Entertainment Assist Magazine - Issue 1

ISSUE 1 - DEC 2020
MAGAZINE
How prevention based
curriculum ‘Intermission’
is making a difference
- JULIA EDWARDS
How Entertainment Assist
is working to reduce the
shocking statistics of the
industry
- DAVID MANN AM
JOSH
PITERMAN
AMBASSADOR
Speaks candidly about how he is coping
through COVID-19 shutdowns, quarantine
and what help artists need right now
entertainmentassist.org.au
RESEARCH, AWARENESS & EDUCATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
1

WELCOME
In this issue we feature two of our ambassadors - Josh
Piterman and Bobby Fox who have been doing an amazing
job on socials sharing their personal experiences and
challenges as artists during COVID shutdowns. Our Chairman
David Mann AM provides a summary of the year that was
and we share more about our Intermission program free
webinar series.
Entertainment Assist is a national health promotion charity
supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the Australian
Entertainment industry and its workers. We do this with our
major programs around research, awareness and education.
Working in the Australian Entertainment industry can be
fraught with uncertainty. The 2020 year has been intensified
by COVID-19 shutdowns for industry and directly impacting
workers’ livelihoods and employment prospects. With our
industry being one of the first industries to be shut down
and will be one of the last to recover, many of our people are
having their toughest year ever. Our support resources are in
place to help people better manage their own mental health
or understand what a loved one is experiencing.
Feel free to share this magazine.
JULIA EDWARDS
General Manager
Entertainment Assist is a national health promotion charity
with deductible gift recipient status. Any gift greater than $2
is tax-deductible. You will be emailed a tax invoice for your
records.
Please give now to support the mental health and wellbeing
of the Australian Entertainment Industry this holiday season.
entertainmentassist@gmail.com
@entertainmentassist
@entertainmentassist
@EntertainAssist
Give Now
givenow.com.au/entertainmentassist
Entertainment Assist Magazine is owned and published
in print and electronically by Entertainment Assist.
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic or printed
magazine may be reproduced without the written
consent of Julia Edwards, General Manager. Requests
for permission should be directed to: Julia Edwards at
Julia.edwards@entertainmentassist.org.au
2

THANKS TO OUR
SUPPORTERS
Founding Donor:
Major Donors:
This magazine is proudly
supported by:
Introducing the Australian Alliance for Wellness in Entertainment (AAWE).
Entertainment Assist acts as the secretariat to this world-first peak body
collaboration committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of
Australian Entertainment industry workers.
With the alarming statistics in our industry showing; Suicide rate double that of
the general population, Anxiety symptoms being 10 times higher and depression
is 5 times higher, there is much work to be done.
By working collaboratively, AAWE is dedicated to influencing workplace practice and policy that activates mental health is on the
workplace agenda. As we rebuild and recover from a devastating year to better educate those preparing to enter the workforce so
they are better equipped to deal with the nuances of working in the entertainment industry. For more information go to
www.entertainmentassist.org.au/wellness
33

FEATURE STORY
JOSH
PITERMAN
Q: Thanks for chatting to Entertainment Assist
Magazine, how are you and where are you
right now?
Thanks for having me. I’m currently on day
11 of 14 days of Quarantine in Brisbane after
flying back home from London.
Q: What’s your plans for this summer?
Singing, swimming, summering! Some road
trips and spending plenty of time with family
and close friends.
Q: If there was one word or phrase that sums up
your 2020 what would that be? And what might it
be for 2021?
2020 Reflect, Reset & Refuel
2021 Reimagine, Re-emerge
Q. A little birdy told us that you have a live performance coming up on Jan
2, 2021 - how will that feel to be back on stage in front of a real crowd?
Oh I’m so excited about it. I’ve really missed that unique energy you
can only feel from human connection in a space of creativity and to
hopefully have a sellout show would just be icing on the cake. The
show has some amazing talent involved with John Foreman, Bobby
Fox (Jersey Boys) and Lisa Edwards joining me and we are all so
eager to be back on that live stage. It’s a second home for all of us
and I’ve so missed hanging out there. What’s more it’s an opportunity
to raise awareness and funds for Entertainment Assist, a beautiful
organisation with a great mission and heart.
4

