
Mind Blank's aim is to reduce the risk of youth suicide through interactive performances in schools and communities.
We are a unique community led response to a national mental health priority.
Prevent the risk of suicide before its too late
Every 3 hours in Australia, someone takes their life by way of suicide (ABS, 2015), of this, 15 more twelve to seventeen year olds make an attempt (Orygen, 2017).
"We are a unique community led response to a national mental health priority, and we are the only organisation promoting young people and community suicide prevention through forum theatre in the world."

More than 100 performances to
Mental Health and Wellbeing Theatre Programs
Mind Blank is recognised Australia wide for mental health awareness and education through delivering innovative programs in schools, communities, and workplaces. We advocate a holistic and balanced approach through strategic partnerships and collaborations.
Our programs aim to reducing the risk of suicide in rural and urban Australia.
Participates who attend our programs will:
* enhance their knowledge around mental health issues
* know where to seek support

Program testimonials
"I was introduced to Mind Blank via a performance at Wollongong University. They performed to a student group of about 300 high school students. You could hear a pin drop- they had everyone’s attention, (including my own) in the palm of their hands."
Teacher
"Raising the awareness of positive life decisions when faced with mental health issues. This has been achieved by not lecturing but allowing students to make these powerful decisions themselves through interactive theatre arming them with the skills and knowledge to know when to seek help".
Teacher
"I thank you for inspiring to face the demons of my past… I consider myself to be a survivor of the battlefield of depression and victor, I look back on things passed and realize I have changed for the better and have come so far and syllable have a long way to go…. Thank you… I’m truly truly grateful to have witnessed Mind Blank at our school"
Young Person
“The actors were excellent in interacting with the students we have at our school. The show was the best I’ve seen in my 3 years at school… The topics covered were age appropriate and addressed the social skills we need in our area. Well done to everyone!! The students talked about the actors long after they had left. Their presence made a big impact on our students.”
Teacher
“When asked if the end message of the program was clear: “I asked some of my students what they got out of the performance and this is exactly what they said- there’s always someone to help- you just have to ask. You have to communicate if you want people to know how you feel and to help you.”
Teacher
“The students were very engaged in the session… they were keen to think up solutions to the scenario’s and the drama applied to their responses… so it was sending a message to the students that they had the solutions to the problems they presented.”
Teacher
“It was good to have us interact with it as well because I think interaction is a better way to take in information, because you’re giving information that you think is correct and getting it confirmed back at you sort of thing.”
Student
“The things we’ve learnt about before, like when we’d been spoken to about mental health problems, they kind of said, this is what will happen, like, you know, you won’t be able to concentrate blah, blah, blah. But it was, I don’t know, I guess we had a different feeling about it after seeing people act it out and how it would actually affect like, people our age, how it would affect their life, just like, even in the smallest details. Yeah.”
Student
“Theatre use in an educational setting can help students open up discussions from their shared experience, as well as assist with change. Research evaluations have revealed that students experience joy and strong emotions when watching educational theatre, they are receptive to listen attentively and correctly identify the educational message being portrayed” (Waters, Monks, Ayres & Thomson, 2012).
Why Mental Health Promotion? Why use theatre?
“Qualitative research suggests that Mind Blank’s approach has the ability to reduce levels of stigma surrounding mental health problems. There are many reports of young people being increasingly engaged in discussion around the mental health problems of themselves or their peers."
Kerry Searle Registered Psychologist
Master of Science (Research) Candidate through the University of Wollongong
"Their ability to engage students into this taboo topic is brilliant and the ability to keep the conversation going-that is the successful component of Mind Blank. I can’t recommend this enough. Students will love it, teachers will appreciate the unique approach it takes to mental health and everyone will benefit from this much needed creative production."
Teacher
“It was great! Some of our most challenging year 12 students stopped me in the playground and thanked me for bringing Mind Bank to the school, we all learned so much."
Teacher
"Young people are reported to be more comfortable with the fact that they have mental health problems and feel more justified in seeking assistance. One teacher described a Mind Blank show at his school as a ‘life changing’ event for one of his troubled students.”
Kerry Searle Registered Psychologist
Master of Science (Research) Candidate through the University of Wollongong
"It truly was the highlight of the action packed day. In my 13 years as a PDHPE teacher, I have never seen mental health be brought the forefront with such enjoyment, fun and interaction."
Teacher
"As a psychologist with over 15 years’ experience working with vulnerable youth populations, it is my opinion that the Mind Blank theatre forum topics have the potential to open up informed discussions around youth mental health issues in a way that is meaningful, engaging and real for the young people involved, and these are vital ingredients for working effectively with young people."
Service Provider
"As a psychologist with over 15 years’ experience working with vulnerable youth populations, it is my opinion that the Mind Blank theatre forum topics have the potential to open up informed discussions around youth mental health issues in a way that is meaningful, engaging and real for the young people involved, and these are vital ingredients for working effectively with young people."
Service Provider

