Support Act, has welcomed an investment of $250,000 from the Malinauskas Labor Government, as part of a new $10million See it LIVE music package aimed at bringing live music back to South Australia.

The announcement, which was made over the weekend, will be a welcome relief to many musicians, managers, crew and music workers in SA who have faced a tough two years of pandemic shut downs, job insecurity, loss of income and subsequent mental health challenges.

The See it LIVE package includes a range of grants, mental health support programs, venue upgrades, a live music advisory council and events cancellation fund to support the music industry’s recovery.

The $250,000 provided to Support Act will go towards boosting its Wellbeing Helpline, a free, confidential phone counselling service, available to anyone who works in Australian music or the arts. 

It will also ensure SA music workers will have access to a range of the charity’s mental health prevention, education and training programs including Mental Health First Aid Training and First Nations Mental Health First Aid Training, Workplace Wellbeing Check-Ins, Financial Literacy workshops, Access All Areas safety at work training and much more.

Clive Miller, CEO of Support Act, explains: “This funding from the South Australian Government could not have come at a better time, and will greatly assist our efforts to help music workers in SA to better manage their mental health and wellbeing as they seek to rebuild their careers and livelihoods after two years of pandemic related disruption. 

“We are sincerely grateful to the Government for their support, and we look forward to partnering with MusicSA and local music workers and businesses to ensure that they can access these industry specific programs and services over the next 12 months.”

South Australian Minister for Arts, the Hon. Andrea Michaels MP, adds: “Live music is an important part of South Australia’s economy and integral to the development and employment of our talented local artists. It is also critical our local musicians have access to appropriate mental health support – which is where Support Act comes in.

“Through these grants we hope to see a whole new calendar of live gigs and festivals during 2022 and 2023, offering audiences a great opportunity to get along to a music performance.”

For further information on the See it LIVE music package, visit business.sa.gov.au/live-music/