Q. What have you been doing to support yourself
during this time? Both from an artistic perspective
and mental health and wellbeing perspective?
Great question. It has been a challenging
time to be creative in this period. A
few things have popped up and they’ve
been really rewarding. Unique recording
experiences, online experiences and even a
live gig.
Q. How have you been preparing for this
performance whilst in quarantine?
Basically, I’ve been annoying the
neighbours!! And it’s not like they
can escape. Lol! Preparing some
new songs that I’ve never performed
before is super exciting but also takes
a lot of practice, so I apologise for
any disruptions I’ve caused people.
Q: Your role in Phantom Of The Opera
in London was cut short (boo COVID!),
how did you and the entire cast manage
that news and then handle watching all
entertainment shut down indefinitely
across the globe?
I can only speak for myself, in that
everyone will have had their own
unique experience and way of
handling it. For me it was incredibly
challenging at first. I felt like I had
climbed the Everest of my career and
then fallen off the edge, but when
I began to consciously descend and
use it as an opportunity to go inward
and downward, to do some deep self
reflection and soul work it became an
incredible gift. The biggest pearls are
only found in the depths of the ocean
right!?
I have felt fleeting moments of immense
creative flow but at times I haven’t felt the
creative spark at all and in fact felt quite tired
and bereft. I think as creatives and once
again speaking purely for myself, it’s really
important to acknowledge that and not feel
like I have to be a machine all the time and
to constantly put creative work out there or
feel a pressure to do so.
I decided to use the time to deepen my
spiritual practices. I did a wonderful course
called the ‘Warriors Way’ run by and
incredible man and mentor of mine, President
of Meditation Australia, Asher Packman.
I also finally got around to doing my
meditation teacher certification with ‘One
Giant Mind’ and have loved teaching that
to people around the globe via Zoom. Both
these courses advanced my own meditation
practice significantly. I also upped my physical
training and started Crossfit for the first time
in my life which I now really enjoy. I moved
house to be closer to nature and now live
opposite the beach in the south of the UK
and finally started an online ‘circle’ via Zoom
with my friend Siobhan Dillon where we hold
space for other artists to share and express
what they’re going through at the moment.
So yeah I’ve made a lot of changes this
year for the benefit of my mind, body, spirit
and soul and they are all changes that have
grounded me, calmed me and centred me in
a year of immense external chaos.
5

66

Q: Do you have any strategies or self-care steps
guidance or tips for others who are feeling impacted
during this challenging period that you have found
useful?
For me, it’s about looking after the various
pillars of my health; physical, emotional, mental,
spiritual and soul. So I have clear rituals in place
to ensure I’m filling up my cup in those areas.
I meditate twice a day and exercise daily in
some way, journalling, connect to nature, cold
shower/ice therapy, eat nourishing food as often
as possible. And then little things like playing
my favourite music, lighting a scented candle or
some Palo Santo reading an interesting book.
These practices have helped me and have been
built of many years so i wouldn’t want people to
feel a pressure to have to do all of this as it may
seem overwhelming.
If I could start with one it’d be to meditate
daily. The power of the mind is so great
and harnessing that I feel is the nucleus of
everything. The quality of our mind and selfawareness
for me is the most essential aspect of
sustaining wellbeing. Without our whole mind,
we are not able to accurately determine what
our needs are and respond to them effectively to
restore our wellbeing.
Q: What can others do that would assist or
help performers or entertainers during this
time?
Be kind, be compassionated, be
understanding. Really hear people who are
struggling and hold space for them. You
don’t need to offer up all the solutions and
fix their woes. Just being there is enough.
Q: Any links or resources you would
like to share that may assist others?
Other than what is on the Entertainment
Assist website which is wonderful.
entertainmentassist.org.au
warrior-within.com.au
1giantmind.com
joshpitermanmeditation@gmail.com
regarding the weekly Conscious Creative
Circle and upcoming meditation courses
And before you go...
Q. Britney Spears or Rick Astley? Rick
Q. Shoes or bare feet? Barefoot obvs
Q. Dance or sleep? Sleep
Q. Calm or chaos? Calm
Q. Passion & purpose or drive & determination?
Q: What do you enjoy most about being an
ambassador for Entertainment Assist?
It’s the opportunity to shine a light on some
dark issues that our brothers and sisters in this
industry are experiencing daily. A chance to
have the challenging and at times uncomfortable
conversations with people around matters of
mental health, depression, suicide and allow
those outside of the creative circle to get a
deeper understanding of all of us in it so we all
feel connected and united and not separate.
Passion and purpose
Thanks Josh
joshpiterman.com.au
@JoshPiterman
77

