With One Voice awarded seed funding to start Local With One Voice franchises to four firms.
- Western Riverina (NSW)
- Port Stephens (NSW)
- Myrtleford/Beechworth (VIC)
- Avenue Neighbourhood House Blackburn South (VIC)
Local community groups, social businesses and not-for-profits promoting social inclusion and tackling loneliness, isolation, depression and disadvantage are invited to apply.
Each successful application joins a 12-month intensive mentoring program that ensures success. We’re on the look-out for more community organisations who fulfill this criteria.
- Movers and shakers in their communities
- Aspiring to produce meaningful change and create a more fair and caring society
- Passionate about community wellbeing and the power of the arts – especially singing
If this is you, we have grants of up to $10,000 available now.
All successful Local Franchise awardees are located in areas that are culturally and economically diverse and seek to redress balance between those that have and have-not.
They provide crucial interventions for all participants and support those directly and indirectly affected by many of life’s challenges. These organisations recognise how singing in a group can improve wellbeing, inspire personal growth and transform communities.
Each applicant must present a local franchise offer that will be successful and sustainable.
Feedback from a survey saw current members claiming “If it wasn’t for the choir, I wouldn’t be alive today,” and joining the choir has made them feel “empowered, happy and alive.”
About Creativity Australia
Loneliness, and the depression which accompanies it, is the global epidemic of our era.
2 in 5 people feel socially isolated and unheard. This isolation leads to serious mental and physical health issues and great economic disadvantage. Creativity Australia is building a happier, healthier, more inclusive nation through the life-changing With One Voice program.
We bridge the gap between individuals that are experiencing disadvantage and individuals who are more fortunate through the neuro-scientific benefits of community singing.
We build supportive networks that help people connect to brighter futures.
Together, we can change the world… one voice at a time. Creativity Australia is a charity founded in 2008 by award-winning social entrepreneur and soprano Tania de Jong AM.
Tania’s TED talk ‘How Singing Together Changes The Brain’, has over 110,000 views. With One Voice programs are now being replicated through our unique social franchise model.
With One Voice
With One Voice program operates in Victoria, NSW, ACT, SA, WA, Tasmania and Queensland.
The inclusive community choirs unite hundreds of people aged 9 to 90, from all faiths and all walks of life: migrants, people with disabilities, job seekers, executives, seniors, students, refugees, asylum seekers and more. View our inspiring member stories.
Why we sing
Choirs are led by professional conductors and meet weekly, followed by supper.
Through the Wish List, participants grant one another wishes big and small like free music lessons, language and computer tuition, assistance with resumes, mentors and finding jobs.
With One Voice choirs facilitate helping people in order to connect to whatever they need in life like friends, mentors, wellbeing, self-esteem, networks, skills and employment.
Over 3000 wishes have been granted so far! Please be inspired by a short 3-minute video.
Neuroscience proved that singing makes people happier, healthier, smarter, creative and increases neuroplasticity. Music and singing have no barriers of language or background.
Unlike sport, music is non-competitive – the participants are working together to create something greater than themselves as individuals – and the results are transformative.
The choirs transcend borders every week, and in public through regular performances. When we come together to create harmony, participants feel they are together, not different.
There is no more us and them, only us.
Through harnessing the process of uniting more and more communities in song nationwide, Creativity Australia aims to create positive outcomes for people experiencing mental illness, loneliness, social isolation, disability, disadvantage, unemployment and homelessness.
With One Voice choirs’ impact
Swinburne University research showed 98% of With One Voice choir participants experienced less stress, 91% improved social bonds and 66% feel less depressed.
Creativity Australia won the 2016 Melbourne Award for Contribution to Community by a Community Organisation and been named in the Anthill Smart 100 Innovations for 5 years.
Donations and partnerships
It costs $10 a week, or $500 a year to support a person in need to attend a With One Voice choir. We love to partner with you to increase diverse participation in this work.
Our work is all about community wellbeing, alleviating disadvantage and inclusiveness.
We can continue to create transformational outcomes for disadvantaged participants and develop our strategy to reach more people and communities in need throughout Australia.
With One Voice local franchise
Creativity Australia is extremely passionate about nurturing communities across Australia and beyond in order to help them sing together in the spirit of joy, wellbeing and inspiration.
We are therefore extremely delighted to offer an exquisite suite of With One Voice “how to” guide videos, resources and mentoring for individuals, groups and communities who are looking to start new, inclusive With One Voice Franchises using our innovative model.
Our goal is to have 40 programs operating nationwide by 2022.
We have also commenced a Conductor Development Program and have curated a With One Voice Start-up Fund in order to facilitate the provision of small grants so as to enable community leaders from around Australia to commence programs and replicate our model.
Creativity Australia’s social impact goal
Our goal is to help break down the traditional silos of social welfare and build cohesive communities that include and support one another, rather than relying on ‘top-down’ services.
We mobilise and multiply community change makers beyond the capacity of our organisation with diverse people who will pay it forward and address the issues that impact our society.
Your support is critical to the future of the With One Voice program.
Together, we can change the world… one voice at a time.
