Melbourne Sings began with a vision for a workplace choir, which Creativity Australia founder Tania de Jong AM discussedwith Sofitel general manager Clive Scott and PR manager Annie Dawson. The original idea has developed into a community business choir in inner-city Melbourne, welcoming new migrantsand refugees alongside business people and Sofitel employees.
Melbourne Sings involves residents of Collingwood and Fitzroy housing estates and was launched at Collingwood Neighbourhood House in early 2009. The choir comprises people aged from 12 to 85 representing over 15 nations, many with limited English, for whom the weekly choir rehearsals area chance to learn and practise the language. The choir assists them to build self-esteem, make new friends and feel more settled in Australia. Some members have been helped to find employment through the choir’s social network.
People who are recent migrants, refugees, unemployed or have a healthcare card can join the choir for free, and business members are encouraged to support their participation. Business members help those who are unemployed with interview practice, skills development and CV writing.
Rehearsals include networking and story-telling opportunities that involve all participants, who are encouraged to becomepositive role models for other choir and community members.
Sofitel positions itself as Melbourne’s arts hotel, and considers the choir rehearsals to be a weekly affirmation of the value ofthe arts in everyday life. Melbourne Sings is an opportunity for the hotel to demonstrate leadership in the area of communityresponsibility, improve employee morale, and promote arts participation for individual wellbeing and community cohesion.The hotel provides a rehearsal space and supper for the choir, and encourages its staff to participate. Sofitel is acknowledged at all Melbourne Sings performances and media interviews. Melbourne Sings has performed at a number of majorinternational and national conferences, concerts, gala dinnersand special events.
The overwhelmingly positive outcomes for participants in the Melbourne Sings program include improved wellbeing, sense of belonging, skills and employment secured through the network.
Creativity Australia has gained support to set up twelve further programs known as With One Voice, building social inclusion throughout Victoria. These include Royal Children’s Hospital Sings, Geelong Sings, Orygen Youth Health Sings, Footscray Sings, Dandenong Sings and Sunshine Sings. Broadmeadows, Heidelberg, St Kilda/Prahran, Chadstone, Werribee and Frankston will be commencing shortly. There have been requests to replicate the program nationally.
Creativity Australia and Sofitel Melbourne on Collins were state winners of the Toyota Community Award at the 2010 AbaF Awards in Victoria.
Image: Melbourne Sings at Breakthrough 2009. Photo: Pippa Wischer