Access
The Big Anxiety welcomes all visitors to our events, making every effort to ensure that our program is inclusive and accessible for our audience.
If you experience distress or need to talk through feelings/responses, please contact our convenors/volunteers in the first instance. If professional support is required, they will arrange this.
Please also see Useful web pages and phone numbers at the end of the resources page.
Don’t Rush Home
‘Don’t Rush Home’ is a concept adapted from First Fortnight, a festival in Ireland that uses arts and culture to challenge mental health stigma while supporting vulnerable people through creative therapies. The idea is that no one should leave the festival feeling upset, distressed, concerned or confused. We hope that visitors have positive and beneficial experiences but we recognise that complex material or feelings need processing – and very often an experience is enhanced by discussion. Downloadable Guide PDF here.
The Forum
Please note that The Big Anxiety forum is not a clinically directed event. An experienced trauma counsellor will be present – and many of the presenters are experienced trauma-workers. However, we are guided by principles outlined by the consumer movement, lived experience scholarship and peer work, and by community partners. In particular, we align with critical mental health and disability perspectives that advocate experience-led practice. References will be provided so that you may determine in advance if the approach is right for you.
RMIT Design Hub Gallery Access information
Please contact RMIT Design Hub Gallery if further information about access is required.
https://designhub.rmit.edu.au/about#accessibility
RMIT Gallery Access information
Please contact RMIT Gallery if further information about access is required.
https://rmitgallery.com/about-contact/
RMIT The Capitol Access information
Please contact The Capitol if further information about access is required.
State Library Victoria Access information
Please contact the Library if further information about access is required.
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/visit/access-inclusion
The Wheeler Centre Access information
Please contact the Wheeler Centre if further information about access is required.
https://www.wheelercentre.com/accessibility/
Auslan
Auslan interpreted performances are for audiences who are Deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Please contact m.neidorf@unsw.edu.au to request.
The Big Anxiety welcomes all visitors to our events, making every effort to ensure that our program is inclusive and accessible for our audience.
Counsellors present
Counsellors and/or a range of mental health professionals will be present throughout The Big Reach in Brisbane on Thursday 10 Feb and Friday 11 Feb, 2022 and The Big Anxiety Open day on Saturday 12 Feb. Staff from the Black Dog Institute will be available during Edge of the Present viewings from 8 Feb to 12 Feb.
Peer care workers from Roses in the Ocean and staff from Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services and Black Dog Institute will be onsite and available if assistance is required.
If you experience distress or need to talk through feelings/responses, please contact our convenors/volunteers in the first instance. If professional support is required, they will arrange this.
Please also see Useful web pages and phone numbers at the end of the resources page.
Don’t Rush Home
‘Don’t Rush Home’ is a concept adapted from First Fortnight, a festival in Ireland that uses arts and culture to challenge mental health stigma while supporting vulnerable people through creative therapies. The idea is that no one should leave the festival feeling upset, distressed, concerned or confused. We hope that visitors have positive and beneficial experiences but we recognise that complex material or feelings need processing – and very often an experience is enhanced by discussion. Downloadable Guide PDF here.
Auslan
Auslan interpreted performances are for audiences who are Deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Please contact m.neidorf@unsw.edu.au to request.
QUT Gardens Theatre Access Information
Please call QUT Gardens Theatre if further information about access is required
gardenstheatre.qut.edu.au/visit
QUT Gardens Theatre Covid Information
gardenstheatre.qut.edu.au/visit/covidsafe
HOTA Home of the Arts, Gold Coast
Access information about HOTA on the Gold coast can be found here
The Big Anxiety welcomes all visitors to our events, making every effort to ensure that our program is inclusive and accessible for our audience.
Events with Auslan
MCA Art is for Everyone Weekend
28 & 29 September, 11am — 4pm, MCA
Art*People*Care: A Long Table with Project Art Works
2 October, 6pm, MCA
Art After Hours – The Listening Panel
16 October, 6.30pm (Centenary Auditorium) AGNSW
Nathan Filer – The Language of Madness
23 October, 6:30pm, Lower Ground Floor Town Hall
Awkward Conversations
12 and 13 October at Customs House. Two sessions: 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm. Counsellors on site.
Auslan is provided by request for the Awkward Conversations program. If attending the Awkward Conversation sessions please indicate your access request at time of Booking or email festival@thebiganxiety.org Requests for Auslan interpreter close 10 Oct.
