Backstage Pass - July

Welcome to the July edition of Backstage Pass!

This month we celebrated NAIDOC Week with a very special Yarning Strong panel event at the Retreat Hotel in Naarm/Melbourne. Our incredible panellists Mitch Tambo, Kerry Kennell, Candice Lorrae and Scott Darlow led a lively discussion around this year’s NAIDOC theme Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud! and how music can be an outlet for expressing mental health and wellbeing experiences. Thank you to all those who attended this special afternoon.

We were also delighted to present our first Responding with Compassion workshop with Full Stop Australia; and our Mental Health First Aid program facilitated by Christie Walker was fully subscribed. You can find out more about our August workshops and programs below!?

Thank you for your ongoing support, if you have any suggestions or questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.?

Best wishes,?

Clive Miller

CEO

We are delighted to advise that we've received funding support from the Australian Government through Creative Workplaces, as part of the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy – Revive.

The agreement will support the continued delivery of psychological support services to people who work in music, and see these expanded across the creative industries over time.

A key focus in the first 12 months of the agreement will be to amplify promotion of the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline across the sector.?

An initial highlight was our participation in the Wellbeing with Support Act Webinar held on 30 July, which featured renowned folk musician and songwriter Ruth Hazleton, a member of the Creative Workplaces Council, and Dr. Ash King, Support Act’s Wellbeing and Content Lead, who shared some practical tips for prioritising individual mental health and how to best support those around you.

If you missed the webinar, it will soon be available on the Creative Workplaces Website.?

Support Act would also like to acknowledge the generous funding support of the NSW Government through Sound NSW. This grant will directly support the delivery of our Crisis Relief program, our First Nations program and our Helpline service for music workers in NSW.

Our very first free and online Money Moves - Financial Wellbeing Webinar will be taking place on Monday 26 August from 3pm-4pm (AEST).?

Following the announcement of our brand new Money Moves - money management and financial wellbeing 101 program, this webinar will run through how independent artists, managers, crew and music workers can help improve their financial literacy with a non-judgmental lens.

Register for free.

Register now for our upcoming Music Workers Wellbeing Check-In happening on Thursday 29 August from 11am-12:30pm for musicians, composers, producers, crew and sole traders. You can learn to kick off important mental health conversations and much more!?

This Wellbeing Check-In is designed to acknowledge the unique challenges of working in music on mental health. You can learn to practise self-care and bolster resilience, as well as learn new tips around giving and receiving support when needed.

Register now.

We’re thrilled to announce that we will be attending BIGSOUND again this year and we couldn’t be more excited!?

This year’s event will be happening from 3-6 September in Fortitude Valley and we have a number of exciting panels, workshops plus a keynote with Anastasia Hronis to offer those attending.?

Our panels include I’m Still Standing - Women in music and Yarning Strong. We’ll also be running Sound Minds - A Meet up for the Music Community session and a condensed version of our cultural awareness training, Voices Amplified.?

Make sure to grab your delegate pass now and read more about our offerings for this year below.?

Read more.

Have you ever called the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline and would like to share your experience? We’re looking for people who work in the creative industries which include music, performing arts, visual arts, screen, gaming and writing to take part in our upcoming Outside In Podcast Series.?

We’d love to hear how the Wellbeing Helpline supported you during a tough time. The series will involve a one-on-one video podcast interview with musician and music photographer Jess Macc and will be shared across our social media, website and email database.?

If this is something you’re interested in, please fill out our expression of interest form via the link below!?

Fill out the form.

James Baker and his family are asking for help during James’ cancer journey. James was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer 9 years ago and now requires constant care which meant his partner Cathy had to give up full-time work in order to provide this care.?

Please donate what you can today to James’ Help A Mate appeal and help us raise a target of $50,000 to assist with medical and household expenses associated with James’ palliative care.

Donate now.

Earlier this month Jack Daniels teamed up with Aussie music icon G Flip for a one night only event at the Oxford Art Factory, with all proceeds donated to Support Act. This sold out event raised an incredible $13,075, which will support music workers doing it tough.?

We’d like to thank G and the team at Secret Sounds for organising this wonderful event.?

The Australian Road Crew Association (ARCA) have released their latest Desk Tape! Sports live at Billboard, 1981 is available to listen to now. The Desk Tape series raises funds for Support Act’s Roadies Fund to provide financial, health, counselling and wellbeing services for roadies and crew in crisis.

Listen now.

We’d like to share with you a testimonial from someone who has recently received a Crisis Relief Grant.?

“I'm just sending you a very grateful thank you to all at Support Act who were involved with my grant and the handling of my situation. Everything was handled swiftly and very efficiently, from the guidance through the grant to the payments being paid to hospitals etc., taking all the worries and stress out of my situation for me.?

“Everything was handled promptly and professionally. My operation was successful, everything went well. So once again thank you Support Act for everything you have done for me.”??????????????

- Paul? (musician)

If you need help, please reach out and ask for it. There’s no shame in it and we are here for you. To find out more about how we can help, visit the Get Help page on the website.