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Multimedia Program Update

The Thursday afternoon Multimedia program enables participants to specialize and focus on a specific creative area.


Michael is creating stop motion film based on an instructional video for “The Final Destination” theme park ride. See the first finished scene from the film above (no audio).

Ryk has set up his own You Tube channel based on conspiracy theories. He has titled his work “Pot plants have hidden messages”.

Chiara and Paul are working on costume and set design for the end of year Futures Drama Production directed by James Andrews. Their research for the play involves gathering images and ideas off the internet about “Romeo & Juliette”.

Music Program Update

The Futures Music Program, led by John Edgar is actively working towards two performances; one for the Convent Open Day in November and The International Day for People with a Disability - Music Festival.

The Futures weekly music group is split into three groups - vocal, drums and melody. Each group works on individual songs and rhythms and then they bring the work to the rest of the class to see how the parts fit together.

Participants engage in a weekly improvisational ‘jam session’ and are getting closer to locking down lyrics and rhythms for their songs. Once they get the song, lyrics and basic structure down they keep rehearsing the piece until they are happy with how it sounds.

Participants this term were able to explore a variety of instruments in order to find one they were comfortable to play. Renato has taken on the harpsichord, Ryk (banjo), Rhiannon (pink acoustic guitar), Toby & Akshay (drums), Michelle, Caitlin and Chiara (vocals).


The class finale goes off with a bang with the class hit song “Stop Being a Guts”, a re-written version of “Boulevard of Dreams” by Green Day.

Liam Cuffley (Instructor – Music Program)

Fine Arts - Making A Mark

The Futures Art class has been working hard this term to form a bold and colourful body of work. Each participant’s personalities and interests have been expressed through a variety of mediums including painting, collage, fabric art and felt tip drawing.

The art class is a very social group where participants enjoy catching up with each other, while coming together to make art.


Participants are currently working towards a collaborative project with the Futures Music group called “Hung Up!”

The group will hang up creative work inspired by stories shared within the group to form an installation at the Arts Education Studio as part of the Convent Open Day.


Jane Joske (Instructor- Fine Art)

Getting Into The Act

Toby Crook has been in various Advocacy roles over the past few years. He has a natural talent for public speaking and being a voice for others. Toby does not follow a script nor plan what he has to say; his words naturally flow and speak to the heart of everyone in the room.

Toby has recently been invited to join the Valid Eastern Client Network Committee, where he will attend monthly meetings at The Ringwood Federation Estate commencing on Monday 21st June. This is an exciting opportunity for Toby and he is looking forward to discussing the current challenges and successes in the sector and generally advocating for people with disabilities.

Drama participants received a sneak peak of Toby’s recent performance in ‘Getting into the Act’, a DVD created to explain the Disability Act. Toby joined forces with actors from Reinforce Advocacy Drama Group to make the film. The DVD features an animated character that leaps out of the Disability Act and onto the shoulders of actors to explain the different parts of the Act.

Toby and other performers gave a great performance, acting with an animated cartoon. All the participants gave Toby a rousing round of applause at the end of the DVD and joked that he should be signing autographs!

Puppetry Performance

First year Drama participants have enjoyed a Puppet Making and Performance Program at Ringwood Federation Estate led by Cherie Murray.

Participants have spent the first part of the year creating hand puppets and devising their own script for the end of year puppetry performance called ‘The Heart of Hollywood’.

The production sparkles with the glamour and gliz of Hollywood excess and displays a strong social conscience. Creative work is well underway with participants busy making costumes, sets, rehearsing songs and dance routines.

The story revolves around the central character called ‘Big Bird’ (who is close to extinction) and a motley crew of rock ‘n’ rollers, who rally together to save the big birds of the world. The piece is a comical and moving tale, revealing an unlikely love story between Mary Poppins and the famous ‘bad boy’ Eminem.

The piece is sure to rock audiences in their seats and take them on a ride of their life!

Cherie Murray (Instructor- Dramatic Arts)

Drama Program Update

Drama program has had a twist in the plot this term, with the inclusion of a Self-Advocacy training course.

The course was facilitated by the Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU). Participants used their drama skills to explore role plays and improvisations around their rights, responsibilities and avenues for self-advocacy.

Participants completed the course on 18th June and received certificates of achievement, and celebrated their graduation with a suitably upbeat party.

Meanwhile, progress toward the annual drama performance continues with gusto. The drama group has been work-shopping their ideas and honing their characters each week. Without giving away the magic, we can tell you that this year’s production will feature the characters of Pink, Juliet, Robin Hood, Thomas Rogan, Duke Nukem, Aden Jeffries, Elvis and Belle from Beauty and the Beast in all manner of outrageous scenes, culminating in an exciting conclusion.

Friday’s Drama program is a social and creative end to the working week. We have enjoyed working from our new base at Ringwood Federation Estate, and look forward to taking our ideas to the stage (and the world!) later in the year.

Julia Sutherland (Instructor -Drama)