Change a life today!

Yes, the end of the financial year is near, and at Creativity Australia, we are turning lives around.

Loneliness is the global epidemic of our times. More than 2 in 5 people feel socially isolated and unheard. This leads to mental and physical health issues and economic disadvantage.

You can change this by donating to our life-changing With One Voice program this financial year.

That’s Amore!

Altona Meadows Primary School and With One Voice Altona Meadows Singing Together in Harmony

Last week Benetas St George’s hosted An Afternoon of Dean Martin, a collaboration of students from Altona Meadows Primary School and the members of With One Voice Altona Meadows.

Conducted by With One Voice lead conductor Kym Dillon, the With One Voice Altona Meadows group includes residents of Benetas St George’s Aged Care Facility as well as friends, family and community members. Over several weeks the students of Altona Meadows Primary, lead by Gregory Hall, visited the facility to rehearse with the choir. The students incorporated their musical instrument skills into the songs, and the two groups learned to sing in harmony.

Age proved no boundary, as the two groups delivered a stellar performance to a jubilant crowd at Benetas St George’s on Wednesday.

Click below to see some footage of the event:

Many thanks to Altona Meadows Primary School, and Benetas for hosting. We look forward to more songs and laughter from Altona Meadows!

All are welcome, join With One Voice today.

With One Voice Geelong at Wesley Uniting Church

Creativity Australia is thrilled to announce the new permanent venue for With One Voice Geelong;

The Wesley Uniting Church

As of Monday 16th May 2016, With One Voice Geelong will be held at:

Wesley Uniting Church,

100 Yarra St, Geelong

All are welcome to join, with no need to book ahead or audtion, every

Monday evening from 5:30pm.

Join us in song, in Geelong!

With One Voice Melbourne Has a New Home!

With One Voice Melbourne Has a New Home as of May 10th: The Assembly Hall of The Scots’ Church, Melbourne.

We are delighted to announce that as of Tuesday 10th May, With One Voice Melbourne will have a new location.

The Assembly of The Scots’ Church Melbourne is located on the corner of Collins and Russell Sts, in the Melbourne CBD.

With One Voice Melbourne meets on Tuesdays 6:00pm – 7:15pm.

No singing experience necessary, everyone is welcome. Join Now!

Learn to Sign and Sing!

We are very pleased to announce WOV Footscray will be holding a Learn to Sign and Sing workshop on Thursday 03 March 2016.

Join WOV Footscray’s musical director Jane York and Auslan teacher Medina Sumovic in this two hour fun filled workshop to broaden your musical horizons.
Both beginner singers and signers welcome, no experience necessary.

WHEN:  Thursday 03 March 2016,  5.45pm for a 6.00pm start – 8.00pm

WHERE:  African Australian Community Centre, 30a Pickett Street, Footscray

COST:  Free  –  Supper by gold coin donation.

This workshop has been made possible with support from Seddon Community Bank Branch

Please feel free to share this event with colleagues, friends and family!

Kicking off 2016 With One Voice

The With One Voice choir season has officially begun!

Was your New Year’s resolution to get involved in your local community? Was it to express yourself more or to give yourself a chance to sing again? Perhaps it was to make new friends, or reach out to those in need?

Our doors are open and we welcome you to join us at your local With One Voice choir!

Head to our Join A Choir page for all the necessary info.

We started the year off on a great note, with members from around Victoria singing together in the Melbourne CBD for Australia Day. Click below to watch With One Voice participating in the 2016 Australia Day Parade.

Video of With One Voice in the Australia Day Parade, 2016 Melbourne

See you at choir!

Celebrating Sing for Good 2015

You sang, you spread the word and raised your voice for people experiencing depression,anxiety, loneliness, disadvantage, unemployment or homelessness.

Together, through the magic of Sing for Good, more than $70,000 was raised for Creativity Australia’s  life changing With One Voice program.

Relive the magic of Sing for Good 2015 by watching the highlight video below.

Or (If you are feeling inspired) Register your interest for the 2016 campaign here.

You can also see the full list of 2015 Sing for Good winners here.

What a Wonderful Year!

Our choir season has come to a close for 2015, and what a year it has been!

The new choir season will commence the week beginning:

February 1st, 2016

We look forward to singing with you then.

In the meantime, keep sharing the joy of song!

