People in the live music and entertainment industries are being severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of jobs have been lost in recent weeks as a result of the cancellation of concerts, festivals, tours and shows. Reported losses across the sector amount to well over $100 million and are rising daily.
 
While clearly necessary to protect the health of the nation, these cancellations have affected a huge array of music industry workers including artists, crew, management, promoters, agents, vendors, publicists, merchandisers, drivers, loaders, riggers and everyone else who relied on live events for their income.
 
The vast majority of these workers are independent contractors who do not have the luxury of sick leave or annual leave. Most live from tour to tour, or gig to gig and they have lost their ability to earn an income through no fault of their own.
 
Support Act is already being inundated with requests for crisis relief from people who have gone from having seemingly secure income over the coming months to suddenly having no way to pay their bills. Our Mental Health Helpline which provides free counselling to those in need is also reporting a surge in calls. 
 
Many of the people who find themselves in this position are the same artists, crew and music workers who donated their time and talent to support others by staging benefit shows following the bushfire crisis just a few months ago.
 
As the most prominent music industry charity, Support Act is committed to doing what it can to help those in need but our resources are limited. We urgently need to build our own war chest in order to provide even a modest level of crisis relief to people who have been impacted.

Today we have therefore launched the COVID19 Emergency Appeal to accept donations from all sections of the Australian community. The target for the Appeal is $20million and Support Act has contributed $100k from its limited reserves to kickstart the campaign.

To donate, please visit our dedicated appeal page or follow the links from our website: supportact.org.au.

We ask music lovers across the country to support this appeal where possible, to help us raise the funds that will be needed to meet the expected demand. This could be through a direct donation or by directing proceeds from your own fundraising activities. 

We also stand ready to work with all levels of Government. We hope they will recognise the special needs of this vulnerable section of the community and provide cash support to our campaign and to the broader entertainment sector. We also urge the Federal Government to expedite access to key government programs such as the Newstart Jobseeking Allowance.
           
Please help us to support our music workers through this difficult period and help them be in a position to bounce back louder and prouder than ever once the pandemic has passed.

Support Act acknowledges and thanks all the members of the music industry taskforce who are working so tirelessly and selflessly to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the music industry.

Australian children’s entertainers, The Mik Maks have joined the fight against Covid-19 by releasing a new song. 

‘We Wash Our Hands’ is accompanied by a film clip that teaches children how to wash their hands with soap correctly.

Written and sung by The Mik Maks, ‘We Wash Our Hands’ seeks to educate young families around the world in an uplifting manner. 

The Mik Maks are known universally for bringing the ROCK to kid’s music. This song is no exception!

Front man of the band Joel said “Music is a wonderful source of incidental learning for children, they learn and then apply important habits without knowing they are doing it. We wanted to bring some fun and light to a difficult and confusing time for young families around the world.”

‘We Wash Our Hands’ is a relatable resource families can use to help stop the spread of germs both at school or at home.

Joel checked into the Departure Lounge with Stampsy and Joel to talk about washing hands.  While Josh had a new song pitch for The Mik Maks.

There are 740,000 people employed in the hospitality sector across Australia. It is conservative to assume that 25% of that workforce will become unemployed. That will be an extra 185,000 people without jobs. 

Less than a week into this health and economic crisis, significant hospitality businesses were already closing their doors. This last week, as bad as it has been, is only the beginning  CEO of Give Where You Live Bill Mithen "At best estimates there is already 6% of Victoria’s population that suffer food insecurity. That is approximately 400,000 people that are already terribly vulnerable. That number will grow. The emergency food sector relies on donated excess food, the supply of which is disappearing quickly. In addition that sector it is totally dependent on volunteers who have an average age of 65+. That labour force is also disappearing. The largest local emergency food agency has already seen a reduction in volunteers of 25%". Their proposal is to use existing food supply chains and distribution systems to keep businesses afloat and vulnerable people fed. It enables the use of the existing infrastructure and capacity in the hospitality sector. 

Bill checked into the Departure Lounge to explain what they need and how the government can step up in this time.

They’re the unsung heroes of our webcam meetings, the pawfect 3pm procrastination cure and also thinking “y tf u home human?”

Mark from Melbourne created the Instagram @dogsworkingfromhome to celebrate the four legged friends aka new work mates who are helping us stay sane as we WFH (work from home).

Mark checked into the Departure Lounge to take us through how it all came about.  

Geelong locals are coming together in the most incredible ways to support each other, their community and their loved ones.
But what you YOU doing to look after your mind?
This is the most important thing.  It will help you do everything else with clarity, calmness and focus.

Amarra Bowkett is the owner of The Well State.  She is a Wellness and Lifestyle Advisor.

"There’s no doubt that we are living in uncertain times. But it is possible to stay positive even when we are bombarded with negative news stories and are being driven by fear.

We need to take precautions.

We need to look after our family, our community and ourselves.

But how can we stay positive when the news is so negative?"

Amarra checked into the Departure Lounge with some beginner tips for Geelong and the Surf Coast.

In light of the escalating public health challenges communities are facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Senator Sarah Henderson is establishing a local COVID-19 Volunteer Connect initiative to link volunteers with anyone in our community who needs help. In particular, people who are more vulnerable, including older Australians, those with chronic diseases, and those with a disability. It is distressing, for instance, to witness the elderly struggling on their own to buy essential items from the supermarket. There are many people across the Geelong, Corangamite, Ballarat and Bendigo regions who wish to volunteer their time, even if it is to assist with shopping or running errands. Effective immediately, anyone who wishes to volunteer or anyone who is seeking support from a volunteer may ring the Senator's office on (03) 5221 5900. Alternatively, please email Kerry at [email protected] and include the words “COVID-19 Volunteer Connect” in the subject line. They will do their best to connect volunteers with those needing assistance as well as connecting people to local agencies and services. For anyone seeking public health information including how to identify the symptoms of coronavirus and obtain medical assistance, please go to health.gov.au.