warmth and helping to create a culturally safe and welcoming environment.  

The reflective piece – titled Talking, Connecting, Healing – was created by staff from across Sydney Local Health District services, stakeholders and young people, alongside artist Trevor Eastwood, a Ngamba man from Kamilaroi country, and cofounder of Dalmarri. 

It embodies the courage of young people who come to access services and ask for help, and represents a shared voice, lived experience, and a collective commitment to improving collaborative work in support of young people. 

In August 2025, teams from Mental Health, Drug Health, Justice Health, Community Health and from the RPA Emergency Department came together with the team at YouthBlock, youth peer workers and young people from YOUth Frontline, Youthblock’s youth advisory board, to solve challenges around the provision of youth health care. 

It was an opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure smoother pathways for young people to access care and move between services. The artwork is a visual representation of the spirit of collaboration present at the workshop. 

“Anyone who was there could come and sit with Trevor to work a little bit on the artwork throughout the day and take a break from the table. He taught us the techniques and finished the piece at the end,” said Dr Emily Harkness, Youth Health Services Manager. 

“It is a genuinely collaborative piece of work. If you look closely, you can see the differences between strokes and painting styles.” 

As our District's hub for youth services, YouthBlock provides support for at-risk or marginalised young people aged 12 to 25 years from priority populations including LGBTIQ+, out of home care, youth justice, and young people from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds or from culturally diverse backgrounds. 

The YouthBlock team aims to constantly evolve to meet the needs of young people, providing a holistic, client-centred, youth-friendly and low-barrier service.  

“Our staff are very passionate and creative about the work that they do to meet young people where they’re at. It's a stunning piece of art that reflects their dedication,” said Lisa Parcsi, Director, Integration & Specialist Services, Community Health. 

The artwork is placed alongside sensory toys, games and colouring, creating a new comfortable, sensory nook for people – staff, visitors or clients – to chill. It also enhances the cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, making the space more welcoming. 

The unveiling was attended by Deb Willcox AM, Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive, Dr John Cass-Verco, RPA Head of Department Paediatrics, Dianna Jagers, General Manager Community Health Services, and staff from the District's youth services.