From rice that could improve half the world’s diet to breakthroughs that could save a thousand babies, Melbourne is changing the world.

Made Possible by Melbourne is a free exhibition celebrating world-changing research by the University of Melbourne.
 
Listen to the free audio tour here

Made Possible by Melbourne

Creativity and Wellbeing Hallrmark Research Institute (CAWRI) Webinar Presentation 1-1a (19 Oct 2022): Sarah Woodland speaks about participatory theatre for sexual health education in First Nations communities.

The Score is a theatre performance and workshop program produced by ILBIJERRI Theatre Company—Australia’s leading First Nations theatre company. The aim is to create a community-engaged, participatory model for theatre in health education (THE) that will address sexual health for First Nations young people, to be delivered in communities, schools, prisons, and health settings. This paper presents the model, as well as preliminary findings from a tour of The Score into rural Victorian communities.

Dr Sarah Woodland is a researcher, practitioner and educator in applied theatre, participatory arts and socially engaged performance. She is currently Dean’s Research Fellow in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne, investigating how the performing arts can promote social justice and wellbeing in institutions and communities.

Participatory theatre for sexual health education in First Nations communities by Sarah Woodland

Creativity and Wellbeing Hallmark Research Institute (CAWRI) Webinar Presentation 1-2b. Kat McFerran speaks about changing music listening habits to support wellbeing.

Many young people rely on music to support their wellbeing, including university students. Prior research has identified that this strategy is not successful for all people, and particularly for those who are inclined to ruminate. A recent investigation has once again highlighted the tendency for more unhappy people to persist with unhelpful music listening habits, rather than adjust them, compared to those who are stressed, but happy, satisfied and with high life satisfaction. This interesting finding suggests that the search for the most helpful approach to distressed young people needs further investigation, and one strategy developed through our research was to create a series of VLOGs, produced by young people, as another approach for raising awareness and increasing motivation to adjust unhelpful music listening habits.

Dr Katrina Skewes McFerran is Professor and Head of the Creative Arts Therapy program at the university of Melbourne. She is a qualified music therapist who specializes in work with young people and has published 4 books, more than 100 research articles, a TEDX talk on returning from the Dark Side with music, and a free access MOOC on How Music Can Change Your Life with Coursera.

Changing music listening habits to support wellbeing by Kat McFerran

Recording of the panel discussion for the University of Melbourne Research Impact Symposium

Panel 1

How music sounds without a hearing aid

How music sounds with a hearing aid

Creativity and Wellbeing Research Initiative (CAWRI) Creativity Talks Podcast Ep 7
 
Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to the Chair of CAWRI, Professor Jane Davidson and Dr Robert Faulkner, Honorary Principal Fellow at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Jane and Robert talk about their extensive research together using participant observation in a range of community choirs. The episode explores the role of music and singing in everyday life in fostering social connection, self-identity, and resilience. Jane and Robert also discuss implications for pedagogy and their work in shaping the next generation of singers and musicians.

Singing and Resilience by Jane Davidson and Robert Faulkner

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Dr Zara Thompson, postdoctoral fellow and music therapist at the University of Melbourne. Zara talks about her research and practice using music to support people living with dementia and their carers. Trisna and Zara discuss the power of singing together and the challenges and opportunities of community choirs. Zara introduces the Dementia Inclusive Choirs Network: https://www.dementiainclusivechoirs.com/

Dementia Inclusive Choirs by Zara Thompson

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Dr Courtney Walton, psychologist and Academic Fellow within the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. Courtney talks about his work developing a compassion based intervention for performing artists. Trisna and Courtney discuss self compassion versus self criticism, creating optimum environments for performance, and the parallels between elite sports, performance and academia.

Compassionate Performer by Courtney Walton

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Dr Leon de Bruin, Senior lecturer in Music, Performance teaching at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Leon discusses the progress of his pilot project investigating student wellbeing and resilience gained through instrumental music engagement in secondary schools. Trisna and Leon discuss the value of instrumental music engagement for adolescents' sense of belonging and achievement, as well as cognitive critical thinking skills that transfer from music training across into other domains.

Music Education and Adolescent Wellbeing by Leon de Bruin

A letter from behind the frontline, now held in the University of Melbourne archives, offers a glimpse into an Australian soldier’s life as he made his way to Gallipoli.
 
William Ross Hoggart from Middle Brighton, alumnus of the University of Melbourne and teacher at Melbourne Grammar School, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1914 at the age of 38.
 
He wrote this letter in 1915, just a few days before he was killed. It is read here by Mathew Williams. Photograph courtesy of the Australian War Memorial (AWM E30).

A Letter From Gallipoli

Popular WW1 song, Heroes of the Dardenelles, performed by Kiran Rajasingam (baritone) and Andrea Katz (piano) for the exhibition Pack up your troubles: Music in the Great War.

The exhibition is on at the University of Melbourne's Grainger Museum until the end of 2015.

Heroes Of The Dardanelles

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Professor Nikki Rickard, from the Centre for Wellbeing Science in the Faculty of Education. Nikki talks about her research into the role of music in fostering emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. Nikki and Trisna talk about the complexity of investigating the wellbeing benefits of music, giving consideration to individual musical preferences, differences in personality and the social context in which the music is experienced.

