Cath conveyed how The Hush Foundation is transforming the culture of health care through the Arts. Since 2000, Hush has produced 16 music albums with some of Australia's most illustrious artists, composers, bands and orchestras. The music reduces anxiety in stressful health care environments for patients, families and even staff. Over 75,000 Hush albums and extensive digital downloads have been sold worldwide.
Hush has three brilliant theatrical plays based on true patient and staff stories: "Hear Me", "Do You Know Me?" and "What Matters". Written by renowned playwright Alan Hopgood AM, these plays have been performed almost 200 times in health and aged care settings across Australia and overseas. The plays are hugely effective in starting conversations in key health care challenges, including workforce bullying, communication breakdowns and patient safety concerns.
With these issues in mind, the work of Hush has expanded to embrace a workforce culture movement known as the "Gathering of Kindness". Hosted around World Kindness Day, the Gatherings bring together people of inside and outside the health and aged care sectors - clinicians, executives, thought leaders, artists, musicians and innovators - to discuss ways to build a kind health system. More than 5,000 people have taken part of the the last three years, with inspired health care providers now also hosing their own Gatherings.