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Meet Mind Blank's CEO
Alison Kelly (Ally) Role: Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Ally Kelly is the founder and CEO of Mind Blank Ltd. For years she has been grass roots social advocate and a firm believer in early intervention. She has led the charity through seven years of service, for which her efforts were recognised in winning the 2017 Mental Health Matters Award for Mental Health Promotion.
Ally is an experienced senior manager in the non-profit sector. Previously, her roles outside of Mind Blank included work in the social services supporting marginalised community members and outreach services support to rough sleepers.
In 2018 she is due to complete her Masters in Humanitarian studies. She believes that early prevention offers the greatest hope for intervention recovery and therefore takes every opportunity to educate the community to recognise the early signs of mental illness, without stigmatising or discriminating.
As a survivor of past trauma Ally has had first-hand experience with PTSD. Her passion for the cause comes from a compassion that was triggered from being a carer for a parent who has been suicidal many times.
“Statistics show that due to my history I am at higher risk of suicide and ongoing mental health issues. I refuse to accept this. I am living proof that as individuals we can change this reality.
I created Mind Blank because I believe in my core that no –one needs to suffer in silence! I believe that there are some amazing service providers that exist, and that due to stigma people wait too long before they seek help. Often I hear of stories where people are finally ready for help, however they stumble through the system. Crisis kicks in and an individual is put on a 6week to 6month waiting list, with no training on what to do in the meantime.
If you would like to know more about Mind Blank and what we do not hesitate to contact us. We welcome your ideas and support to continue to make a difference to the future generation of young Australians.”

Mental Health Info
Our Team
Linda Q Chen

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Linda Q Chen

Linda is a Canberra-based performer currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts/Commerce at the Australian National University, majoring in English (Drama/Creative Writing focus) and Finance. She has appeared in a smattering of local projects across various mediums, including in ‘August: Osage County’ (2014) with Free Rain Theatre, ‘In Loco Parentis’ (2013) at The Street Theatre, and most recently the short film ‘Sojourn to South Lake’ (due for 2016 release). She also works as an actor/storyteller for AussieWriters’ monthly ‘Tales After Dark: Storytelling for Grown-Ups’ events and dabbles in various forms of writing ranging from memoir to poetry and more recently, works intended for stage and screen.
Eesha Hunjon

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Eesha Hunjon
Eesha is an energetic and unique Canberra based actress/musician with over
ten years experience in both singing and acting. Eesha is a
singer/songwriter currently performing around ACT. Eesha also has extensive
experience in the field of acting which include; television, film and
theatre."
Sam Moynihan

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Sam Moynihan
Sam Moynihan is a Canberra based actor and theatre director with a particular interest in creating works with and for young people. He has worked with a variety of local companies including his own and is currently studying a Masters of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts. He runs a blog detailing his experiences living with MS and appears at various events to support young people with chronic illnesses. Sam is a firm believer in the power of art to transform and inspire; values that align themselves well with forum theatre. He is always expanding his interests in this area and hopes to further his passion for creating social dialogues and assisting young people to navigate life.
Val Wilson

