Welcome to the latest edition of Backstage Pass, our monthly update on our programs, services and other activities.
The start of this year has been tougher than any of us could have anticipated, but with restrictions starting to ease again, we’re hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the live music industry.
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
ADDITIONAL CRISIS RELIEF GRANTS FOR NSW
In response to the recent announcement by NSW Arts Minister Ben Franklin of $5 million in funding for Support Act, we are thrilled to announce an extension to our COVID-19 Crisis Relief Grants program.
The new grants are available to anyone working professionally in music or live performing arts who is a NSW permanent resident, has expenditure that exceeds their income, is not receiving any other NSW Government benefit and has not received a grant from Support Act in the past three months.
The grants being funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW are valued at $2,000 for individuals and $2,700 for families with dependent children, and will be available until the funding round is expended.
Support Act is continuing to provide a very limited number of COVID-19 Crisis Relief Grants to music workers in other states at the lower level of $1,000 for individuals and $1,500 for families.
Find out more and apply here.
OUR MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE IS BACK!
After two COVID-related postponements, we’re thrilled to announce that Head First will finally go ahead on Wednesday 25 May at the new Australian Institute of Music (AIM) campus in Sydney.
The music industry conference about mental health and wellbeing will welcome current and future leaders of the music community to face the challenges of the past and look to a future where psychological safety, mental health and wellbeing are at its core.
The full-day event is open to anyone in the industry, from musicians and managers to crew and music workers, with the aim of giving you a new understanding of the mental health challenges facing the industry today and the tools to be able to put your wellbeing first.
Tickets are $39 including a light breakfast, hot drinks, lunch, afternoon tea and networking drinks. More details and our exciting speaker line up to be announced soon!
Find out more and grab tickets now.
A big thank you to our amazing sponsors the Australian Government, NSW Government, AIM, The Industry Observer and Culture Amp.
SEAN RICHARDS HELP A MATE APPEAL
Our latest Help A Mate appeal is for Melbourne-based tour manager, Sean Richards, who has recently undergone heart surgery and is now awaiting a kidney transplant.
Sean Richards is much-loved in the music community, having worked with some of the biggest acts both here and overseas over the past 30 years including Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Neil Finn, Jimmy Carr, The Mighty Boosh, JET and Powderfinger.
This appeal is raising money to help pay the significant medical bills that Sean is facing, as well as supplementing his income as he is unable to work following serious surgery. His family is asking others to help him through this hopefully short phase, until he can get back on the road doing what he loves and what he is great at.
Our Help A Mate service provides an opportunity for friends, family and/or work colleagues to raise money for an artist, roadie or music worker who is in need or suffering hardship or distress. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
If you can, please donate now.
Our Help A Mate fundraiser for legendary First Nations artist, Sammy Butcher, raised over $30,000, which allowed him to purchase a new car to help him attend medical appointments following his recent series of strokes and to continue his music education work in his community. Sammy has asked us to extend his sincere thanks to everyone who gave so generously.
WORKPLACE WELLBEING CHECK-IN
At Support Act, we’re committed to improving the mental safety of workplaces in the Australian music industry with our Workplace Wellbeing Check-In.
These sessions are run with a multidisciplinary team of specialists that can work with your business, band or organisation to ensure that your place of work, from the tour bus to the studio, is a productive, safe and supportive environment.
Learn all about self-care, how to support a colleague who looks to be struggling, how to manage work-related stress, what help is available and how to make a wellbeing plan for your team.
Register your interest in hosting a Support Act Workplace Wellbeing Check-In now by emailing loconnor@supportact.org.au.
CHECK YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WITH SOUND CHECK
Our brand new bi-monthly mental health newsletter, Sound Check, is out now featuring the latest news, events, music community insights, tools and tips to help keep you mentally well.
The first issue features award-winning singer/songwriter, Adrian Eagle, sharing his mental health journey; insights into talking to a counsellor; a First Nations focus on traditional and social media; and much more.
A huge thank you to Millmaine for the cool design!
Read the first issue here and subscribe here to receive future issues.
Annual CrewCare fundraiser, Roady4Roadies, is back with a series of events on Sunday 1 and Saturday 7 May.
Australian music crew number over 22,000 and COVID has seen all of them without work these past two years. Many have been forced to leave the industry they love, many others simply cannot survive.
This year’s events will take place in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart on Sunday 1 May and Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin and Newcastle on Saturday 7 May. All funds raised from the events will go to the Support Act Roadies Fund.
Find out more and get tickets here.
AND FINALLY…
We wanted to share this testimonial from one of our service users who recently received a Crisis Relief Grant:
“Thank you so much for this fantastic news. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Four weeks ago I had a heart operation and naturally had to have time off doing gigs and recover, and I also had the expense of the operation itself.
“So I’m extremely grateful for the financial assistance you guys have come to the rescue with. I really hope I can one day donate money to Support Act and return the favour to you guys.”
Glenn, 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.
