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<h4>The arts are central!</h4>
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<p>From my early childhood through to today, the arts have been central to how I navigate the world. Creating is how I make sense of things! I love to stitch, draw, paint, dance, play music, write poetry and visit art galleries. I feel exceptionally fortunate to have also work 'in the arts' for all my working career. This has been in design studios, art galleries, education, community and therapy settings. </p>
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<h4>Qualifications and interests</h4>
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<p>My post-graduate degrees in the field of therapeutic arts come from <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The MIECAT Institute Inc (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.miecat.edu.au" target="_blank">The MIECAT Institute Inc</a>, Melbourne. I have a Post Graduate Diploma and a Master of Arts by Supervision. With my Masters qualification, I am a registered Creative Arts Therapist (AThR) with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.anzacata.org" target="_blank">ANZACATA</a> (the peak professional association for Creative Arts Therapies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia). </p>
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<p>My Masters thesis – <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="A Book to Hold Our Stories (opens in a new tab)" href="https://miecat.edu.au/facility-items/book-hold-stories/" target="_blank">A Book to Hold Our Stories</a> – inquires into 'what it is like to live in a different culture'. I expand upon this area of interest with: in a personal artwork – <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="From Migration to Integration (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.holdingspacestudio.co.nz/?page_id=84" target="_blank">From Migration to Integration</a>, a community project – Journeys Within Our Community and a contribution to a book chapter – Taking a Turn: An image-led Dialogue between Creative Arts Educators and Practitioners in Melbourne, Australia (Allen, Rumbold, Schnaedelbach, Woodford &amp; Tann).</p>
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<p>I am now working on a Professional Doctorate. My doctoral research looks into the therapeutic arts to support those living with post operative chronic pain. This research is not just about the pain but trauma, disability and the body living with something that is on-going. I am a member of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nzps.org.nz" target="_blank">The New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS)</a> and the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.iasp-pain.org" target="_blank">International Association for the Study of Pain (IAPS)</a>. </p>
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<h4>What matters most</h4>
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<p>I love to nurture creativity and use the arts to navigate what we meet in the world. This is what I hope to share with those who I companion. It might be in exploring personal content, community needs or in making sense of professional practice. A sustainable practice is extremely important to me. To me this is the materials I use and ensuring that I can meet and respond to the needs of those I companion. </p>
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<p>I am an artist - arts therapist - researcher - supervisor.</p>
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