Welcome to the latest edition of Backstage Pass, our monthly update on our programs and services, as well as other Support Act activities.
Last week was a momentous one with the return of Music In The House for the first time since 2019 and the unveiling of our inaugural First Nations Strategic Plan. Now we’re looking forward to BIGSOUND and more live and in-person events in the coming weeks.
Our sincere thanks as always to all our donors and supporters, whose continuing generosity is helping us to navigate these extremely challenging times.
Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have comments or questions.
Best wishes,
Clive Miller
CEO
MUSIC IN THE HOUSE AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS
Our annual fundraising event, Music In The House, returned after a two-year hiatus last Tuesday night, and what a night it was!
Leaders from across the music industry and beyond attended the sold-out event, including the Hon Tony Burke MP and the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, who awarded music legends Midnight Oil with the prestigious Excellence in the Community Award.
Some incredible performers covered classic Oils songs throughout the evening, so thank you to William Barton and Veronique Serret, Olympia, All Our Exes Live In Texas and Dave Faulkner.
Thank you to the amazing events team led by Narelle Butterworth, Mick Mazzone for the production, Seshanka Samarajiwa and Peter Robinson for photography/filming and Millmaine for the design work.
The auction and raffle raised $100k, which will go towards helping music workers in need, so a huge thank you to everyone who took part, and to our amazing sponsors and prize donors Fender, Midnight Oil, Christabel Blackman, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sennheiser, Neumann, RØDE, Sony Music Australia, Mushroom Group, Universal Music Australia, Warner Music Australia, ALWAYS LIVE, Chugg Entertainment/Frontier Touring, Live Nation APAC, Eleven: A Music Company & John Watson Management, Sound As Ever, Oztix, Global Creatures and Wendy McDougall.
Check out all the pictures from the night here.
FIRST NATIONS STRATEGIC PLAN UNVEILED
We’re thrilled to share with you our inaugural First Nations Strategic Plan, designed in consultation with Elders and Indigenous leaders across the country and led by our First Nations Community Engagement/Social Worker, Cerisa Benjamin.
The Plan is for Support Act staff and the community we serve. It has been developed to guide, communicate, encourage and support what we are doing to achieve our vision and purpose in relation to our First Nations programming.
Our vision is to become an industry leader in offering culturally intelligent, respectful and trustworthy support for First Nations musicians and music industry workers who access our services, which include crisis relief (financial and non-financial aid), mental health and wellbeing support, social work and prevention strategies to meet the diverse needs of First Nations people in the music industry.
Download and read the full plan here.
CRISIS RELIEF UPDATE
Our COVID-19 Crisis Relief Grants for music and live performing arts workers in NSW, provided thanks to additional funding from the NSW Government through Create NSW, have now been exhausted.
A limited number of grants are still available across all states for those that meet the eligibility criteria, thanks to funding provided by our donors and sponsors. In an effort to stretch these funds as far as possible, these are now being offered at $1,000 for an individual and $1,500 for a family.
If you’ve already received a Grant, you’re eligible to reapply 12 months following your previous approval.
Find out more and apply here.
JOIN US AT BIGSOUND
Heading to BIGSOUND next week? Come down and say hello at one of our live and in-person mental health events at the Heritage Room.
At 10.30am on Wednesday 7 September, join Support Act psychologist Ash King with panellists Tia Gostelow, Marihuzka Cornelius, Johann Ponniah and Tim Sheil for On My Mind – The Sound of Success: Understanding Musicians Definition of Success.
At 11.45am on Thursday 8 September, host Mitch Tambo will be joined by Tasman Keith, Kee’Ahn and our very own Cerisa Benjamin for Yarning Strong – Mindset and Burnout as they discuss a First Nations perspective on burnout and how intergenerational trauma, racism, stolen land and other impacts can affect mental health.
At 2:15pm, Ash King will be back with Eilish Gilligan, Jacko Van Issum and Madeline O’Gorman for On My Mind – Online or Perish? How the Pressure of Having An Online Presence is Impacting Artists.
Rounding off the day at 3.15pm, we’ll be unveiling our inaugural Minimum Standards for a Mentally Healthy Music Industry, so be sure to stick around for that!
If you haven’t already, grab your BIGSOUND conference pass here.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID NEW DATES
Our free Mental Health First Aid program is back with two new dates for the online workshops on Monday 12 and Monday 19 September from 9.30am-12pm.
There are also a handful of spots left for our dedicated First Nations Mental Health First Aid on Monday 26 September and Monday 17 October, so get in quick!
Both programs will give you training on how to recognise common mental health issues, provide initial help using an extremely practical evidence-based Action Plan, how to respond in a mental health crisis and seek professional help.
Find out more and register here.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
The Australian Road Crew Association’s (ARCA’s) Desk Tape Series is back with its latest release out tomorrow, featuring Dead Livers live at the Espy in 1986. The Desk Tape Series raises funds for Support Act’s Roadies Fund. Listen here.
It’s nearly that time of year again when we turn our thoughts to annual fundraiser Ausmusic T-Shirt Day, so watch this space for more on this year’s campaign to be announced soon!
FAREWELL LUKE O’CONNOR
It’s with heavy hearts that we say farewell to our National Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, Luke O’Connor.
Since starting with Support Act in 2019 as our Industry Relations & Partnerships Manager, Luke has overseen the delivery of our mental health and wellbeing initiatives, providing vital support, health promotion, training and education to people who work in music.
He played a pivotal role in the development of our first study into the mental health and wellbeing of people who work in music, delivered a world-first conference on mental health and wellbeing in music, and initiated the development of a set of minimum standards for a mentally healthy music industry.
Luke, you will be sorely missed!
If you think you have what it takes to be our next National Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, check out the job posting here and get in touch!
AND FINALLY…
We wanted to share this testimonial from one of our service users who recently received a Crisis Relief Grant:
“I was a recipient of a Crisis Relief Grant from Support Act during Covid and basically because of the support, I wasn’t evicted. You changed my life. Thanks.”
Justin, 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.
