Thursday, 20 February 2025

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:02:252:): (1444) My adjournment matter tonight is to the Minister for Creative Industries, and the action I seek is that he commit to providing essential funding to support and protect much-needed mental health and wellbeing services in the arts sector. Mental health challenges for artists and arts workers are disproportionately high, with 63 per cent of creatives reporting experiencing anxiety compared to just 15 per cent of the general population. Financial stress caused by irregular work, long hours and workforce casualisation are huge contributors to artists’ mental health struggles. Unfortunately, exposure does not pay the rent. For many the Arts Wellbeing Collective was an essential lifeline that helped to provide tailored mental health support, resources and training, but just before Christmas last year it was forced to close its doors due to a decision made by the arts centre. Though there is no clear information about why it was closed, suggestions have been made that the decision was due to a lack of funding from the Victorian government. The outcry from the arts community has been swift and clear. People in the arts need targeted mental health support delivered with understanding of what it is actually like to be an artist. They are often first to be asked to do a free gig when times are bad and last to be given the protections they deserve as workers. Minister, fix this.