This announcement will also be available on our choir sites as a NEWS item.
Update
Our numbers have been growing steadily in the on-campus rehearsals and in Zoom, and everyone is sounding great! We also have a growing number of instrumentalists and several vocal soloists as well, plus we have a team of fantastic volunteers who are helping to organise, manage and promote the project.
Recruitment
When you're encouraging others to join us -- as well as talking about the fun we're having -- below are two important reasons for being part of Big Sing.
Trigger warning
Mental health
Family domestic violence
If you need help, please contact:
ACU Safety Support Network
ACU Counselling Services
ACU 24-hour mental health support line Call 1300 638 485 or text 0488 884 191.
1800-RESPECT Call 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732
Loneliness reaching epidemic levels
At a time when "loneliness" is at an all time high (which can seriously impact our health and wellbeing), engaging with one another and being part of campus life is more important than ever. Learn about this in an article published yesterday by SBS: An epidemic as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day is sweeping Australia
Housing insecurity on the rise for university students in Australia
Unfortunately, university students are now "the group of Australians with the fastest growing rate of homelessness" (Fitzimmons, 2023). The articles below explains more. The Big Cause associated with the Big Sing is homelessness and housing insecurity, which affects people from all walks of life, including our ACU students. The economic crisis is part of the reason for the rise (e.g., the cost of rent and food), as well as domestic/family violence (DFV) (the United Nations described DFV the "shadow pandemic", increasing threefold since Covid lockdowns in 2020).
Our project is raising funds and awareness to support direct services for those in need.
Learn more in these articles:
Fitzsimmons, C. (2023, July 18). Priyanka was homeless at 18. now at university, she’s one of the lucky ones. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/priyanka-was-homeless-at-18-now-at-university-she-s-one-of-the-lucky-ones-20230511-p5d7rw.html
Purcell, T., & Davidson, D. (2023). Homelessness and housing instability in young people engaged in tertiary education in Australia: An urgent call for research. Social Alternatives, 42(2), 15–24. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.310097186896406
Petty, S. (2023, July 19). Rent crisis: International student surge causes fighting among powerful property lobby groups. Search for Real Estate, Property & Homes. https://www.realestate.com.au/news/rent-crisis-international-student-surge-causes-fighting-among-powerful-property-lobby-groups/
RESEARCH
Our Big Sing project is part of research on a theme of Transformational Learning in Higher Education, which will include exploring the two topics mentioned above. Please contact Kathleen McGuire if you are interested in being involved as a Research Assistant or Principal Investigator.
Big Sing featured in Staff Bulletin
This is a link to the Staff Bulletin article that appeared last week, which you might like to share with staff members:
Join the Big Sing - ACU Staff Bulletin article
REMINDERS
We have rehearsal this week (Wed 27 March) but then have a break for 1 week (no rehearsal 3 April). We re-commence 10 April.
Accessing resources
This announcement shows how to find our resources in ACU Life: https://aculife.acu.edu.au/email_details?uid=e3f6982c-e690-11ee-b275-06546e51cda6
In short: Go to the ACU CHOIR WEBSITE (Melbourne or National) and find the RESOURCES menu.
EASTER TREAT
As a reward for your efforts in the Big Sing, there will be a special Easter treat for those who attend on-campus this week, 27 March!
COMMUNITY CHOIRS
Several choirs in the wider community will be learning Street Requiem and will join with ACU for our performances in August. ACU staff and students have the option of participating with a choir externally.
In addition to other choirs that will be added to this list, you may wish to join with:
Melbourne Justice Choir (MJC)
Rehearsing on weekends approximately semi-monthly (alternating in Brunswick West and the Mornington Peninsula). Conductor: Dr Kathleen McGuire. To learn more and receive announcements, visit: https://streetrequiem2024.teamapp.com/
GALS Auckland, New Zealand
GALS, Auckland's Rainbow Choir, is performing Street Requiem mid-year (30th anniversary concert) and then members are flying to Melbourne in August to join with us! Conductor Nicholas Forbes, will play the organ in our Melbourne performance. They rehearse Tuesdays at the Pitt Street Methodist Church in Auckland. Website: https://www.gals.org.nz/
If you know a community or school choir that might like to collaborate with our Big Sing project, please contact our choir manager, Christina Cushen: christina.cushen3@myacu.edu.au
Seeking Auslan interpreters
To improve the accessibility of our performances, we are seeking members of the ACU community with Auslan skills, especially those familiar with artistic interpretation, to join our project. If you know someone, please help connect us!
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