25 November 2015: Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are set to complete a four-week program at the University of Canberra aimed at supporting the recovery of service-related health and wellbeing issues.
The ADF Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills (ARRTS) program has been delivered in partnership with the University where participants have been mentored by ADF professional artists, actors and the University's creative staff in a series of workshops.
The program was launched earlier this year with 18 participants signing up to the trial program. This time around, 27 members from the Army, Navy and Air Force have taken part in a series of workshops in drama, music, creative writing and visual arts.
ARRTS follows the success of the ADF Theatre Project/Sydney Theatre Company collaboration, The Long Way Home which toured nationally in 2014, and is an opportunity to provide participants with an uplifting experience designed to assist their movement, speech and attention span and build their self-confidence.
Participants of the ARRTS program have various injuries ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder to physical wounds and they will benefit from improvements in health, increased self-esteem and motivation. Through the medium of the arts, participants have gained a sense of purpose by learning new skills and achieve something different by being part of an activity that focuses on abilities rather than inabilities.
- Navy, Army and Air Force personnel participating in the ARRTS program will be available for interview
WHAT: Media opportunity to mark the completion of the Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills program at the University of Canberra
WHEN: TOMORROW, Thursday, 26 November, 11.00am
WHERE: INSPIRE Centre, Building 25, Pantowora St, University of Canberra
Media Contacts:
SQNLDR Jaimie Abbott: 0403 176 298
Defence Media: (02) 6127 1999
Claudia Doman, UC: 0408 826 362