In Tune WithU – Southern Peninsula
In Tune WithU, is a music and mental health initiative 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 number of students has doubled since the first classes were held in 2022, and there’s always a waitlist to join.
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.
“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.”
Kelly Beattie, Wellbeing practitioner
The program’s reach
Partners
The Music Industry
Western Port Community Support
100
students per week
5
days per week
10
local teachers