Melissa Nelson-Campbell’s lived experience as a woman of colour propelled her to make meaning through working human rights. Now, she empowers multicultural school communities through the transformative potentials of art making.

Melissa Nelson-Campbell, owner and founder of Draw Inspiration is open about her life journey and finding meaning through art as a pathway that has led her to become an Arts Therapist. She shares:

“My love for the arts as therapy started back in 2006 after running my first self-care workshop in the loungeroom of my parent’s home. Being raised by migrant parents, it was in my blood and bones to strive to create a meaningful life for myself.

I studied several courses in art therapy, meditation teaching and counselling, working my way toward taking bigger and bolder steps in my career.

As a woman of colour, artist, and art therapist, I am driven to support people from diverse backgrounds yearning to find their voice and be heard. My therapeutic arts practice led me to working with local human rights organisations, university and high school students, board members and local council.

I am currently employed as an art therapist for a multicultural primary school with a high percentage of children carrying trauma. They are resilient, passionate, and extremely responsive to the vast healing potentials of creative arts therapy”.

As part of this year’s Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat, we are pleased to welcome Melissa as a facilitator and panel member. Melissa is offering this arts based self care workshop for participants.

This workshop has been carefully crafted for you to find restoration and inspiration through the act of clay making.

A gentle workshop that will involve grounding meditation, music, and movement to help you create your symbol from this beautiful earth material.

We will explore themes on what holds you, what sustains you and what brings you joy. Your clay can become an inspirational symbol that amplifies something meaningful to you.

We pay our deep respects to the First Peoples of Boon Wurrung Country where we will meet.

Friday 14th – Monday 17th May 2021

Inverloch RACV Resort, Bass Coast, Victoria

This training event is proudly endorsed by PACFA for 11 hours of continuing professional development.

$600 registration fee covers core program, Friday night Welcome Dinner, morning and afternoon teas, and is payable in 3 instalments.Registration does not include accomodation or meals other than the Welcome Dinner.

The core program includes Welcome Dinner, morning mindful activities, 6 x keynote presentations, 6 x 1.5 hour experiential workshops and a number of optional wellness activities for self-care including dance, art making, swimming and walking. Surfing, Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Snorkelling are available as optional add ons at affordable prices. 

 This forum supports the goals of the ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign – to have Arts Therapists recognised as mental health professionals.For this purpose, the forum is designed to be educational in an experiential sense – by providing opportunities to participate first hand in creative and holistic workshops and activities, as well as hear from dynamic keynote presenters and a panel of lived experience experts.

The 2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self-care Retreat is an opportunity to look after yourself and learn while enjoying good company and restorative time in the living world.

It is hosted only two hours drive from Melbourne in the beautiful surrounds of the Bass Coast Bunurong Marine Park and township of coastal Inverloch.

This Professional Development event is suitable for Therapists  interested in understanding more about creative approaches in mental health care.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CREATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FORUM AND SELF CARE RETREAT