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Val Wilson

Valerie Wilson RSCN RN BEd St. MN (Research) PhD (Monash)
Val is the Director of Nursing Research & Practice Development at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and Professor of Nursing Research & Practice Development at the University of Technology Sydney. Val’s areas of interest are in family centred care, developing person-centred cultures, the use of evidence to inform practice, engaging clinical staff in action orientated research and improvement work, knowledge translation and systematic evaluation. This encompasses the development and ongoing support of effective workplaces, teams and leaders. The evaluation of this work, together with a number of local, state and International projects form the basis of her research work. Val holds honorary and visiting professor positions at University of Sydney (School of Psychology), Canterbury Christ Church University, UK (Nursing and Applied Clinical Studies) and Ulster University (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences). The results of her research and practice development work have been published in over 50 peer reviewed journals, book chapters and professional reports and presented at over 100 conferences, workshops and Master classes.
Toby Davis

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Toby Davis

Toby Davis is a young performer based in Brisbane, who graduated in 2009 from the University of Wollongong’s Creative Arts Degree majoring in Performance. Passionate about acting and performance from a young age, he has continually been involved in workshops and community projects. He has studied the Suzuki Method of actor training, and has always had a passion for physical theatre. Combining his enjoyment of performance and community projects has led to his work with Mind Blank, which he is hoping to help grow and develop over the coming years. Three years of active impact with the team and he is still passionate about the working in our team.
Matt Stewart

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Matt Stewart

Matt Stewart spent over 20 years as a professional theatre practitioner and was the General Manager of Darlinghurst Theatre Company which he co-founded in 1992. He was also a founding member and regular performer of Milk Crate Theatre for the homeless, where he fulfilled the role of facilitator/joker. While with Milk Crate, he successfully adapted the forum style of theatre for Access Week 2004 and for youth at risk in Campbelltown area. It is this forum style that Matt applies to Mind Blank, aligning his experience and skill with the vision of the organisation
Louisa Raft

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Louisa Raft

Louisa Raft graduated from the University of Wollongong in 2015 with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dean’s Scholar) Theatre. As a mature-aged emerging artist, Louisa brings a unique perspective from her life journey to her work, which is influenced by her experience of navigating the world as the daughter of Greek migrants growing up in the Western suburbs of Sydney. Louisa is a performer, dramaturg and creative producer for the newly formed professional cooperative, Wollongong Theatre Company, and the all-female contemporary performance collective, The Adelphi Experiment. She is also passionate about community cultural development and is currently working on the Australia Council funded project Art of Belonging, a multi-arts based program working with diverse groups of women, girls and children in the greater Wollongong area to creatively share and explore their stories, memories and experiences of place, belonging, culture and change. Prior to embarking on her professional performance career, Louisa was the founding Director of Clinical Services of headspace Wollongong. Working with Mind Blank brings together her experience in young people’s mental health and her love of performance and Louisa feels privileged to have the opportunity to use her arts practice to help engage people in discussion and break down barriers to seeking help for mental health concerns.
Jon Rex Williams

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Jon Rex Williams

Jon has been performing improvised shows for adults and children for almost 20 years. He's starred in multiple shows at the Sydney & Melbourne Comedy Festivals as well as performing in theatres across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Over the years, he has appeared on the ABC (Gruen Transfer, Hungry Beast, The Chaser’s CNNNN), Network Ten (Good News Week, MicroNation & Water Rats) and the Comedy Channel (Stand Up Australia) as well as in numerous commercials.
He has a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary School, Drama) and is currently the education manager for Impro Australia and director of the Theatresports Schools Challenge which involves students from over 100 high schools across Sydney, Wollongong & the Central Coast.
In the corporate realm, Jon has performed and run workshops for Woolworths, Qantas, Coca Cola, ING, AMP, Boral, Telstra, Australia Post, the Department of Fair Trading and more, as well as role plays for the Department of Defence and Westmead hospital.
Rhys Staley