S-Word Awkward Conversations with Lifeline
World Mental Health Day 10 October – Auslan interpreters onsite between 8am – 10am. Counsellors on site. Tallawoladah Lawn (outside MCA), The Rocks.
Deaf-led Tour of The Empathy Clinic
Join Sue Wright and The Big Anxiety Curator Dr Bec Dean for a Deaf-led tour of The Empathy Clinic on 9 Nov, 11am-1pm at UNSW Galleries, Paddington. Bookings essential HERE
The Razz – Panel Discussion with Sandra Pankhurst
9 November, 1:30pm, UNSW Art and Design Campus, Paddington
PODCASTS (visit our Soundcloud here)
The Big Anxiety 2019 Podcast Series
listen_up with r e a and Judy Atkinson
art*people*care Long Table with Project Artworks
Counsellors present
Awkward Conversations
12 and 13 October at Customs House. Two sessions: 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm. Counsellors on site.
S-Word Awkward Conversations with Lifeline
World Mental Health Day 10 October –Counsellors on site. Tallawoladah Lawn (outside MCA), The Rocks.
Don’t Rush Home
‘Don’t Rush Home’ is a concept adapted from First Fortnight, a festival in Ireland that uses arts and culture to challenge mental health stigma while supporting vulnerable people through creative therapies. The idea is that no one should leave the festival feeling upset, distressed, concerned or confused. We hope that visitors have positive and beneficial experiences but we recognise that complex material or feelings need processing – and very often an experience is enhanced by discussion. Downloadable Guide PDF here.
Lived Experience Programs
Edge of the Present is designed as an enjoyable sensory experience for all audiences (no bookings needed).
Additionally, for people with lived experience of suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety and/or other mental health issues, the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention/Black Dog Institute is organising an additional program of engagements. These include:
- Guided sessions testing the mental health benefits of Edge of the Present. If you are interested in participating, please contact Stephanie Habak – s.habak@blackdog.org.au
- A ‘visual matrix’ for people with lived experience. The visual matrix is psychosocial method of engaging with and analysing the impact of aesthetic experience. This session will be lead by Prof Lynn Froggett (UK) on Monday 21 October. If you are interested in participating, please contact Stephanie Habak – s.habak@blackdog.org.au
MATRIX is a shared creative experience for senior members of the community. As part of the MATRIX experience guests will be escorted on a personal tour of major art works in The Big Anxiety. Guests will then invited to share responses in a thought-provoking, facilitated session, when we will discuss associations, emotions, and thoughts about the art in the context of life experiences.
HOW TO ENROL: To join a MATRIX as an individual or as a group, check this page for updates of times and places, and register by emailing gail.kenning@unsw.
Identifying lived experience
We usually avoid classifying projects and people by a single experience, illness or diagnosis. However, to make it easy for people to seek out events that are of relevance to their own lives, here’s a guide to some of the topics/experiences covered:
Psychosis/schizophrenia
Wart, The Empathy Clinic & Awkward Conversations
Nathan Filer, The Language of Madness
Hearing Voices workshop, Empathy Clinic and Town Hall
Psychiatric hospital treatment
Amanda McDowell, The Empathy Clinic
Hospital experience
Suicidality and Depression
Self Harm
Daniel Regan, photography workshop
Trans Experience
Bhenji Ra, Awkward Conversations
Sandra Pankhurst interviewed by Caroline Baum, The Razz
Trauma and mental health in Indigenous communities
After After Hours, AGNSW with Evelyn Araluen, Black Rhymes, Uti Kulintjaku
R e a and Judy Atkinson, Listen_UP in the Empathy Clinic
Amala Groom, Awkward Conversations
Uti Kulintjaku performance in conference, Anxiety-Culture-Future
Disability
Debra Keenahan, The Empathy Clinic (and in conference, Anxiety-Culture-Future)
Debra Keenahan, Awkward Conversations
Sam Ker-Phillips, The Empathy Clinic
Disability/Neurodiversity/Autism
Dementia
Domestic Violence/Abuse
Recovery from trauma or mental illness
Daniel Regan, photography workshop/Awkward Conversation
Therapy
Auslan interpreted performances are for audiences who are Deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Selected events at The Big Anxiety will be Auslan interpreted.
Venues in the program are wheelchair accessible, unless otherwise stated.
Selected events at The Big Anxiety will provide tactile tours.
Selected events at The Big Anxiety will be audio described.
The Big Anxiety has provided captioning on video content where possible.
The Big Anxiety can make information available in large print if required.