Performing Arts Healthcare in Australia—A Personal View

In 2006, as part of a national regional-arts conference, I attempted to bring together health care workers with an interest in caring for performing artists. The plan was to gather in symposium, to share ideas and expertise, and inaugurate a network of practitioners across Australia. It was a good idea—at least I thought so at the time, and the generous experts who agreed to participate for free also seemed to think so. However, the exigencies of mounting a symposium in a regional city, in a field hitherto never organised in this country, with no finance, and only one assistant (albeit very capable!—Marilyn Bliss—to whom I am forever grateful) proved too much. After much lost money and sleep, and with a feeling of crushing defeat, I cancelled the project. As sometimes happens, the momentum has continued. From that quixotic project has grown a new organization, the Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare (ASPAH).