We may be moving into winter this week, but things are hotting up over here with some fantastic new events launching over the coming weeks.
As we approach the End Of Financial Year, we ask you to consider making a tax deductible donation to our appeal so that we can continue to support the ever-increasing requests for crisis relief, mental health and wellbeing support that we receive from the music community, especially during these tough economic times.
Thank you as always for your interest and support.
Best wishes,
Clive Miller
CEO
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE…
We warmly welcome the announcement from the Victorian Labor Government last week investing $478 million to support creative industries in the Victorian Budget 2023/24.
This funding includes $2 million over four years for Support Act, which will be crucial in allowing us to continue our life-saving work in mental health prevention, education and training for music workers across the state.
Image – Creative Victoria
We’re looking for a part-time First Nations Programs Lead to join our wonderful team!
This is an amazing opportunity to drive organisation and industry change by ensuring that the objectives of our First Nations Strategic Plan are achieved; to create culturally intelligent policies and processes that ensure First Nations music workers feel comfortable in engaging with our services; and to manage our First Nations team.
Applications have been extended and now close at 5pm (AEST) on Thursday 8 June.
This is an identified position for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. Aboriginality is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under Section 14(d) of the Anti-discrimination Act 1997.
With the new Cultural Policy beginning to be embedded into our industry from 1 July, it’s more important now than ever to ensure our workplaces are safe and we all take action to protect, respond, and promote the positive aspects of work that contribute to good mental health.
In light of that, we invite all music industry workplaces and employers to partner with us in this commitment by signing up to our Minimum Standards for a Mentally Healthy Music Industry, if you haven’t already done so.
A further 12 companies have signed this month including Collective Artists, Deathproof, Double Drummer, Melody Management, Morph Consulting Services, Music ACT, Myriad Mgmt, Square Lemon PR, The Corner Hotel, Thinking Loud, Vyva Entertainment and Warner Chappell Music.
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered with LivingWorks, Australia’s leading suicide intervention training organisation, to provide people who work in music access to free and important suicide prevention education.
Guided by a skilled and supportive trainer, safeTALK‘s steps provide a simple yet effective method to engage with people at risk and connect them with resources that can carry out a full-scale intervention.
The first safeTALK event will be held at APRA AMCOS, Eora/Sydney on Thursday 29 June from 10am-2pm.
Don’t forget to check out our two new Yarning Strong events coming up soon for Mabo Day and NAIDOC Week.
Join us online at 7.30pm (AEST) this Saturday 3 June/Mabo Day with host Mitch Tambo and our very own Will Oui as co-host. Guests joining them to discuss the day will include artists Mau Power and Kristal West, who will also be performing.
On Monday 3 July at 10.30am, our in-person Yarning Strong NAIDOC Week Special – For Our Elders, will be taking place at the Music Market in Collingwood, Naarm/Melbourne. We’ll have a yarn about how our trailblazing Elders are true leaders and game changers in the music industry, and conclude with a performance from the one and only, Uncle Kutcha Edwards.
This program is supported by Helping Hands – JB Hi-Fi’s workplace giving program.
Our popular First Nations Mental Health First Aid training program, specifically for First Nations musicians, managers, crew and music workers and non-Indigenous people working with them, will return with a new session on Wednesday 5 July from 10am-3pm (AEST).
The free, online workshops provide nationally accredited training for individuals and teams, and teach you how to effectively recognise and respond to mental health issues.
This program is supported by Helping Hands – JB Hi-Fi’s workplace giving program.
As we all know, the cost of living crisis is impacting everyone financially and mentally, but for some of those who bring the music we love into our lives, it’s really biting.
We’ve provided over 500 hours of counselling through our Wellbeing Helpline this year alone, many for people who are battling issues like financial insecurity, rising costs of performing and declining mental health.
A donation of $100 can help us continue our life-saving work by providing access to free phone counselling for anyone who works professionally in music or the arts. If you can, please make a one-off or recurring donation on or before 30 June.
The Australian Road Crew Association’s (ARCA’s) latest Desk Tape is out tomorrow featuring Depression live at the Seaview Ballroom in 1987. The Desk Tape series raises funds for Support Act’s Roadies Fund.
And huge congrats on ARCA’s CD release of Midnight Oil LIVE At The Old Lion Adelaide 1982, which reached #7 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums chart, #1 on the NSW/ACT chart and #1 on both the AIR Independent Albums and Independent Labels Album Charts last week!
AND FINALLY…
We wanted to share with you a testimonial from a service user who recently received a Crisis Relief Grant.
“Halfway through 2022 I experienced a relapse of severe depression and panic disorder that had previously been managed for seven years. This left me incredibly unwell both mentally and physically and forced me to lose a lot of my freelance music work.
“I reached out to Support Act (and) applied for the crisis relief application to help cover the out of pocket cost of treatment. The team at Support Act were extremely kind and understanding of my situation. They generously offered not only financial support, but access to a number of different wellbeing services.
Allan, producer
If you need help, please reach out and ask for it. There’s no shame, we’re here for you.
