Mental Health and Wellbeing in Music and Live Performing Arts survey results

The new report, prepared by Dr Aurora Elmes and Emma Riseley from The Centre for Social Impact Swinburne with support from Entertainment Assist, builds on the last survey undertaken in 2022.

1,518 workers across music and the broader creative industries participated and detailed the challenges they face even in a largely COVID-recovered working environment.

These survey results will help us determine how we can better support you in the future through services such as the Wellbeing Helpline.

According to this research, it remains challenging for many creative workers to make a liveable income from their creative work.

Almost a fifth (19.6%) of all respondents reported a total annual income that sits below the poverty line (Melbourne Institute 2024) for a working single person.

Opportunity for work, decent employment conditions and adequate income are key issues for creative workers – particularly in light of increased living costs and the costs of doing business.

Respondents surveyed were asked about their biggest challenges working in the sector:

• 68.1% said cost of living
• 56.5% said low level of income from working in creative industries
• 51.7% said burnout and fatigue
• 43.2% said job insecurity
• 43% said lack of opportunities due to external impacts like venue closures and festival cancellations
• 42.9% said the high cost of doing business.

Support Act CEO, Clive Miller, says of the report:

“Music and creative industry workers have experienced so much disruption over the past five years, and this updated survey shines a light on the issues that are impacting their mental health and wellbeing in a post-COVID environment, along with some recommendations from participants about what things need to change to ensure improved mental health outcomes over the long term.”

The report found elevated psychological distress among music and creative arts workers. 

Over half of the survey participants (53.5%) reported high or very high levels of psychological distress. While this constitutes a reduction since the 2022 survey results amidst the full effects of the COVID pandemic (66.1%), it is still concerningly high as compared to the general population (15%, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021).

The survey was developed with input from /Craft, AccessEAP, APRA AMCOS, ARIA PPCA, Arts Wellbeing Collective, Australian Society of Authors, Association of Artist Managers, Creative Workplaces, CrewCare, Entertainment Assist, MEAA, Music NSW, Music SA, Music Victoria, National Association of Visual Artists, QMusic, Screen Australia, Screen Well and Theatre Network Australia.

You can read the full and summary reports below, and download an infographic with the key research takeaways to share with your networks and start more conversations about mental health and wellbeing in the creative arts.