Progress Update on Creativity Australia: September, 2009

Since its launch in November 2008, Creativity Australia has gone from strength to strength in its mission to bring creativity and creative programs to the people of Australia. By bringing creative thinking and leadership into their organisations, employers can increase wellbeing, productivity, employee cohesion and innovation, all of which are more important than ever in this troubled economic environment. Creativity Australia is also developing a number of innovative programs bridging social capital for disadvantaged people and communities, businesses and government.

Most notably, Creativity Australia has commenced its pilot program WITH ONE VOICE with the Melbourne Sings choir, a strategic partnership with Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, Allan’s Music and various agencies. The Melbourne Sings choir brings together employees from the Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, other Melbourne businesses and migrants from the Fitzroy and Collingwoodhousing estates for weekly rehearsals towards quarterly performances at hospitals, the estate, various special and community events and at Sofitel Melbourne.

This is an opportunity to bridge social capital as well as provide employment pathways and mentoring for residents from the housing estates. For participants it is an opportunity to develop networks and unlock creative potential. Participants find their unique voice and learn how to lead and be part of a team. They have already performed for key events including a Bushfire Benefit Arts Auction at Fitzroy Town Hall, and are being approached to create performances for a range of major special events and occasions celebrating cultural diversity.

The Melbourne Sings choir is unique in that it brings people together from all walks of life and ages, cutting across socioeconomic, cultural and even linguistic barriers in the pursuit of making music together. Indeed, a significant proportion of the population of the housing estates are recent migrants to Australia, and the choir provides important opportunities for creating a sense of belonging to mainstream Australia and networking for employment. This has already led to some of the migrants gaining employment through improved self esteem and skills developed through their new networks.

Creativity Australia has been approached to set up other With One Voice choirs in Broadmeadows, Footscray, Werribee, Dandenong and Whittlesea and these currently require funding support. The Royal Children’s Hospital Choir commenced in May and is designed to bring staff from different departments together on a regular basis to improve wellbeing, social cohesion and innovation across the hospital. Other choirs commencing soon include “Geelong Sings” and “Mind over Music” - A new program designed as a positive intervention to assist young people with emerging mental health issues at Orygen Youth Health.

For more information about Creativity Australia, please contact Founder Tania de Jong AM on
03 9682 9686 or enquiries@creativityaustralia.org.au Visit www.creativityaustralia.org.au