Yerrabingin was engaged to lead a collaborative co-design process to develop key designing with Country themes for the Mental Health Unit, working closely with Hunter New England Local Health District, RP Infrastructure, Taylor Brammer, Silver Thomas Hanley, Health Infrastructure and members of the local First Nations Community.

The approach aims to ensure the aspirations of the local Community are embedded into the design, resulting in a development which is ‘of Country’. It asks: 'How might we ensure the new mental health unit provides a safe and welcoming environment for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients and the wider community?'

Yerrabingin undertook contextual research of the site to create a First Nations Cultural Narratives Report. This desktop analysis informed co-design activities with local First Nations Community members to establish the key themes: Connection to Sky; Cultural Care; and Country as Healing. Yerrabingin returned to Community to provide an update on design development.

By embedding the key themes into the final design, the new mental health unit will provide welcoming, comfortable, safe and supportive facilities for people who need mental health care.