So what are the circumstances that allow us to create? Time and the ability to breathe, that's all we need, and I think that's the very reason why we are here today. To take the time, take a breath, create with other people.

– Rick Heath, CEO, Community Arts Network 
and Making Time MC

With cool breezes rippling the Derbarl Yaragan (Swan River) and providing a tangible reminder of the air that we breathe, it was a perfect day for the fourth iteration of Making Time, CAN’s annual professional development day for the arts and community sector.

Held at the Nedlands Yacht Club, on the banks of the bilya (river), this year’s Making Time was themed Breathing Space, and invited attendees to make time to breathe; to unwind, to create and to connect with self and others.

That invitation was evident from the outset, with time set aside at the beginning of the day for guests to take in the bilya views, whilst enjoying a cuppa and a selection of wholesome and delicious snacks from Cool Fodder Catering.

After inviting fellow Noongar traditional owners and knowledge holders Geri Hayden, Dulcie Donaldson and Dot Henry to join him, Clive Smith gave a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony that set a tone of warmth and good humour for the day.

Since its inception, a key component of Making Time has been its emphasis on opportunities for hands-on creativity, so that conference delegates don’t just talk about the value of creativity, they experience it first-hand. Even during the panel discussions and talks, attendees are offered the chance to be creative.

This year Geri Hayden shared her stick doll-making practice with delegates each given their own stick doll to ‘clothe’ using yarn, fabric and other decorative materials. Every year there is a noticeable calm that settles over audience members as they delve into the chosen activity and this year was no exception with many quirky and colourful characters emerging from the process.

Hands occupied and minds steadied, attendees turned their attention to the first conversation of the day, a panel discussion titled Community Arts, Health and Wellbeing: Exploring the Intersection Between Arts and Health in Community Arts. Chaired by Creative Australia’s Zohar Spatz, this conversation began with panellists Tharanga De Silva (Senior Community Development Coordinator, ASeTTS), Emily Lees (Manager Arts and Health, St John of God Health Care) and Scott Griffiths AKA Optamus (mentor for Hip Hop 101 and Now Sounds Producer) talking about their experiences working on programs which utilise arts and creativity, and the impact this has on participants' social/emotional wellbeing.

With programs that range from helping young people from refugee backgrounds build confidence and a sense of belonging, to offering young people in the justice system a chance to tell their stories and develop their sense of self-worth, to providing young mothers with an outlet for self-expression and an opportunity to build community support, the stories shared by the panellists were inspiring and moving. Particularly relevant to conference delegates was the conversation about the challenges faced by facilitators and the critical importance of taking care of one’s own mental health and wellbeing in order to be able to take care of others.

“The first thing is that understanding that this work can actually impact us, therefore it is important that we look after ourselves, otherwise we actually cannot support others. So that's the important message.”

– Tharanga De Silva, Senior Community Development Coordinator, ASeTTS

Reminded of the importance of self-care, it felt timely for attendees to split into smaller groups to attend the first of two creative workshops, all held outdoors, overlooking the Derbarl Yaragan.

At one end of the verandah, the Threads of Expression workshop saw conference delegates responding to the mark-making of Noongar artist Darryl Dempster, supported by artist and art therapist Ariel Katzir. At the verandah’s other end, Dulcie Donaldson and Dot Henry warmly welcomed participants into the world of Noongar bush medicine, from recipes to applications. On a second verandah, Francesco Geronazzo’s print making workshop was infused with his joyful sense of humour.

Four more workshops took place under marquees dotted festively about the foreshore. Participants in Della Rae Morrison and Kobi Arthur Morrison’s singing workshop experienced a potent mix of connection to Country, Noongar language and music. Next door dance artist Daisy Sanders’ Rest as a River workshop encouraged participants to use their bodies to express and release emotions through gesture and movement.

Under a third marquee writer Kate Moss’ Writing the Breeze workshop offered prompts for a writing exercise that included responding to environmental stimuli, in particular the breeze. In the fourth tent, Irene Scheider led participants through a meditation that included shaping clay, the results of which became part of a group installation. Inside the yacht club was also buzzing, as Making Time’s first ever Speed Networking event saw delegates enjoy short and sweet meetings with industry managers, funders and mentors.

After a delicious lunch, delegates returned inside for a seminar titled How to Take Care of Yourself While Working in the Arts, presented by Shona Erskine with Jo Smith and Maitland Schnaars (who helped prepare the talk but was unable to attend). Complementing the panel conversation, which touched on the concept of compassion fatigue, Shona took a deep dive into the concept. She explained the four stages of compassion fatigue and its relationship to burnout, emphasising that burnout is a relational issue because it’s something that we “do to each other” when we don’t acknowledge the existence of overload. She then spoke about a series of questions to ask of yourself and of others in your team to check where you are on the spectrum between flourishing and experiencing burnout.

“I love the simplicity of [these questions], and that is actually the way that we know whether we are helping people to be excited or stopping ourselves from burning out.”

– Shona Erskine, Psychologist and coach

Between Jo’s often hilarious “real life” commentary from personal experience, and Shona’s gentle sense of humour, the seminar was highly relatable, with many audible murmurs and giggles of recognition from the audience.

Wrapping up the day was visual scribe Shenali Perera who had been illustrating a graphic visual record throughout the conference. After talking us through the completed work, Shenali invited the audience to respond to the work, what they could see and sense, and what was drawing their eye. With answers like “a community of different people and different talents”, “compassion for ourselves and other people in practice”, “finding common ground in differences”, “connectedness” and “the process of healing” it felt like a beautiful way to sum up the day, as was Shenali’s own observation: “I see a lot of space.” 

We are proud to have created that space for the attendees of Making Time: Breathing Space. 

Download/view the event program

Watch the video

Pictured top: Making Time 2025 conference // credit Edwin Sitt