Student Voices for Recovery

Student Voices for Recovery is a student-led bushfire recovery program designed to support wellbeing and connection for young people in the Local Government Areas of Gippsland, Alpine and Towong. Delivered by Regional Arts Victoria in partnership with Department of Education and Training, the program has provided the opportunity for 20 regional Victoria creative industry workers to undertake a six-month residency in schools impacted by the 2019/20 Eastern Victoria fires, working with students to design and deliver a creative project.

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 Collegethrough 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 Schoolthrough 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 Schoolthrough 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 Schoolthrough 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.

Image by Susie Losch and Mary-Rose Riley courtesy of Regional Arts Victoria