BRISBANE, Australia — In a landmark initiative aimed at addressing the rising mental health challenges within the creative industries, Queensland will host its first sector-wide mental health event for the arts community on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the Museum of Brisbane.
Titled Creative Conversations: Mental Wellbeing & The Arts, the event is presented by social enterprise Hey Mate, in partnership with the Museum of Brisbane and supported by the Queensland Mental Health Commission. It aims to spark a state-wide dialogue around the mental health pressures faced by artists and arts workers, including burnout, emotional fatigue, and financial instability.
Described by organisers as “more than a conversation,” the event will feature a 60-minute panel discussion, audience Q&A, and informal networking session. It seeks to not only spotlight systemic mental health challenges but also explore meaningful strategies for cultural change within the creative sector.
“This is the conversation the industry has needed for a long time,” said Aimee Davies, Founder of Hey Mate. “We know from both research and lived experience that burnout, anxiety, and instability are widespread in the arts. This event is about facing that head-on—together.”
A Panel of Industry Voices
The panel will feature several leading figures from Queensland’s creative and cultural landscape, including:
- Sarah Farnsworth, Director of Operations, QMusic
- Criena Gehrke, Chief Executive, Queensland Theatre
- Sarah Harvey, Director of Engagement, Museum of Brisbane
- Bobbi-Lea Dionysius, Producer, Educator, and Lecturer in Film and TV, JMC
- Dr Jaime Redfern, Associate Artistic Director, Australasian Dance Collective
“It’s also about hope,” Davies added. “There are solutions. There are people who care. There are ways we can shift the culture—and this is one step toward that.”
A Sector Under Strain
Recent data underscores the urgency of the event:
75% of arts workers reported moderate to severe anxiety during the pandemic (Australia Council, 2021)
A 2023 Support Act study found 63% of musicians and crew experience high psychological distress
Creatives are five times more likely to suffer from depression compared to the general population (Entertainment Assist)
Young and regional artists face increased risk due to job insecurity and geographic isolation (Creative Recovery Network, 2022)
These statistics highlight what many in the arts already know: mental health struggles are deeply embedded in the fabric of the creative industries.
Hey Mate: Supporting Mental Health in the Arts
Founded by Aimee Davies, Hey Mate is a nationally recognised social enterprise focused on improving mental health outcomes for creative professionals across Australia. The organisation provides Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), wellbeing workshops, creative health training, and specialised mental health resources tailored for artists and cultural workers.
To date, Hey Mate’s programs have reached thousands of creatives and organisations through collaborations with institutions such as QMusic, Queensland Ballet, Carclew, Museums & Galleries NSW, and Regional Arts NSW.
At the heart of Hey Mate’s mission is a commitment to destigmatising mental health and embedding care into the core of creative practice—not as an afterthought, but as a foundational value.
“Creative people deserve creative solutions,” Davies said. “A healthy arts sector is one where care and connection are built in, not bolted on.”
Creative Conversations: Mental Wellbeing & The Arts is open to all members of Queensland’s arts and cultural sector. For more information or to register, visit the Hey Mate website or the Museum of Brisbane’s event page.
