Artist manager/support worker Cerisa Grant joins Support Act

Artist manager, events manager and liaison/case support worker Cerisa Grant has joined music industry charity Support Act.

Brought into the fold as Support Act’s First Nations Community Engagement / Social Worker, Cerisa Grant takes on the newly created position to increase the number of First Nations artists, crew and music workers accessing Support Act’s crisis relief and mental health & wellbeing services.

Grant is a proud Walpiri, Jawoyn and Gurrindji woman from Katherine who has previously worked with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), the Barpirdhila Foundation and Territory Families.

Support Act CEO Clive Miller said:

“Providing services to First Nations music workers in a culturally appropriate and safe environment has long been a priority for Support Act.

“Having Leah Flanagan and Alethea Beetson on our Board gives us the strategic focus, and with the appointment of Cerisa, we believe we have found the perfect candidate to help us increase our engagement at the operational level.”

Cerisa Grant

Cerisa Grant added:

“I am excited to take on this role as it combines both of my passions – music and social work. I am also very proud of my culture and look forward to being able to create a safe space for First Nations music workers so that they can access Support Act’s wonderful support services should they need to.”

Cerisa’s appointment is a 12-month position that has been made possible thanks to financial support provided by the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts.

The Office for the Arts was also integral in helping Support Act launch its Wellbeing Helpline, a free confidential service available 24/7, staffed by professional clinicians familiar with issues faced by people working in music and the arts.

The Wellbeing Helpline can be accessed by calling 1800 959 500 within Australia, or via email. Zoom video calls are also available.

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