Mind Australia is delighted to announce the recipient of the 2026 Stratford Scholarship is Nancy Bates, a proud Barkindji songwoman, based in Adelaide.
Nancy will use the scholarship to undertaking leadership, Narrative Therapy and Music Therapy training to strengthen the therapeutic and facilitation foundations of Blak Country, her established First Nations-led music and storytelling program in Adelaide Women’s Prison and elsewhere.
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These learning pathways will deepen her skills in trauma-aware, strengths-based and culturally responsive practice, and enhance her capacity to safely facilitate music and storytelling programs that support mental health and wellbeing.
Each year the $10,000 Stratford Scholarship supports an emerging peer leader in Australia to complete a 12-month project that supports the mental health and wellbeing of people in their own and the broader community.
Nancy said in her application: “Narrative Therapy training will strengthen how Blak Country centres lived experience, story and meaning-making, supporting participants to re-author their experiences beyond diagnosis and deficit.
“Music therapy pathways will further develop my ability to use song, rhythm and collective music-making as intentional tools for regulation, connection and healing.
“Together, this training will directly inform the design and delivery of Blak Country programs across community, education and justice settings.”
Nancy’s goal is to support sustainable, culturally governed mental health practice and contribute to long-term transformational change through community-led creative healing.
Nancy’s project was chosen from 43 applications by three independent judges who collectively offered expertise across peer work, consumer and carer insights, social justice and Indigenous rights and advocacy.
Mind CEO Gill Callister said Mind was excited to be supporting Nancy’s project.
“Mind established the Stratford Scholarship to encourage emerging lived experience leaders and support them to make a difference within their communities. We are so proud to be supporting Nancy to enhance her already impressive healing project.”
Image credit: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).