With One Voice Footscray: Free Beatbox Workshop

Join With One Voice Footscray on Thursday 22 October for a free Beatbox Workshop. Learn the how to combine beats with singing and use your mouth as a percussion. See the details below and come along to make some beats, and have some fun at the African Australian Community Centre.

Rock the next big Aussie Anthem

Hey Australia!

You are invited to…

Star in the next big Aussie Rock Anthem, Legends of the Southern Land.

Legends of the Southern Land is new song by Aussie music legends, John ‘Wonder World’ St. Peeters, John (Swanee) Swan, Marty Rhone, Ray Burgess, Tommy Emmanuel and composed by Michael Yule. They are calling on all Australians to join them in singing this uplifting song.

Think you can’t sing? Don’t fret.

This isn’t a talent quest. We’re seeking people of all ages, cultures, faiths. Professional artists, shower singers… everyone is welcome.

It’s as easy as one, two, three.

Simply enter a video through Sing for Good singing along to the Aussie Rock Anthem. The song will be split into four sections over the month of October with mp3 and lyrics released weekly on Sing for Good. Enter one section, or as many as you like!

You can feel good and do good

We’re seeking 1,000 videos from around Australia and donations raised through Legends of the Southern Land go towards helping people in need through Sing for Good.

But wait there’s more…

Winners will star in the official Legends of the Southern Land music video and appear live on stage during the 2016 national tour.

Are you ready to rock?

Make you mark, make a difference, be the best that you can.
You’re the future of the southern land.

Enter here

A Culture of Innovation the Key to Success

by Tania de Jong AM for Spark Mag

In this era of disruption, a culture of innovation is one of the main reasons for the success of many fast growing companies.

Sometimes it feels like the queue of emails, piles of papers and ‘to do’ lists and not to mention a private life are overwhelming. Who has time for creativity or innovation? It’ll just mean more work and more pressure.

Yet creativity is probably just what business needs – a chance for that unique, creative voice to shine, to re-energise, re-invent and re-imagine or create the future.

Read more.

Dr Charlie Teo sings for good

Leading neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has shared his secret for surviving the rigours, challenges and tragedies he and his team see on a daily basis – Singing!

Dr Teo and his team have entered an inspirational and creative rendition of the Gloria Gaynor hit “I will survive” into the national singing project Sing for Good as a tribute to their patients suffering from brain cancer.

Sing for Good was set up by Creativity Australia to raise awareness of the power of singing to improve mental health, wellbeing and connect communities. It is also a fundraiser for disadvantaged people in the With One Voice social inclusion program that is changing the lives of people all across Australia.

Dr Teo is known world-wide for his skill, but even he admits that “surgery for brain cancer is high risk and physically and emotionally taxing. The management of those with brain cancer is so stressful one could be excused for seeing only the negative side of life … Singing together during and after a hard day in the operating theatre has helped me and my team overcome many of the tragedies that we see on a daily basis and we encourage everyone to do the same”.

“Unfortunately brain cancer kills more children and young adults than any other cancer. It is also the least funded and has the greatest socio-economic impact on society” explains Dr Teo, “but fortunately, this terrible disease often brings out the best in people. Patients demonstrate amazing courage, loved-ones rally to their sides, doctors and nurses bond together as a committed and unified team and life acquires new meaning”.

Creativity Australia founder Tania de Jong AM says “It’s inspirational and life-affirming to see Charlie’s entry! Neuroscience proves singing makes us happier, healthier, smarter and more creative, and that’s why Sing for Good is so important.” Watch Tania’s TED Talk “how singing together changes the brain”.

The goal for Sing for Good, explains de Jong, “is to get every community in Australia participating and to raise money for not only the With One Voice program, but also many other charities and creative arts-health programs.”

“The best part about Sing for Good is that everyone can participate and support their charities. While fun runs and moustaches are great, this is a fundraiser that gives people who don’t want to run or can’t grow a mo, the chance to support charities and improve their own wellbeing too”.

“Sing for Good is easy and everyone can do it. Families, workplaces, schools, sports teams, choirs… Real courage is needed to sing in public; likewise it is courage that is needed to overcome adversity, illness and disadvantage”, says de Jong.

Sing for Good started on 1 August and runs through until 31 October. Visit www.singforgood.org for more information and to start singing.

Watch Dr Teo and the Brain Cancer Warriors video and support the cause at www.singforgood.org/campaigns/brain-cancer-warriors-i-will-survive/