Paintings from some of Australia's leading Aboriginal artists are on display at a major public exhibition at Shalom College at UNSW this week.

This year's third annual Shalom Gamarada Art Exhibition features hundreds of community works from Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It includes pieces by Bill Whiskey, Shorty Robertson, Judy Napangardi Watson, Walangkura Napanangka, Patrick Mung Mung and Ningura Napurrula, among others.

Paintings are available for purchase. All proceeds from the exhibition will fund residential scholarships at Shalom College for Indigenous medical students at UNSW, with the aim of increasing the number of Aboriginal doctors and improving health outcomes in Indigenous communities.

Shalom offered its first such scholarship in 2005, and has since assisted 11 Indigenous students. Six are currently on degree-length scholarships.

"We have many hundreds of works from the very best Aboriginal artists. We have a whole room of unstretched paintings that people can have a look at, ranging in price from $150 up to major works worth $100,000," said Associate Professor, Lisa Jackson Pulver from the Muru Marri Indigenous Health Unit.

The exhibition was officially opened by the exhibition's patron, NSW Governor Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO.

The Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia Mark Leibler AC was guest speaker.

Rounding off the exhibition is an Aboriginal Health Forum on Sunday 22 July, featuring a panel of distinguished commentators and researchers on Indigenous issues.

"In light of the Federal Government's intervention in the Northern Territory, we're not going to be holding back on talking about the tough stuff, but the panellists have all been chosen for their expertise," Professor Jackson Pulver said.

The initiative is the result of collaboration between the Muru Marri Indigenous Health Unit, Nura Gili Indigenous Programs and The Shalom Institute.

For more information, including catalogue details, go to the website

What: The Shalom Gamarada Art Exhibition and Aboriginal Health ForumWhere: The Eric Caspary Learning Centre, Shalom College, UNSW Kensington Campus.When: Exhibition: 17 -22 July, 11am to 8pm. Aboriginal Health Forum: Sunday 22 July 4pm - 6pm.