Career
As researchers, Dr Christian Heim and Dr Caroline Heim published the results of the largest study into long-term couples every undertaken [6] in their book "Resilient Relationships: techniques for surviving hyper-individualism, social isolation and a mental health crisis" [7] Together they research, publish, and speak [8] in the areas of relationship resilience and as contributors to relationship longevity.
In psychiatry, Heim currently works as a Clinical Director in the Tasmania Mental Health Services. [9] Previously he worked in private practice, and subspecialized in psychotherapy, personal trauma, and couple therapy where mental illness was a prominent factor. He teaches medical undergraduates and lectures to trainee psychiatrists. He researches on the arts/health interface and is an Associate Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland.
In music, Heim held academic lecturing posts in music at the University of Wollongong and the University of Newcastle and lectured (casual) at the Manhattan School of Music. His musical Starlight unofficially opened the Hope Theatre, Wollongong. [10] His findings on the effects of baroque music on dementia patients were published in Australasian Journal of Ageing in early 2004. [11] They were described on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National program, The National Interest in July 2004. [12] [13] A grant from the Bernard Judd Foundation enabled further publications in this area. [14] Move Records released a CD of his work Prayer Dances featuring the Sydney Chamber Choir and Sprung Percussion.
He composed the music for and directed theatre productions for Crossbow Productions. These include Maxwell Anderson’s Mary of Scotland (Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong 2004), [15] Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure (the Myers Theatre, Kensington 2005), [15] Anderson’s Anne of the Thousand Days (Brisbane Powerhouse 2006), [16] William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker (Brisbane Powerhouse 2009), [17] William Nicholson’s Shadowlands (Brisbane Powerhouse 2010), [18] and Sartre’s No Exit (Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney 2011) [19] among others.
These productions provided the basis for academic publications on topics such as cultural issues and theatre, [20] catering for people with disabilities, [21] and the role of consciousness in Meisner-based acting. [22]
Mardi Lumsden of JourneyOnline felt his 2010 direction of Shadowlands , a play written by William Nicholson, [23] "is an innovative adaptation ... with the introduction of live music, sculpture and mine." [23] Caitlin Graham of Australian Stage felt that due to "some clumsy and fussy direction" it "falls short" whilst "The music and the sculpture are lovely and create a nice atmosphere." [24]
Heim delivers public lectures on topics combining psychiatry and music. These include: "Baroque & the Brain Wave: can music help in dementia care?" to the Royal Society of New South Wales [25] (the society's Anne Wood described that "What he has done is to take this music from the late 17th century through to the mid 18th century and explore its therapeutic use in dementia patients with the aim of producing more calming brainwaves);" [25] "An Afternoon with Frederic Chopin and George Sand" where he played piano in a portrayal of Chopin with Caroline Heim as Sand; [2] and “Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved” where he explored the psyche of the composer who never married. [26]
He writes books aimed at improving relationships and preventing mental health problems.
Wollongong is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The name is believed to originate from the Dharawal language, meaning either 'five islands/clouds', 'ground near water' or 'sound of the sea'. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 85 kilometres south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The city's current Lord Mayor is Gordon Bradbery AM who was elected in 2021.
Casey Donovan is an Australian singer, songwriter, actress, theatre actress and author, best known for winning the second season of the singing competition show Australian Idol in 2004. She won the competition at the age of just 16, becoming the series' youngest winner. In 2017, Donovan won the third series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. Donovan also hosted the NITV music show Fusion with Casey Donovan.
Mission Australia is a national Christian charity that provides a range of community services throughout Australia. It has its roots in the Brisbane sector of The British and Foreign Bible Society’s sub-committee, The Colporteur Society (1869), and Sydney City Mission (1862), but was only officially established in 1996, bringing together a number of city missions across the country. The organisation specialises in the areas of homelessness and housing, families and children, early learning, youth, employment and skills, substance abuse, disability, mental health, and strengthening communities. Sharon Callister has been CEO since March 2022.
Tommy Murphy is an Australian playwright, screenwriter, adaptor and director. He created and was head writer for the 2022 TV series Significant Others. He is best known for his stage and screen adaptation of Timothy Conigrave's memoir Holding the Man. His most recent plays are a stage adaptation of Nevil Shute’s On The Beach, Mark Colvin's Kidney and Packer & Sons.
David Hobson is an Australian opera tenor and composer.
Jarrod Carland is an Australian creative director, establishing design agency Studio Jack in 2008. He has also been involved in the entertainment industry as a producer, working on a variety of events and productions, from festivals to musical theatre productions and large scale concert events.
Richard Leo Tognetti AO is a leading Australian musician recognised internationally as a violin soloist, ensemble player, leader, composer and arranger, conductor and artistic director.
John Rodgers is a Brisbane-based Australian composer, improviser, violinist, pianist and guitarist.
The Australian Dance Awards recognise excellence and promote dance in Australia. They are awarded under the auspices of the Australian Dance Council (Ausdance) for performance, choreography, design, dance writing, teaching and related professions. They especially recognise and honour professional Australian dance artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Australian dance.
Bran Nue Dae is a 1990 musical set in Broome, Western Australia, that tells stories and of issues relating to Indigenous Australians. It was written by Jimmy Chi and his band Kuckles and friends, and was the first Aboriginal Australian musical. The name is a phonetic representation of "Brand New Day".
Kris Stewart is Chief Executive Officer of QMusic, the peak body for live music in Queensland and producer of BIGSOUND, Australia's largest live music industry event.
Jacqueline Ruth Weaver is an Australian theatre, film, and television actress. Weaver emerged in the 1970s Australian New Wave through her work in Ozploitation films such as Stork (1971), Alvin Purple (1973), and Petersen (1974). She later starred in Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Caddie (1976), Squizzy Taylor (1982), and a number of television films, miniseries, and Australian productions of plays such as Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire.
Clare Maree Bowen is an Australian actress, singer and dancer, best known for her role as Scarlett O'Connor in the ABC/CMT musical-drama television series Nashville. Alongside her music releases from Nashville and her solo debut album, Bowen also records with her husband Brandon Young as Bowen*Young.
Songs from the British Isles is a collobrative extended play by Australian singer songwriter Katie Noonan and Australian classical guitarist Karin Schaupp, available only from Katie Noonan webshop. It was released to support the tour 'Songs from the British Isles'.
Zahra Newman is an Australian actress.
Lisa Havilah is the CEO of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) in Sydney, Australia. She has previously directed various arts centres in Sydney, including Carriageworks and Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Kate Swaffer is an Australian civil rights campaigner, and activist for the rights of people with dementia and older persons globally, and for dementia to be managed as a disability. This is to enable equal access to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), of people with dementia who are people with acquired disabilities. She was awarded Australian of the Year for South Australia in 2017, and was announced the 2018 Global Leader of the 100 Women of Influence in Australia.
George Ellis is an Australian conductor, composer and orchestrator. He presents concerts for international events with a broad range of styles from classical to pop/rock and jazz as well as presenting orchestral concerts for young audiences. He also lectures in conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and is a regular presenter of Sonic Journey for ABC Radio Sydney’s program with Simon Marnie.
Elaine Crombie is an Aboriginal Australian actress, known for her work on stage and television. She is also a singer, songwriter, comedian, writer and producer.
