Access

Access Melbourne Naarm 2022

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.

https://thecapitol.tv/visit/

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.

Access QLD 2022

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

hota.com.au/accessibility/

Access Sydney 2019

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

Ageing Program 

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.edu.au

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

Wart, The Empathy Clinic

Amanda McDowell, The Empathy Clinic

Javier Tellez, Nosferatu

Hospital experience

Grant Jonathan

John Douglas and Stella Topaz

Suicidality and Depression

The S Word with Lifeline

Edge of the Present

Self Harm

Daniel Regan, photography workshop

Trans Experience

Bhenji Ra, Awkward Conversations

Becoming Colleen, The Razz

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

Art is for Everyone, MCA

Disability/Neurodiversity/Autism

Project Art Works, MCA

Studio A, Home

Art*People*Care, MCA

Dementia

The Visit, Empathy Clinic

The Ageing Program

Domestic Violence/Abuse

Daughters

Sleeplessness, Karen Therese

Long Table: Women and Power

Recovery from trauma or mental illness

Manic

Beneath the Stigma

Daniel Regan, photography workshop/Awkward Conversation

Therapy

The Empathy Clinic

Leigh Ledare in conversation with Lynn Froggett

The Listening Panel, AGNSW

Course of Empathy

Auslan Interpreted Performance

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.

Wheelchair Accessible

Venues in the program are wheelchair accessible, unless otherwise stated.

Tactile Tour

Selected events at The Big Anxiety will provide tactile tours.

Audio Description

Selected events at The Big Anxiety will be audio described.

Open Captions

The Big Anxiety has provided captioning on video content where possible.

Accessible Print

The Big Anxiety can make information available in large print if required.