Music program helps women rebuild lives after trauma in Australia
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In Brisbane, Australia, a music program called Creative Transitions helped women and children move forward after experiencing homelessness and domestic violence.
During the 12-month pilot project, researchers from Griffith University worked with 32 women and 20 children at shelters and in community groups. The program used collaborative songwriting, singing, and music-making to help participants regain confidence and strengthen their social connections.
Kateryna Kozlovska, a participant who arrived from Ukraine in 2024, found the program vital after leaving an emotionally unsafe relationship. Experts like Ria Wong of Micah Project noted that creative arts projects give women who have escaped unsafe situations a chance to rebuild their sense of self and connect with others. University of Queensland music therapist Dr. Kate Aitchison emphasized the importance of having qualified music therapists lead these programs to respond effectively to participants in crisis.
Professor Brydie-Leigh Bartleet, the project leader, observed that the women often felt “silenced” and that the program helped them rediscover lost parts of their identity by using their voices to tell stories and express themselves creatively. Participants began to discuss their futures with hope as they processed trauma through music and art, finding ways to feel human again and rebuild their lives beyond basic survival.
