THE ADF ARTS FOR RECOVERY, RESILIENCE AND TEAMWORK (AARTS) PROGRAM
Staying connected with mates becomes hard when you kick off an entrepreneurial journey, so it was wonderful to get a call from Mark Prideaux when he was in Canberra a few weeks back. Mark and I have crossed paths in many locations since our first lesson’s learned workshop at the Mykonnos cafe after a failed attempt to clean out the Hobart casino 25 years ago. Like everyone, but less than some, we’ve collected a few scars and bruises along the way, with not all of them visible.
Mark already knows I love him dearly, so that’s not the purpose of this post. I’m hoping to raise awareness of something fantastic I experienced recently - the ADF Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills (ARRTS) program. This is a four-week music, creative writing and visual arts program that builds confidence and resilience in people experiencing service-related health and wellbeing challenges. It is held at the University of Canberra, is now in it’s eighth year, and it works.
The photo I have included was taken at the “Showcase evening”. If you attended the event, Mark was the one who, for about two and a half minutes, actually believed he really was Johnny Cash. The showcase is a deeply moving experience with lots of hugs between participants, and more than a few tears in the crowd. I know I was not the only one feeling immensely proud of Mark and many other people I’ve never met and will probably never see again.
Good luck with all your journeys people.
--------
Applications are now open for the May 24 program. It’s held in Canberra, but travel and accom is covered from anywhere in Australia for eligible participants. If you are a serving or transitioning member, or a veteran who transitioned within the past 3 years you can find out more at https://lnkd.in/dHv3rifU
Finally - Bravo to all the ARRTS team, and those who support the program. It is a powerfully good example of deep and genuine human care by an organisation that has too many moving parts to ever be perfect, and does not always get the credit it deserves for trying to be.
#Australian Defence, Force #ARRTS
On the way! Can't wait