Before I share the announcement, I want to begin with what has always guided my work: the belief that creativity can shift the way we connect, heal, and understand ourselves. This belief is at the heart of the program I am grateful to share today.
During 2022, I was invited to collaborate in a beautiful project. Little did I know, when answering the phone while walking my dogs in a very hot afternoon, that I would agreeing to a life changing experience.
Today, I’m pleased to announce that Colouring the Spectrum, a program I created in collaboration with Dr. Anita Connell, Director of TunedIn Music , will be featured at EACH25, the International Social Prescribing Conference organised by ASPIRE in Brisbane this November.
This project reflects the dual worlds that shape my practice. It brings together my background in healthcare and my life in the studio, showing how creative expression can foster confidence, connection, and community.
Purpose of Colouring the Spectrum
At its core, Colouring the Spectrum is an arts and music initiative designed to build social bonds among young adults. Over eight weeks, participants aged 19 to 36 with lived experience of disability engaged in workshops focused on abstract art, musical exploration, improvisation, and collaboration.
What took shape was more than a series of sessions. It became a space where agency could grow, where experimentation felt safe, and where self-expression was both supported and celebrated. The artworks and original soundscapes created throughout the program reflect individuality, resilience, and the joy that emerges when people create together.
Importance of Social Prescribing
Sharing this program at EACH25 feels deeply meaningful because it aligns with the mission of ASPIRE, the Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research and Education.
Social prescribing recognises that health is influenced not only by treatment, but also by relationships, community, and opportunities for people to be seen and understood.
Creative programs like Colouring the Spectrum can function as effective social prescriptions by:
• Enhancing belonging
• Reducing social isolation
• Providing community-based support
• Fostering emotional expression and confidence
• Improving wellbeing through meaningful engagement
These are essential components of holistic health, not optional additions.
In every medical space I’ve worked with, I’ve witnessed how art softens the atmosphere, supports calm, and reminds us that care is more than treatment: it’s connection. Seeing my paintings reaching the hospitals and health settings this year has deepened my understanding of how creativity supports wellbeing: for patients, families, and the incredible staff who hold so much every day.
What We Will Present at EACH25
In Brisbane, we will present our inclusive and participatory arts approach and how it supported wellbeing beyond traditional healthcare models. We will share how creative expression can be designed with accessibility and dignity at its centre, addressing the social determinants of health and the need for spaces where people can create without barriers.
Most importantly, we will highlight the voices of our participants. Their courage, creativity, and trust shaped the heart of this project. Their colours, sounds, and stories are what we will be bringing to the international audience.
I am deeply grateful to everyone involved: to our participants for their imagination and openness, to our collaborators and supporters for their belief in this work, and to ASPIRE for recognising the importance of community-centred creative programs in the future of social prescribing in Australia.
As we prepare for Brisbane, my hope is that this program continues to spark conversations about the role of the arts in health. Creative expression is universal. When offered with intention, accessibility, and care, it supports individuals and strengthens entire communities.
Here is a link to our program's final exhibition video. I hope you enjoy watching!
Big hug,
