Student Voices for Recovery was a student-led bushfire recovery program to support student recovery, wellbeing and connection in the Local Government Areas of Gippsland, Alpine and Towong. It provided the opportunity for 20 regional Victoria creative industry workers to undertake a six-month residency in Victorian government schools impacted by the 2019/20 Eastern Victoria fires.
The program was delivered by Regional Arts Victoria in partnership with Department of Education and Training. Creative Workers partnered with participating schools to work with students over a six-month period during Terms 2 and 3, 2022, to design and deliver a creative project led by the students. Professional development in student-led art practice and trauma informed training was provided, along with ongoing peer to peer support and networking opportunities for community engagement.
The goals of the program were to:
- Give students affected by the 2019/20 Eastern Victoria bushfires an opportunity to engage with creativity and reconnect with their peers, school community and learning.
- Engage students in artistic practice to support their wellbeing and connection to their community and evaluate the effectiveness of student-led practice in the disaster recovery context.
20 Creative Workers were recruited and trained by Regional Arts Victoria to to deliver a student-led arts experience across 26 schools:
- Kylie Biltris worked with Talgarno Primary School and Tallangatta Secondary College through a visual arts practice.
- Justin Brady worked with Mallacoota P-12 College through a music practice.
- Aimee Chan worked with Bethanga Primary School through children’s literature and multi-media arts practice.
- Linden Dean worked with Lucknow Primary School through a visual arts practice.
- Sarah Foley worked with Bairnsdale West Primary School through a visual arts practice.
- Chris Henderson worked with Myrtleford P-12 College and Orbost North Primary School through a visual arts practice.
- Tracey Johnson worked with Swift Creek P-12 School through a visual arts practice.
- Karen Jones and Kylie Ahne (The Crackpots) worked with Harrietville Primary School through a visual arts practice.
- Harley Kewish worked with Tambo Upper Primary School through a visual arts practice.
- Susie Losch worked with Dederang Primary School through an environmental visual arts practice.
- Deidre Marshall worked with Bairnsdale Primary School 754 and Bruthen Primary School through a performing arts practice.
- Jasmine McMillan worked with Clifton Creek Primary School through a visual arts practice.
- Lee Nickless worked with Lakes Entrance Primary School, Lakes Entrance Secondary School and Marlo Primary School through a visual arts and projection art practice.
- Alison Plasto worked with Mount Beauty Primary School and Corryong College through a videography practice.
- Jennifer South worked with Nungurner Primary School through a performing arts practice.
- Brooke Taylor worked with East Gippsland Specialist School through a visual arts practice.
- Ronda Teakel worked with Walwa Primary School through a visual arts practice.
- Tiffany Thatcher worked with Newmerella Primary School through a performing arts practice.
- Pinky Wittingslow worked with Tawonga Primary School through a sustainable visual arts practice.
For further information please contact:
Pippin Davies, Senior Manager, Arts & Education
0427 211 123 | [email protected]
Image by Susie Losch and Mary-Rose Riley.