My Artwork tells the story in my cultural way of the specialist Diabetes medical staff travelling across NSW to deliver their message to communities about Diabetes, their services, support, learning and listening, and treatment. My artwork depicts this with the Diabetes medical team in the centre meeting place who travel and share their knowledge with other professionals, as well as the public. The yarning circles of various sizes display the many communities visited. The walking trails illustrated across the artwork shows the shadows of the many people walking and talking, spreading their newfound knowledge with the rest of their families and friends. This is all about getting the message out to the wider community.

My artwork shows no shame and no discrimination, and that diabetes is unbiased with the two elders portrayed at the top of the artwork and the various sizes of people in the yarning circles depicting people at any age and any stage in their lives can get diabetes.

The land in which they cross promotes good health and wellbeing for the patients and support people, with native animals; kangaroo, emu and goanna (tracks), fish, nuts, berries and bush tucker shown amongst the background to encourage healthy eating. The vast land travelled by the Diabetes team crosses waterways, highways, roads and trails to meet their new clients and other professionals. I have depicted the rural travels on the far right of the painting.

The vibrant colours I have used is to show the positive attitudes from the professional staff. The bright colours will also attract an audience to further reach out to the wider community by visually engaging people. The hand prints at the top and bottom of the painting depicts asking for help and receiving help to protect our future.

Jodie Reynolds - Artist

‘Sharing and Caring for Diabetes’ is an artwork created for DAP+ by artist Jodie Reynolds