Social benefits of live music experiences by Nikki Rickard

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Associate Professor Margaret Osborne from the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and Ms Simone Maurer, classical-contemporary flautist, and tertiary educator and researcher. Margaret and Simone talk about their work establishing an Australian chapter of the Healthy Conservatoires Network. Margaret, Simone and Trisna talk about the necessity for shifting the culture among professional performers to facilitate speaking about and addressing health concerns. Margaret and Simone discuss their work in the network so far and tailoring the Australian chapter to local context, including consulting Indigenous leaders in arts and wellbeing.

Australian Healthy Conservatoires Network by Margaret Osborne and Simone Maurer

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Mr Lamine Sonko and Professor Adrian Hearn from Languages and Linguistics at the University of Melbourne. Lamine and Adrian talk about how they came to work together introducing people in Naarm/Melbourne to West African drum and dance traditions and philosophy. Lamine talks about his role as a guewel, a steward of ancient cultural practices from Senegal, West Africa. Adrian, Lamine and Trisna talk about cultural differences in wellbeing paradigms, as well as navigating tensions and identifying opportunities to make impact in intercultural and interdisciplinary research.

West African Drum and Dance Traditions for Wellbeing by Lamine Sonko and Adrian Hearn

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Dr Merrick Powell. Merrick and Trisna talk about how fans of violently themed music derive transcendence and belonging from the ritualistic nature of live music experiences. They also discuss research into people who have continued careers in music, dance or athletics into older age and the physical, social and cognitive benefits derived from ongoing engagement.

Violently themed music and physical musicality among older adults

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to two guests from Community Music Victoria, General Manager Craig Barrie and Program Manager Nicki Johnson. Craig, Nicki and Trisna discuss the long history of Community Music Victoria, and current projects including the Growing Community Music program. They discuss the changing needs of Victorian communities, the way the organisation facilitates place based community music participation for social connection and wellbeing, and the power of non-judgemental, inclusive music leadership. 

Community Music Victoria

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Dr Sandra Garrido. They discuss Sandra's research on music for wellbeing - including tools such as the MoodyTunes app for mood regulation among adolescents and music for people living with dementia. They talk about cognitive, emotional and physiological responses to music for different people and the importance of tailoring tools and interventions for different presentations. 

Music for Mood Regulation

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Trisnasari Fraser talks to Paul Rhodes, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sydney. They discuss Paul's visual arts and psychology practices and his exhibition Troubled/& Beyond, a visual representation of the therapeutic journey, showing at The Dax Centre from 10 September, 2025. Paul and Trisna also talk about the role of AI in therapy, social prescribing, the power of community and artist identity as definitional ceremony for youth.

Exploring the therapeutic journey through visual art

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Professor Katherine Boydell, Director of the Arts-based Knowledge Translation Lab at Black Dog Institute. Katherine and Trisna talk about the different ways of knowing facilitated by arts-based approaches in mental health research. Katherine shares her insights into the ethical challenges in work of this nature, and the impact of arts-based knowledge translation through body mapping, and interactive art installations.  

Arts-based approaches in mental health research

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Dr Trisnasari Fraser talks to Belinda Ashe from the Melbourne Recital Centre and Renée Heron, the conductor of Choir 3006, an initiative by the Melbourne Recital Centre. They discuss the Kodály music education approach, the importance of play for adults and children alike and highlights from the first year of Choir 3006, a free community choir for all those who live, work, play and learn in Southbank.

Choir 3006 – group singing for the Southbank community

Academic Convenor of CAWRI Trisnasari Fraser talks to Uncle David Arden, Kokatha and Gunditjmara Songman. They talk about discovering identity and healing through music, the importance of understanding our history and finding common ground. 

David Arden - First Nations activism and humanism through storytelling

The language is Magati Ke, the speaker is Johnny Chula, recorded November 1990

Magati Ke

The language is Malak Malak, the speaker is Jimmy Tapnguk, recorded in November 1990

Malak Malak

The language is Marramaninjsji, the speakers are Ellen Sullivan and Lena Porter, recorded in May 1990

Marramaninjsji

Digital Vineyards

Growing Organs Outside The Body

Ending Avoidable Blindness

Robots With A Human Touch

Improving Half The World's Diet

University of Melbourne art historian Associate Professor Christopher Marshall visited the newly opened, Louvre Abu Dhabi, to uncover its treasures and give us our very own guided tour of his favourite objects.

6 Louvre Abu Dhabi: The Good Life

Willie Wagtails singing at 2 am at Serendip Sanctuary, Victoria.  Recorded with Bioacoustic Recorder from Frontier Labs.
Credit Ashton Dickerson.

Shortened Nocturnal Chorus

SCIENCE TIEGS MUSEUM August 2020 MASTERED

The 50 Words Project aims to provide fifty words in every Indigenous language of Australia. The words are provided online with community permission, and with audio provided by a language speaker. 
Find out more: https://50words.online/

'What is your name?' in Wik-Mungkan language: "Namp nungk wee' ee?"

'Hello' in Kaurna language: "Niina marni"

The 50 Words Project aims to provide fifty words in every Indigenous language of Australia. The words are provided online with community permission, and with audio provided by a language speaker.
Find out more: 50words.online/

‘Hello’ in Gunditjmara (Dhauwurd Wurrung) language: “ngata”

‘Goodbye/see you later’ in Warlpiri language: “ngaka rnangku nyanyi”

Hear the sounds of Australia's top ranked university. Interviews, public lectures, public pronouncements and more. 

University of Melbourne

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