Support Act launches First Nations Support Line

Music industry charity Support Act has launched a support line dedicated to First Nations music and arts workers.

Announced Thursday (10th September), the First Nations Support Line is free and confidential, and its available for all Indigenous industry professions concerned about any aspect of their mental health and wellbeing.

“We recognise the importance of First Nations music and arts workers being able to speak with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander clinician or one with cultural awareness training, who has experience with individuals and families, and who understands the challenges First Nations music and arts workers may face,” comments Cerisa Grant, First Nations Community Engagement / Social Worker for Support Act.

Support Act

With the live industry all but wiped out for 2020 due to the pandemic and with Melbourne stuck in a second lockdown, the new helpline is a salve for the music community in these exceptionally tough times.

Australia’s First Nations peoples are particularly at risk.

The Indigenous suicide rate is soaring, and was double that of the general population in 2015, explains Grant.

The rate of suicide among our First Nations community increased from 5% of Australia’s total suicide in 1991 to 50% in 2010, despite making up just a small fraction of the Australian population.

“This is an alarming rate for First Nations People,” Grant says. “We hope that more First Nations music and arts workers will seek support in a culturally safe environment and make use of the Dedicated Support Line as a way of processing past injustices and the effects of intergenerational trauma.”

Grant recently joined Support Act in the newly created position to increase the number of First Nations artists, crew and music workers accessing its crisis relief and mental health and wellbeing services.

Support Act

The First Nations Support Line is created in partnership with AccessEAP with funding provided by the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts.

Earlier this year, Support Act secured $10 million in federal funding to recruit new counsellors and expand counselling services, and provide critical resources to music and performing arts artists and workers.

Since then, the organisation has expanded its team and its programme to include Gimme Shelter with  The Association of Artist Managers, and other projects, and the organisation immediately extended access to the Helpline to all members of the arts sector.

The First Nations Dedicated Support Line is available 24/7, 365 days a year by calling 1800 861 085. 

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.