Providing an outlet for individuals with lived experience of mental illness to express themselves through the creation of songs, Wild At Heart’s Life is a Song workshops will give participants the opportunity to write, record and perform with the help of a music facilitator.

The workshop will see a group of Ballarat musicians and song writers team up and break into small groups to work with attendees who do not need any musical experience to participate. 

Life is a Song Workshop co-facilitator Georgina Williams is one of the local musicians involved in the program and said she’s been songwriting since primary school.

“Everybody’s got a story to tell. It’s a matter of finding out what the story is. We can provide music. They might write lyrics or play guitar,” she said. 

“What we noticed last time is that everyone is starting from the same point when we’re song writing, whether it’s anxiety, acquired brain injury or schizophrenia, we’re all starting from the same creative standpoint. It wasn’t really about mental illness but about being creative.” 

Wild at Heart artistic director Phil Heuzenroeder said they’ve been working in the Ballarat community for the past three years, in partnership with a number of mental health services. 

"Working together as a group brings important social connections, mutual support and plenty of fun.The sense of achievement and acknowledgement in crafting a song from your own ideas and story can be very powerful - life changing for some,” Mr Heuzenroeder said.

“It unravels mysteries about each other, which enables audiences to see the real person behind what can be a highly stigmatising and isolating life experience.”

The workshops will run from October 20 until December 8, with sessions from 12-3pm on Fridays at the Ballarat Centre of Music and the Arts

Contact info@wildatheart.org.au or 9326 9970.