Turn On, Tune In, Word Out – Connection & Belonging Poetry Workshop

This free workshop is organised as part of mental health month. The theme for this year's mental health month is 'Tune In'. Tuning in means being present, being aware of what's happening within you and in the world around you. Tune In to your senses and take a moment to help still and focus your mind, as well as build positive connections.

About this workshop

Discover that you are the one you’ve been waiting for with this inspiring and uplifting poetry workshop. We’ll turn on our creative magic, tune in to our sense of belonging, write our own unique poem, and word out in celebration of our connection with a mini poetry slam.

About the presenters

Alise Blayney has a Creative Arts degree and is a poet, peer worker and editor. She has worked in mental health for over seven years and has been a Peer Educator with the Recovery & Wellbeing College for the past six. Alise is intrigued by the relationship between creativity and mental / emotional distress. What trips her trigger is how word weaponry has the power to transmogrify reality, transcend trauma, dispel distress and make meaning of adverse experience.  

A poet returning from a two year break, Patrick Gould works as a Clinical Nurse Educator at the Prince of Wales Mental Health Service. He was a NSW State Finalist for the Australian Poetry Slam in 2017 and has performed poetry about mental health and burnout on ABC national radio. Despite this he remains terrified of public speaking.

Shaun Hancock has a lived experience of recovery in both mental health and drug and alcohol. He has completed over 52 courses at the Recovery & Wellbeing College and is a Peer Educator and member of the Student Voice Committee. For four years, he enjoyed being a DJ and has been a freestyle rap artist called ‘Beejay Sash’ for the past three.