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Rhys Staley
Rhys is a passionate professional, innovator, leader and manager with an impressive record in strategic planning, marketing, sales and operations.
A background in medical research and pharmaceutical sales across a range of therapeutic areas, has led to a collaborative work ethic to deliver on key, first to market projects. Rhys currently leads Healthshare’s Practitioner Solutions team, proactively initiating change and implementation of strategy with the goal of driving productivity and innovation. Healthshare is one of Australia’s leading digital health companies developing innovative technology based solutions to empower Australian patients to make better health choices, while providing high quality tools for health care professionals.
Rhys has valuable experience in ongoing product development, marketing and management and is passionate about disruption in the health and technology. Rhys grew up an isolated part of rural Victoria and has is undertaken a bachelor of biological science with a focus on cell and molecular biology, also currently undertaking an MBA.
Jasmin Craufurd-Hill

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Jasmin Craufurd-Hill

Jasmin Craufurd-Hill is a management lecturer and consultant who has held
both senior and project management roles within the government, not-for-
profit and emergency services sectors. She has previously served as an
Executive and Board Member of Women in Nuclear (WiN) Global and currently
serves as a Director of Mind Blank, the Institute for Regional Security and
WiN Australia. Ms Craufurd-Hill is an Associate Fellow of the Australian
Institute of Management, member of both the Australian Institute of Company
Directors and Australian Institute of Project Management and the recipient
of an ATSE Early Career Symposium Fellowship. Her current area of academic
interest surrounds the development of expertise and leadership in fields
that underpin nationally significant capabilities.
Connor Tarrant

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Connor Tarrant
Connor has recently moved from regional NSW to QLD to pursue his
dreams of becoming an actor and model. He is very passionate about the youth
of today and very passionate about making a change around mental health
especially since having gone through it myself. During his time in his
hometown of Grafton he was was the chair of the Clarence Youth Action group (CYA).
CYA is made up of a diverse group of people aged between 12-25 who meet each fortnight to help council to make decisions that related to young people, work on community projects, organise events and consult with local young people about issues that matter to them.
Julie McAllan

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Julie McAllan

Julie McAllan was born in country South-East Queensland. She is an award singer/songwriter and released her second album, “Bring Me Home” in 2005. It went on to be released in Japan, Germany, U.S.A. and the United Kingdom. Julie was an early childhood teacher, and used her own music for early childhood numeracy and literacy.
From 2008 until November 2015, Julie was the Producer of Yamba’s Playtime, an Australian preschool children’s television program. She continued to keep up her songwriting skills by writing educational songs for the show as well as jingles. She was also the primary scriptwriter for the show as well as script editor. The tv show has been broadcast Australia wide on the Nine Network, Nine’s GO channel and currently on NITV (National Indigenous Television) until 2019. It's also broadcast in the U.S.A. on FNX (First Nations Experience) in ϯϬ states until 2020.
Julie has also produced a spin off series called Grandpa Honeyant Storytime which is broadcast on the ABC in Australia. From early 2011 until end of 2015, Julie also produced a healthy living traveling musical called Yamba’s Roadshow which toured to remote areas of Australia. Up until October 2015, the performance was seen by over 13,500 children in nearly 80 remote communities/towns throughout Australia.
Julie is also an actor and was the character suit wearer and voice of Yamba the Honeyant from 2007-2015. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts as well as a Graduate Diploma in Primary Education.
Eloise Murray

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Eloise Murray
Eloise Murray is an experimental creative artist who actively works with art as a tool to understand and transform.
Her fascination with integrating mental health and the arts continues to deepen. She is developing a special interest in using the framework of the body to support a creative healing process.
Eloise explores a variety of somatic-based techniques including music, dance, flow arts, authentic movement, systemic constellations and forum theatre.
Also a student of holistic counselling, Eloise values non-violent communication, emotional wellbeing and broadening the spectrum of learning for youth in schools and community.
Eloise has lived with depression and anxiety and has experienced the suicide of a loved one.

