Project Overview
Following a heartbreaking rise in youth mental health issue rates during the COVID-19 lockdowns, QMF was invited by Cherbourg community leaders to collaborate on a solution that placed culture, connection and youth empowerment at its centre. In a Letter from the Heart of Cherbourg, the Elders noted: “The hope is that new initiatives will be created based on genuine consultation…that new initiatives or strategies are culturally appropriate, are based in not just individual supports but with a whole of community approach.”
This direction from Elders shaped the development of the program, grounding it in cultural leadership and community-defined goals to foster a new generation of creators, and build a sustainable, community-led creative legacy in Cherbourg. In addition, the program also worked to support employment and training for Indigenous artists and arts workers.
From August to October 2020, QMF engaged artists and professional staff to lead a series of workshops, encompassing songwriting, digital storytelling, and videography. The program, which tied in with a community event for Mental Health Week, integrated mental health education with creative skills development. Workshops were held at the newly refurbished Cherbourg Radio Station and included a Mob Choir performance led by Astrid Jorgensen and Waveney Yasso, a Yuwi and South Sea Islander musician, who noted that the program encouraged youth “to preserve their language through music and all the tools we can give them to be able to hold on to their connections to community, their ancestors and their mob.”
In 2022, QMF formalised its partnership with the community through supporting the establishment of the Youth Advisory Group (YAG), with Wakka Wakka Elder Uncle Neil Simpson employed to lead community engagement and program delivery. Young people from Cherbourg State School and Silver Linings School participated in songwriting and storytelling workshops, which laid the groundwork for ongoing activities. Over the following two years, a series of creative workshops and artistic collaborations were delivered with various First Nations artists, maintaining strong relationships with young people, community leaders, and local schools.
In December 2024, QMF returned to deliver the latest residency – this time focused on filming a music video for Cherbourg Is My Home, a song co-written with students in a previous workshop. First Nations musicians Jungaji Troy Brady (Gugu Yalanji), Deline Briscoe (Yalanji), and Taitu’uga Kitch Wesch (Samoan) joined forces to run songwriting, performance, and film workshops at schools and community spaces across Cherbourg and Kingaroy. The residency also included Q&A sessions on careers in the arts, where QMF staff and artists spoke with students about the wide range of jobs available in the industry — from performing and songwriting, to production, logistics, artist management, touring, technical roles, and content creation. These sessions encouraged young people to explore creative career paths beyond the stage and see how their skills and interests could be applied in the arts.
In addition, QMF collaborated with Cherbourg Radio Station Manager Chrissy to deliver a hands-on training session for staff, after the station had received new editing software without guidance. A professional videographer was engaged to lead a full-day workshop focused on building skills in digital content production and supporting the team to use the tools with confidence.
In 2025, the program continues, and we’re working toward a community launch of the locally produced film-clip where participants can celebrate their efforts and showcase their newly acquired skills.