‘Not only is it confusing, I like to think it’s dangerous’: Have you seen what they’ve done to emergency signs?
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When it comes to signage in our hospitals, clarity is crucial—especially in times of crisis.
But a new approach taken by one NSW hospital has left some questioning whether cultural inclusion has come at the cost of public safety.
The debate has sparked fierce opinions, with concerns being raised over visibility, language, and the role of politics in healthcare.
Confusion and controversy swirled around Gosford Hospital after newly installed signage aimed at celebrating Indigenous culture drew criticism for allegedly prioritising symbolism over clarity in a critical area of the facility.
The Central Coast hospital had introduced Aboriginal language signs—‘Badjal Burung’ and ‘Mana Galuring Balga’—to direct patients and staff to its emergency department and resuscitation bays.
Each sign featured a direct English translation—‘sick cave’ and ‘bring back’—alongside standard English labels reading ‘Emergency Department’ and ‘Emergency Department Resuscitation Bays’.
But the signs’ positioning and prominence raised eyebrows, particularly from NSW Independent MP Rod Roberts, who accused the hospital of creating a potentially dangerous situation.
‘Not only is it confusing, I like to think it’s dangerous,’ Roberts shared.
He argued that in moments of panic, such as when someone rushes in with a severe injury or a sick child, the priority should be unmistakable signage.
‘If you were to rush in there as a parent with a sick child, or you were coming in there yourself with an injury, blood spurting out of you for example, you’re not looking for Badjal Burung.’
‘You want the biggest sign that shows you where the emergency department is, so you can get treated as soon as possible.’
Roberts insisted the Indigenous wording had been given more prominence than the English, a choice he said made no practical sense in an emergency setting.
‘You learn to read from the top of the page and work your way down, so the first thing you look at is at the very top.’
‘Have emergency at the top in big print—if you want to do something else, put it below.’
He also pointed to Census data to question the signage decision, noting that only 4.9 per cent of residents in the Central Coast local government area identified as Aboriginal.
He said: ‘They can obviously all speak English, because they all completed the census, so I think it is an insult to them.’
‘If you want to put something up, put it up, put it in small print, but make sure the word emergency is the big, highlighted word.’
‘These hospitals have got to get back to their core role, and their core basics is attending, comforting and treating injured people. Not making woke political ideology statements.’
Many others appeared to agree, expressing similar frustrations across social media.
‘We are an English speaking country,’ one user wrote. ‘All signs should be in English. This also goes for road signs.’
Another claimed it was causing ‘further division in our community’.
One person added: ‘Don’t tell me health is short of money if they can pay for these stunts.’
Not all responses were critical, however. A few defended the move, calling the backlash overblown.
‘There’s two signs, what’s the big deal?’ one comment read.
Central Coast Local Health District, which oversees Gosford Hospital, has been contacted for comments.
This wasn’t the first time signage featuring Indigenous language caused a stir.
A similar situation unfolded at a busy airport, leaving travellers scratching their heads and sparking debate about clarity versus cultural expression.
If you’ve ever struggled to find your way in a crowded terminal, this one might hit close to home—watch and see what unfolded.
Source: Youtube/Sky News Australia
With hospital visits already stressful enough, do you think clear signage should always take priority over cultural representation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at the growing confusion around road signs in one of Australia’s busiest cities—because let’s be honest, even the simplest signs can leave you scratching your head these days.
For seniors who’ve spent decades confidently navigating Aussie roads, the sudden shift in signage styles can feel more frustrating than helpful.
If unclear directions have ever made you take the long way home, you might find that story hits close to home.
Read more: 'What the h*** is that?': Drivers share their confusion over bustling city's road signs!
But a new approach taken by one NSW hospital has left some questioning whether cultural inclusion has come at the cost of public safety.
The debate has sparked fierce opinions, with concerns being raised over visibility, language, and the role of politics in healthcare.
Confusion and controversy swirled around Gosford Hospital after newly installed signage aimed at celebrating Indigenous culture drew criticism for allegedly prioritising symbolism over clarity in a critical area of the facility.
The Central Coast hospital had introduced Aboriginal language signs—‘Badjal Burung’ and ‘Mana Galuring Balga’—to direct patients and staff to its emergency department and resuscitation bays.
Each sign featured a direct English translation—‘sick cave’ and ‘bring back’—alongside standard English labels reading ‘Emergency Department’ and ‘Emergency Department Resuscitation Bays’.
But the signs’ positioning and prominence raised eyebrows, particularly from NSW Independent MP Rod Roberts, who accused the hospital of creating a potentially dangerous situation.
Aboriginal signage at hospital sparks safety concerns. Image source: 2GB
‘Not only is it confusing, I like to think it’s dangerous,’ Roberts shared.
He argued that in moments of panic, such as when someone rushes in with a severe injury or a sick child, the priority should be unmistakable signage.
‘If you were to rush in there as a parent with a sick child, or you were coming in there yourself with an injury, blood spurting out of you for example, you’re not looking for Badjal Burung.’
‘You want the biggest sign that shows you where the emergency department is, so you can get treated as soon as possible.’
Roberts insisted the Indigenous wording had been given more prominence than the English, a choice he said made no practical sense in an emergency setting.
‘You learn to read from the top of the page and work your way down, so the first thing you look at is at the very top.’
‘Have emergency at the top in big print—if you want to do something else, put it below.’
He also pointed to Census data to question the signage decision, noting that only 4.9 per cent of residents in the Central Coast local government area identified as Aboriginal.
He said: ‘They can obviously all speak English, because they all completed the census, so I think it is an insult to them.’
‘If you want to put something up, put it up, put it in small print, but make sure the word emergency is the big, highlighted word.’
‘These hospitals have got to get back to their core role, and their core basics is attending, comforting and treating injured people. Not making woke political ideology statements.’
Many others appeared to agree, expressing similar frustrations across social media.
‘We are an English speaking country,’ one user wrote. ‘All signs should be in English. This also goes for road signs.’
Another claimed it was causing ‘further division in our community’.
One person added: ‘Don’t tell me health is short of money if they can pay for these stunts.’
Not all responses were critical, however. A few defended the move, calling the backlash overblown.
‘There’s two signs, what’s the big deal?’ one comment read.
Central Coast Local Health District, which oversees Gosford Hospital, has been contacted for comments.
This wasn’t the first time signage featuring Indigenous language caused a stir.
A similar situation unfolded at a busy airport, leaving travellers scratching their heads and sparking debate about clarity versus cultural expression.
If you’ve ever struggled to find your way in a crowded terminal, this one might hit close to home—watch and see what unfolded.
Source: Youtube/Sky News Australia
With hospital visits already stressful enough, do you think clear signage should always take priority over cultural representation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at the growing confusion around road signs in one of Australia’s busiest cities—because let’s be honest, even the simplest signs can leave you scratching your head these days.
For seniors who’ve spent decades confidently navigating Aussie roads, the sudden shift in signage styles can feel more frustrating than helpful.
If unclear directions have ever made you take the long way home, you might find that story hits close to home.
Read more: 'What the h*** is that?': Drivers share their confusion over bustling city's road signs!