Maggie Leung

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Maggie Leung

Maggie is an experienced senior in-house lawyer, having worked with Caltex for more than 15 years. Prior to that, she practised corporate and commercial law at a medium sized law firm Dunhill Madden Butler (now PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal). In addition to her Law degree, Maggie also holds a Commerce (Accounting) degree from UNSW.
Maggie is a mother of two children, a teenage daughter and an 8 year old son. She is keenly aware of the pressures which young people face and the impact social media has on them and their self esteem. Maggie strongly believes that Mind Blank’s programs will help to foster open and honest conversations among young people and their peers and their carers about mental health, and help build their resilience.
Maggie is keen to utilise her legal and corporate knowledge and experience to help Mind Blank achieve its objectives.
Sonya Kim

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Sonya Kim
Sonya Kim is a board director of Mind Blank Ltd. She shares Mind Blank's passion for empowering young people and communities to respond to their mental health needs, through the medium of creative arts.
Sonya is an experienced government lawyer and public servant. Previously, she volunteered with Lifeline in Canberra, Primary Ethics in Sydney and the Arbitration Council Foundation in Cambodia. Sonya believes that Mind Blank's work fosters understanding of and compassion for people with mental illness in young people and communities in Australia.
Andrea Tham

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Andrea Tham

Andrea is a senior HR professional with a background in leadership, executive consulting and operations.
With a track record of working across multiple industries and emerging digital technologies, she sees great possibilities when digital technologies and people come together.
Andrea's focus on human centred design and people focused culture translates to her commitment to achieving solutions for social, cultural, and environmental issues, and believes people can create positive change in the world.
Adam Joy

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Adam Joy
Role: Chairman
Adam is a believer in Toffler’s quote: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
He says, “When it comes to improving the future for the disadvantaged, we need to stop and reconcile what we know and readily accept there will always be new information that we can conceptualise and implement into new strategies for the long term safety of our children”.
With a background in senior management and key leadership roles with the Australian Newsagents’ Federation, CROSSMARK Australia, United Petroleum; 7 Eleven; Yum Brands / QSR and Target, Adam enjoys liaison roles with the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Institute of Criminology as part of his current role as Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Newsagents’ Federation.
Adam is the Chairman of MindBlank Ltd and is committed to achieving social justice within the community.
Possessing masters level qualifications and membership of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Adam feels he can contribute to the overall success of MindBlank assisting in implementing strategic goals and further increasing governance procedures within the organisation.
Bernd Schramm

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Bernd Schramm

Role: Deputy-Director
Senior Project Manager at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Former advocate Western Sydney Suicide Prevention and Support Network: Raising public awareness of services to assist suicide prevention providing a voice for those affected by suicide supporting bereaved families
Janine Schramm

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Janine Schramm

Role: Board Secretary and Creative Team Admin Support Contact
Janine Schramm lost her son to suicide in 2008 and since then has voluntarily worked tirelessly in the mental health sector. Janine was a founding member of the Western Sydney Suicide Prevention and Support Network based in Penrith, where she held the position of secretary for a number of years.
Janine has help establish two Suicide Bereavement support groups in the Western Sydney area; one in Penrith and the other in Richmond.
Lara Lightfoot

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Lara Lightfoot

Role: Creative Team
Lara is a Sydney based actor and performance maker. She is a founding member of Little Spoon Theatre Co. and with them has performed in "Where's My Money", "Tiger Country", and "Stitching", and last year produced the sell out season of "Danny and The Deep Blue Sea".
Over the last ten years she has performed with New Theatre, The Street Theatre, ABitOnTheSide, Stage Debris, and has devised and developed work with Lace Balloon, Earthcrosser Company, Elbow Theatre, Stage Juice, and paperweight productions. She has studied various techniques in Sydney, New York, and Glasgow. She's involved with Ninefold, an ensemble who train together in the Suzuki Method, and will be performing Antigone with them in 2016. Last year she was involved in several independent short films, and appeared in an episode of the new hit web series "Starting from... now!".
Lara works as a professional roleplayer with several organisations, is studying her Masters of Applied Linguistics, and has just taken up netball after an 18 year hiatus. Lara has been part of the MindBlank Creatives since early 2014.
Neisha Murphy

