Support Act

Are you passionate about cultural safety, representation and participation across the contemporary music industry? You may be our next First Nations Project Coordinator! This newly created role will play a pivotal part in delivering a landmark national project exploring the experiences of First Nations music workers. This part-time, remote role (Australia-wide, through to Feb 2027) will work closely with our First Nations Program Manager to coordinate consultations, support a national Steering Committee and ensure the project is delivered in a culturally safe, organised and collaborative way. If you’re a highly organised professional with experience in project coordination and a strong understanding of First Nations communities, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful, industry-wide change. Applications close: 5:00 PM AEST, 25th May 2026 We will be reviewing applications as they are received and may begin interviews before the closing date, so early applications are encouraged. Want to learn more? Read the full position description at https://lnkd.in/g_7GT89U

"The emergency may have passed, but the structural pressures remain." Support Act's CEO, Clive Miller, and resident psychologist, Dr Ash King PhD, speak to Limelight magazine about the growing support for workers in the music and creative industries. https://lnkd.in/gtd-QBGV

This week I attended Support Act's BlakStage event on behalf of Creative Workplaces, and listened to a powerful panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians, DJs and festival organisers speak about life in the music industry. One line stayed with me from Mr Fred Gesha: "The structures we operate within were never meant to include us." It also needs to be said plainly: First Nations music in this country is exceptionally good. Innovative, genre-defining and deeply rooted in culture. The talent is undeniable. Music has always been part of First Nations culture. Long before charts and streaming platforms, there were songs that taught lessons, carried stories and connected people to Country. That culture continues today, whether on community radio, small local stages or major festivals, and whether it's the yidaki, electronic music, rock, country, hip hop or opera. A few reflections that stood out: • Underground music matters. It is where culture is protected, community is prioritised and new artists learn their craft. • Representation creates cultural resonance. Seeing artists on stage who look like you, sound like you and talk about your life experience - this impacts what feels possible. • Authenticity is grounded in community. The strongest artists stay accountable to the people who lifted them up. • Tokenism can be sniffed out from a mile away. • Small stages are not small things. They are training grounds that sustain the future of the industry. Music is not just entertainment - it is infrastructure for identity, wellbeing and human rights. It creates spaces where people can be seen, heard and safe. Creative work is real work, and when we invest in culturally safe creative spaces, we are not just funding music. We are strengthening community, dignity and self-determination.

A brand new season of ‘Outside In’ has arrived... and we’re widening the lens. Season 3 steps further into the creative world, spotlighting artists and arts workers across the broader creative industries and the unique pressures that come with a life spent developing, performing and creating. In our first episode of the year, comedian Ethan Cavanagh talks to 'Outside In' host Jess Macc about Vegas Residencies, the stark – sometimes lonely – reality of a year on tour, burn out, and how he manages to juggle it all. Keep your eyes on our socials for the full episode and get a dose of the real, relatable, and full of laughs escapades that come with a career in the spotlight. 📹: Filmed and edited by Jess Macc from Mookie Studio.

Visual artists face some of the highest levels of financial instability across the creative industries. These stressors are systemic, not personal failures. With National Association for the Visual Arts, we delivered a REWIRE session for 150 artists, makers and art workers and the verdict has long been in… Creative work can tangle identity and output. Pressure and uncertainty sit close to the surface. And hearing others name the same experiences can shift something, even slightly. That moment of recognition still feels like the most important part. Want to attend sessions like this? Visit our new hub for creatives at https://lnkd.in/grXWtFB4 You’ll get access to free Mental Health & Wellbeing workshops, training and resources. 📹: ‘REWIRE: Understanding Mental Health in the Visual Arts’ online workshop led by Support Act’s Dr Ash King PhD.

Creative work often relies on close collaboration, whether that’s within bands, touring teams, creative partnerships, or workplaces. When communication breaks down, tensions can escalate quickly. In partnership with Support Act, we’re hosting a FREE online webinar focused on practical tools for navigating difficult conversations, giving feedback, and managing creative tension in the music industry. This 60-minute session will explore strategies for handling challenging conversations in creative environments. Participants will learn why communication can be both powerful and complex, how misunderstandings arise, and the vital role trust plays in healthy collaboration. 📆 Tuesday, April 21, 2026 🕠 5:30pm – 6:30pm (AEST) RSVP via: https://lnkd.in/g9C5rVFS 🔗

As Easter approaches, we wish you a safe and restful break. If you work in music or the creative industries, the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline (1800 959 500) remains available for free, confidential counselling and support. You don’t need to be in crisis to reach out. Sometimes you just need someone to lend an ear. Please note that our office will be closed from Friday 3 – Monday 6 April 2026, but the Helpline will remain available throughout the break. 🎥: Featuring Support Act’s Crisis Relief Team. Filmed and edited by Annabelle Maunsell at Kindred Studios.

Merch responsibly 💚. Check out this practical guide on making more sustainable choices when it comes to one of our favourite music past times. Created by Green Music Australia, REVERB and The CSO Shop.

🎟️ The latest edition of Backstage Pass is here. As the year gathers momentum, we’re continuing to expand the ways Support Act supports people across music and the wider creative industries. In this edition we share updates on 'Raising Our Voices', a new national review examining the experiences of First Nations music workers and identifying practical steps to strengthen cultural safety, representation and leadership pathways across the industry. You’ll also find updates on our new mental health programs, EAP services, and a new website chat function — making it easier for music and creative industry workers to connect with the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline and book confidential counselling. If you work in music or the creative industries, we invite you to take a look. 👉 Read the latest Backstage Pass at https://lnkd.in/grsqEBJj 📸: 'Creative Minds' 2022 workshop led by Support Act's Dr Ash King. Photo by Georgia Griffiths.

We're thrilled to announce that Support Act has secured funding for a landmark Review into the experiences of First Nations music workers across Australia - and we're now looking for an independent First Nations-led research partner to undertake this important work. Backed by Sound NSW’s Contemporary Music Development Grants, the First Nations–led Review — titled 'Raising Our Voices' — will examine cultural safety, representation and participation in the contemporary music industry. The research project will be led by Support Act’s First Nations Program Manager, Catherine Satour, supported by a First Nations Steering Committee that will provide cultural governance, strategic guidance and music industry expertise.   Support Act is currently inviting tenders from suitably qualified consultancies, with preference given to First Nations–owned or led organisations or those working in genuine partnership with First Nations researchers and communities. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gkBg66ET Learn more about submitting a Request For Tender (RFT) here: https://lnkd.in/g8XUPmD8 📸: Catherine Satour, First Nations Program Manager Support Act, with attendees at Yarning Strong. Tamworth Country Music Festival, January 2026. Photo by Glen 'Gling' Hunt.