In Tune WithU – Southern Peninsula & Hastings

In Tune WithU, is a music and mental health initiative that began in Rosebud led by
celebrated musician Cheryl Beattie, and mental health and well-being practitioner Kelly Beattie.

Held three times per week after school the program enables young people excluded through financial hardship to access individual and group instrumental music lessons, while experiencing a sense of belonging and being a valued member of a broader group.

The program has been so successful since the first classes were held in 2022, that it expanded in 2024 to Western Port Community Support Centre in Hastings. Here Cheryl works alongside Family Support worker Laura Baxter while students have their music lessons. Both in Rosebud and Hastings there's always a waitlist to join the program.

Healthy food, onsite social and emotional support and trusted relationships with adults who provide advocacy for individual and family needs are integral to the program. The program is identifying and addressing gaps that other services are not able to meet.

Kelly says, “We’ve found parents really need one on one support and I can give them that. By supporting the parents directly, we’re supporting the children and young people.” For example, Kelly advocated for a family whose home had burnt down as the family’s attempts to find housing had been unsuccessful. Through Kelly’s advocacy the family found permanent housing and were connected with other support services that greatly benefitted the whole family.