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Neisha Murphy

Role: Creative Team
Neisha is a young and vibrant physical theatre and circus entertainer whose performance style blends a unique mix of physical performance and character hilarity. She enjoys the genuineness of performance and endeavours to make her work entertaining, fun and completely unforgettable! She is as comfortable high in sky hanging people from her neck as she is balancing on one foot and juggling knives! Neisha’s other physical skills include juggling a range of objects, spanish web, slack rope, MCing, comedy and she performs dare devil stunts like the neck hang of destruction and playing her ukulele upside down in a tank full of water!
Neisha graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Theatre and Media) in Australia and holds a Diploma of Circus Arts from the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology in New Zealand. She has worked for many companies and festivals such as The Hoopla Festival in Darling Harbour in Sydney, The Flying Kiwi Circus, Circus Aotearoa and the Kidsfest Festival in New Zealand, Merrigong Theatre Company, Circus Monoxide, Viva la gong festival, Half-High Circus and Circus Wow in Wollongong, Arts Projects Australia in Adelaide, The West Australian Ballet, The Tasmanian Circus Festival, Free Associations production of The Nutcracker, and The Circus Proms series with New Zealand’s Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. She was featured in the New Zealand Geographic magazine, on an episode of New Zealand’s hippest show Pacific Beat Street and performed for over 30,000 people in Christchurch’s annual Santa Parade.
Charlotte 'Charlie' Truscott

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Charlotte 'Charlie' Truscott

Role: Creative Team
Charlotte Truscott, or more better known as ‘Charlie’, is one of the most adaptable children’s circus professionals on the scene. From touring, creating work and running her own school she is continuously creating ways to give the circus experience to just about anyone she can. For over 15 years Charlie’s worked with children and adults of all abilities and skill level.
In 2009 she ran away from university and joined Circus Monoxide, and it was here her circus life really began. Here she worked as a circus performer, rigger, assistant to the artistic director, stage manager, outreach coordinator and head circus trainer.
Charlie graduated from Dell Arte International School of Physical Theatre California in 2014. Here she studied under the world renowned clown and master trainer Ronlin Foreman. Specialising in clowning, commedia, voice, ensemble performance, acrobatics and mask making. Dell Arte is unlike any other institution, it focuses on ‘being’ rather then ‘teaching’ techniques.
Charlie has performed for other companies such as; Sydney Children’s Festival, Sydney Fringe, Park Life, Sydney Festival, Australian Maritime Museum, Sydney Easter Show, Viva la Gong, Merringong Theatre Co, to name a few.
When she isn’t busy touring, Charlie is the Director of ‘Burgh Circus’ in Helensburgh NSW. She has created her own circus school where she teaches classes and creates performance opportunities for students and creates shows to cast other professional circus artists.
Luke Holmes

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Luke Holmes

Luke comes from a theatre and performance background, with a BPerf from AADA and years of experience in independent thetare both on and offstage. As an actor he has appeared in roles with Rocksurfers, Sydney Chamber Opera and Left Bauer Productions to name a few, as well as being a part of numerous indie and original works.
In 2013 he founded Brave New Word theatre company, where he acts as Artistic Director. The company is dedicated to the development and production of original Australian plays, and has staged five works so far, with Luke acting as writer, producer and director for various productions over that time.
Working with Mind Blank offers a unique experience for Luke, allowing him to develop his theatre skills for a younger audience, while practicing and playing with the 'forum theatre' style of performance in a subject as important as mental health.

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Mind Blank is health promotion charity, ABN 18 168 485 176, working along side service providers and local health districts. We are registered as being a Deductible Gift Recipient by the Australian Charities Not-for-Profit Commission.
There are many ways you can help Mind Blank. Some ideas include in-kind support offers, monthly sponsorship packages, organising a fundraiser or even one off donations. We welcome your ideas and support to continue our growth to impact mental health outcomes for young people.
Any donation above $2.00 can be used as a tax deduction.
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contact us on 0468912399
To enquire or make a direct booking for a Mind Blank performance click here
Please Note:
- Mind Blank is a health promotion charity and we are not a Mental Health service provider. If you need immediate help or information on existing services please click here.
- Current volunteer positions are advertised here.