We are well: A digital exhibition

Presented as part of our 2025 digital exhibition program, We Are Well: Art-Moving-Wellbeing explores how art education, wellbeing, histories, and cultures of Australian First Nations Peoples can create dynamic learning experiences in primary schools, universities, and senior groups.

Now showing | Matheson + Caulfield + Hargrave-Andrew

Monash students and staff from the Faculty of Education and the Department of Occupational Therapy, local children, and older adults from U3A and Rotary met with Indigenous artists and knowledge holders for four workshops at the Monash Peninsula Studio and McClelland Gallery.

Monash students experienced creative project-based learning, as they learned about the value of Indigenous perspectives in their work, and how creative and community partnerships can be forged. They will take these experiences into their respective fields.

Intergenerational learning

Participants created art together across generations.

Solar prints

Working with local plants and the sun to create collaborative solar prints that capture seasonal knowledge.

Eco-Dyeing

Preparing and dyeing with local plants as a means to explore Country.

Wayapa

Aunty Karan lead Wayapa movement with children, Monash students, older community members, teachers and researchers.

Superpower booklets

Participants described their well-being superpowers, translated these into a logo, and shared them as a get-to-know-you activity.

Superpower leaves

Gum leaves were harvested from a local tree and drawn on to depict well-being assets through words and pattern.

Portraits of well-being

Participants proudly stood alongside their drawings of well-being superpowers.

Multisensory Learning

Intergenerational participants worked with aroma, touch and close-looking as they explored local plants together.

Seasonal knowledges

Flowers and plants were placed on eco-dyed fabric where the colour dye is derived from the same plants during the same season.

Plant knowledges

Participants were taught the benefits and learnings to be gained from the plants they collected on Boon Wurrung Country.

A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

This exhibition represents a collaborative project led by Dr Geraldine Burke from the Faculty of Education, Monash University, in conjunction with the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre. Workshops led by Indigenous artists and knowledge holders: Aunty Karan Kent, Kylie Colemane and Nikki Browne. The research team also included Associate Professor Megan Adams, Associate Professor Laura Alfrey, Dr Aislinn Lalor, Professor Keith Hill and Ms Priscilla Pettengell.

CREDITS

Directors: Geraldine Burke, Chris Hanger

Videography: Scott Burgess, Chris Hanger, Reggie Gangi

Producers: Scott Burgess, Chris Hanger, Geraldine Burke

With acknowledgements to all participants for their valued contribution:
Nikki Browne, Bidjara artist and educator, and First Nations Learning and Programs Manager, McClelland Gallery; Aunty Karan Kent, Bidjara and local community Elder. Founder of Yimba Yumba; Kylie Colemane, Darug, and Wiradjuri First Nations consultant, artist, and educator. Founder of Your Green Prescription; Monash Faculty of Education students, Monash OT students, Woodlands Primary School Children and Teachers; Rosebud Rotary and U3A Mornington and the Monash Research team: Geraldine Burke, Megan Adams, Laura Alfrey (Faculty of Education), Keith Hill and Aislinn Lalor (Rehabilitation, Ageing, Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University)