HOW
ENTERTAINMENT ASSIST
IS WORKING TO REDUCE
THE SHOCKING
STATISTICS OF THE INDUSTRY
2
020 What a year! drought, bushfires, COVID 19
and the ripple effect through to our workers and
performers in the Entertainment industry. The
mental health and wellbeing space has an enormous
amount of pressure placed upon it for the delivery of
services right across the community. In our Australian
space the demand for mental health and wellbeing
advice and support has never been greater. It is necessary
to thank everyone involved in their work at this time;
Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Support Act, Media Entertainment
and Arts Alliance and the Arts Centre Melbourne
Wellbeing Collective for their continued and very caring
support for our industry.
I am very grateful for the ongoing support of our major
funders and supporters; Freemasons Foundation,
and Village Roadshow Limited. I also wish to highlight
Connected Communities Melbourne, Gandel
Philanthropy, Caravan Industry Victoria, PWC, New
Theatricals, Marriner Theatres, Trafalgar Entertainment
and the casts of many of the top theatrical productions
that have visited Melbourne for their assistance with their
fundraising through ‘bucket collects’ and introductions to
ambassadors. Of course, none our work would have been
possible without acknowledging our founding funder The
Pratt Foundation that set us on course many years ago.
We continue to drive research within our industry and
measure the impact and outcomes of mental health for all
sectors to work towards affecting change.
David Mann AM FAICD
CHAIRMAN
ENTERTAINMENT ASSIST
Our three research partners, Victoria
University, Swinburne University and
Everymind help to inform the workplace
policy changes we are striving for
and enhance Entertainment Assist’s
very own INTERMISSION; a mental
health program tailored specifically to
address the nuances of working in the
entertainment industry.
Our Australian Alliance for Wellness
in Entertainment (AAWE) program
is a fantastic example of working
collaboratively with peak body
sectors and influence change on the
entertainment workplace agenda.
8

By sharing knowledge and best
practice models we will reduce
the shocking statistics around
suicide, depression and anxiety
and many other factors that
need to be improved.
I would like to thank our Ambassadors in the
difficulty they themselves have had to work through
and have fronted up for our cause and lead people
to our free support services online. Special thanks
to Bobby Fox and Josh for their triumphant efforts
throughout the year.
My thanks for the support and encouragement I
receive from our wonderful Board, thank you for
your trust in me as Chairman. To have their expertise
in so many areas, it leaves me to say it is one of the
most remarkable group of individuals that I work
with across the many organisations I am involved
with.
I thank the team at Entertainment Assist lead by our
General Manager for all their efforts and remaining
strategically focused to achieving Entertainment
Assist’s goals.
These are extraordinary times we are living through,
and when our industry came to a grinding halt in
March 2020 and may not resume well into the 2021
year, it is most important we are here for people in
all walks of entertainment, to support them through
this very difficult time.
After a difficult year for everyone, we are all looking
forward to the New Year and the continued support
of many
Thanks for your support of Entertainment Assist
and let’s all look forward to a healthy, happy and
productive 2021.
9

INTERMISSION was created as a direct response
to troubling findings contained in the research
report “Working in the Australian Entertainment
Industry”, conducted by Entertainment Assist,
together with Victoria University and Vic College
of the Arts, 2015.
The INTERMISSION program is tailored
specifically to address the needs of the Australian
entertainment industry and further customised
to focus on individual industry segments.
Participants can expect learning outcomes that
include better mental health literacy, an ability to
identify common mental health challenges, ways
to have effective conversations, effective selfcare
strategies, peer to peer management tools
and identification of resources and pathways to
support. Presented in the style of storytelling and
analogy, INTERMISSION, is a highly engaging and
positive program that’s both educational
and entertaining!
I would like this course to
be delivered to all creative
educators and I would also
like to do it again!
The tools of
engagement
were really
brilliant,
particularly the
respond/react
one.
I found the
signs and
symptoms
session really
useful and
validating.
10

Depression is feeling like you’ve
lost something but having no
clue when or where you last had
it... then one day you realise
what you lost was
yourself.
Its crazy times like these. that we
remind ourselves that all we have in
life is each other, especially in the
Entertainment Industry. Uncertainty in
our lives can leave us feeling unstable
and can have a damaging effect on
our mental health. Its important to do
things you love and I love to sing!
Bobby Fox,
AMBASSADOR
I found joy in performing for others
virtually during the pandemic. Its was
so wonderful to see the impact of live
music and how it moves those who
listen and share the experience.
11

Production spots are limited!
✓
Huge range of layouts
✓
3 year structural warranty
✓
Fast, easy finance available
✓
30 years of manufacturing
experience
✓
Impressive list of standard
features
✓
Australia-wide service & repair
network
Talk to one of our Dealerships today
Melbourne, VIC
Cnr Hume Hwy & Grasslands Ave
Craigieburn, VIC 3064
Phone 03 8339 9100
Newcastle, NSW
1 Whealan Close
Heatherbrae, Newcastle, NSW 2324
Phone 02 4988 7300
Burleigh Heads, QLD
2 Junction Road
Burleigh Heads, QLD 2486
Phone 07 5601 0138
AustralianCaravanCentre.com.au
12