The annual Solace Creative Therapies exhibition is usually a celebration of some wonderful art produced during the year.
But as a result of NDIS funding cuts, the Solace team also have survival on their minds ahead of the exhibition launch in the Narellan Library at 10am this Saturday (October 11)
More than 60 artists, the youngest not yet 4, the oldest 95 years old, will be featured in this year’s exhibition.
The numbers themselves give a good indication of how effective and popular art therapy is in the Macarthur region, thanks to Gregory Hills based Solace Creative Therapies.
The exhibition will be in Narellan Library for the whole month of October, which is designated Mental Health Awareness Month.
“Here we are again about to set up our annual exhibition but this year we are telling a different story – a story of survival,’’ says Abigail Ristevski, creative art therapist – team leader at Solace Creative Therapies.
“As you may be aware last November then NDIS minister Bill Shorten announced some drastic changes to music and art therapy.
“We spent the whole summer gathering stories and information to respond to the government in preparation for the Duckett Review.
“We believe in the work we do so much that we decided to continue ahead, accepting new students to complete their masters’ placements with us and re-training to provide more services to our community,’’ says Ms Ristevski.
“After 10 months of waiting, the government finally released the Duckett Review and the final changes.
“Our billable hourly rate for art and music therapy was cut and more conditions were added, but we are still here providing a valuable service to our community and helping our participants thrive.
“Sadly, some of our participants lost their funding for art therapy or their funding was drastically reduced.’’
Ms Ristevski said the misinformation around the changes caused anxiety among participants in art therapy programs at Solace – and their families.
“We worked extra hard to advocate for our participants and to gather information for the reply presented to Professor Duckett in February 2025,’’ she said.
“Some Solace Creative Therapies ‘stories’ were included in the reply, I Went from Surviving to Thriving.’’
Solace have started offering their therapies to people in the community under programs other than NDIS.
“We will continue to provide the best service to our NDIS participants as all our art and music therapists are master level trained and professional level members of their associations,’’ Ms Ristevski said.
“We are also in partnership with Wester Sydney University providing placements for counselling students and trainee music and art therapist completing their masters.
“Our team has grown to an amazing group of 10 creative professionals who are passionate about the value of music and art therapy.’’
Ms Ristevski encouraged the community to pop down to Narellan Library to check out the exhibition.
“This year we have Lewis Brotherhood, a young adult with autism who has completed TAFE and is now working at a café and hopes to have a solo exhibition in the near future,’’ she said.
“Lewis has created some amazing colourful paintings this year. His Toucan is pictured on the invitation this year.’’
[It’s also pictured at the top of the story].
To find out more: https://www.solacecreativetherapies.com.au/