Konara

The KONARA initiative, meaning "people gather" in the Awabakal language, embodies the vision of a collaborative health service led by prominent Hunter ENT surgeons, including Australia's first Aboriginal surgeon, Professor Kong, Associate Professor Rob Eisenberg, Dr Toby Corlette, Dr Daron Cope and Dr Johnson Huang. The aim is to enhance patient experiences and give back to the community, particularly in the context of Aboriginal land.

Located in Broadmeadow, Newcastle, KONARA is strategically placed for accessibility, ensuring that a diverse range of health services—surgeons, hearing specialists, and allied health professionals—can work together. This holistic approach also involves the not-for-profit NDIS provider NextSense (formally RIDBC), which focuses on supporting children with hearing and vision loss.

The interior and exterior design of KONARA prominently features artwork by local First Nations artist Saretta Fielding, celebrating the gathering of the surgeons while honoring the Awabakal people, the traditional custodians of the land. This thoughtful, sensitive design creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, for patients and staff, challenging typical perceptions of medical environments. By blending artistry with functionality, the project underscores a strong commitment to community service, cultural acknowledgment, and the enhancement of health outcomes for all.

SHAC were selected to support KONARA through design development and approvals processes where local planning and urban design expertise was of great benefit.