Festival of Care

EmbodiMap, developed by the fEEL lab at UNSW, is an immersive, virtual reality tool. Hospital staff could have a 10-minute guided experience helping them regulate stress and anxiety by visualising internal body activation.

EmbodiMap invited users to engage with a life-sized avatar and interactive 3D drawing technology to map sensations and emotions. By tracking physiological responses like autonomic nervous system activation or localised tension, EmbodiMap promoted somatic awareness, helping users unwind, relax, and gain insight into habitual stress responses.

Make Your Mark, devised and facilitated by UNSW lecturer and creative practitioner Chloe Cassidy, involved participants creating small artworks by injecting coloured paints onto paper using syringes and then using a squeegee to form beautiful patterns. These artworks were scanned and transformed into large mural wall art to be displayed in the hospital.

This engaging activity offered creative engagement, relaxation, and connection, and could be easily completed by staff in short breaks.

Viv, an AI companion and dementia advocate, was co-created with women living with dementia. Viv was diagnosed with dementia herself and shared her life, interests, and experiences. She understood the medical profession’s complexity, shared her concerns, and responded with empathy.

Participants found Awkward Conversations to be a liberating and utterly fascinating experience. Designed for professionals more accustomed to solving others’ problems than sharing their own, this program offered a unique opportunity for 15-minute, one-to-one authentic conversations tackling hard-to-talk-about subjects like workplace stress, depression, and the general craziness of life.

These conversations were completely confidential, made no demands, had no expectations, and required no social skills. Participants experienced significant benefits, including emotional relief, increased self-awareness, and a sense of connection.

They could drop in or reserve a timeslot, choosing to walk and talk or sit and chat.

Hospital staff were invited to join actor and medical doctor Dr Renee Lim in an enlightening workshop inspired by Grace Under Pressure. This verbatim theatre project was created with junior doctors and nurses about the workplace and training cultures that were making young health professionals sick and putting patient lives at risk. Dr Lim presented enactments from the theatre piece along with role-plays of difficult interactions around toxic workplaces, mental health, and stress.

Dr Lim brought to life the stories shared by doctors and nurses, using her real-life medical experience and acting skills to retell both beautiful and heartbreaking clinical experiences. Her use of clinical simulation techniques was powerful, allowing the audience to reflect on their own practice as all the stories were highly relatable.

Participants benefited from increased awareness of workplace issues, enhanced empathy, and valuable insights into managing stress and mental health in their professional lives.

Hospital staff had the opportunity to learn a new skill by dropping by for a yarn and weaving their own takeaway wreath with Aunty Victoria and Kodie. This traditional crafting activity was a beautiful way to align with community, country, and history.

By engaging in this hands-on experience, participants challenged their technical dexterity and learned a new skill. The activity provided a chance to take 10 minutes to focus and connect, fostering a sense of relaxation and mindfulness. Additionally, it promoted a deeper connection to cultural heritage and community, enhancing overall wellbeing and a sense of belonging.

Throughout the Festival of Care, hospital staff felt the rhythm and basked in the ambience of live music and performances. The talented UNSW musicians included a diverse array of performers such as a choir, guitar trios, a jazz ensemble, violinists, a harpist and more.

Taking a break to enjoy the jazz or decompress to the twinkling harp provided something for every taste. This experience offered numerous benefits, including relaxation, stress relief, and a sense of connection to the community. The live music created a soothing atmosphere, allowing participants to unwind and appreciate the artistry of their peers.

Alon Ilsar, an Australian drummer, composer, sound designer, and instrument designer, co-designed a new interface for electronic percussion called AirSticks. Described as “like peeking around the corner of the time-space continuum and glimpsing the future,” AirSticks enabled new forms of music participation.

This interactive musical experience offered numerous benefits to participants’ well-being. Engaging with the AirSticks promoted creativity, enhanced focus, and provided a sense of accomplishment. The innovative interface allowed participants to explore new ways of making music, fostering a deep connection to the art form and encouraging relaxation and stress relief through creative expression.

Karaoke Massage was the perfect solution to hospital staff who felt stiff or in need of a song! This free, performative exchange combined the practices of lullaby and touch, offering a massage choreographed to their chosen musical hit.

Participants benefited from this unique experience through relaxation, stress relief, and a sense of connection. The combination of music and massage provided a soothing and enjoyable way to unwind, enhancing overall wellbeing.

Teik-Kim Pok, a multidisciplinary artist, performance-maker, and educator, featured his work at events like Sydney Festival, Underbelly, and Next Wave. His live art manifested in interactive, durational public performances, including quasi-therapy works like Kino Klinik and Karaoke Massage. He also starred as the titular character in Platon Theodoris’ debut award-winning feature, Alvin’s Harmonious World of Opposites (Sydney Underground Film Festival + Official Selection, Slamdance 2015).