This panel event explores the role of community and creative, mindful and contemplative practices in cultivating mental and social wellbeing for individuals and communities.

The event is a conversation between Dr Tamara Borovica, RMIT’s researcher exploring the intersection between embodiment, creativity and mental health, Jess Huon, a writer, art therapist and Dharma teacher, Sarah Sutherland, an actress, drama therapist and theatre director, and Jake Potter, a psychotherapist and movement meditation teacher.

The panellists will discuss the role of their creative and contemplative work in cultivating community wellbeing. The discussion will also include ‘a taster’ of the creative, embodied and contemplative work the panellists bring to the communities they work with.

The event is open for everyone interested in creative and contemplative community practices.

About the Speakers

Jess Huon is a writer (The Dark Wet, Giramondo publishing) and an authorised Dharma teacher. Her meditation training has taken place in Buddhist monastic settings, inter-faith contexts and in extended periods of solitary practice. Her lineage crosses the Insight Tradition and Open Dharma and has been empowered by the feminine Tantric Tradition. She holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (VCA), and a postgraduate degree in Therapeutic Arts Practice (RMIT). She teaches internationally, translating the ‘dharma’ to meet the restless heart of modernity. A natural orator, her talks have been described as street language for the soul. Whilst deeply informed but not bound by tradition, her style is grounded in contemporary life.

Sarah Sutherland is a professional actor and the Artistic Director of Rollercoaster Theatre Company, a not for profit ensemble of neuro diverse and mixed ability actors. She has completed a BA (Psychology, Melb Uni), Acting training at the National Theatre Drama School, and received a Masters in Drama and Integrated Therapeutic Methods (RMIT). Over the 15 years she has been with Rollercoaster Theatre Company she has produced, directed and devised a great many productions with the ensemble including the multi award winning short film Comican’t. Sarah’s work with the company focuses on creating film and theatre that is inclusive and showcases the unique perspectives and abilities of all people. Her interest in the promotion of social change through participatory arts practice has influenced much of her work with Rollercoaster and with other marginalised communities, including adults experiencing long term psychiatric illness, as an integration pathway for teenage Sudanese asylum seekers, and in the corporate sector to facilitate conflict resolution and provide performance coaching. Sarah is part of the acting ensemble at Red Stitch Actors Theatre, and has worked extensively as an actor in theatre, film and television

Jake Potter is the Founder of the Australian Centre for Embodied Practice, Academic at Ikon Institute of Australia, practicing Psychotherapist, Open Floor Teacher and host of the Embodied Life Podcast. He is the Award Winner of the Dr Rafael Locke Award for Clinical & Academic Excellence in the practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy from Ikon Institute and has guest lectured at institutions such as New York University. Jake has had an extensive teaching career which began as a Resident Teacher at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California and has taught across Australia and the United States. Jake has received a BA of Counselling & Psychotherapy, is a Working Member of Open Floor International and Co-Founder of Common Roots; a Melbourne-based organisation uniting and empowering people through movement-based practice.

The event is collaboration between HASH (Health, Arts, Social sciences and Humanities) Network and RMIT’s Social and Global Studies Centre.