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About us What is 'caring through creativity'? What does 'cordialis' mean? Our approach What is ‘Caring through Creativity’? Cordialis promotes a more creative and caring society by helping everyone use their innate creativity to help others. Creativity is widely regarded as a natural and defining human characteristic, yet many of us are uncomfortable with expressing our creativity, as we believe we lack necessary talent, or simply lack the time or means for creative expression. Our impulse for simple, natural creativity, such as singing a song, can be limited by a lack of exposure when young, or a negative judgement that we carry into our later lives. At the same time, creative expression such as singing and dancing are known to be an important part of social bonding, supporting a shared sense of belonging, and allowing us to see and feel our common humanity. The Cordialis approach to creativity focusses on the way in which each person’s innate creativity can activate, support and enrich that of another person. By using our creativity to reach out to another, we focus less on what we perceive to be our own limitations and instead aim to enhance another’s life. For example, a parent might sing a song with a child, a carer might sing with an elderly resident, a medical professional might sing with a patient, as a means of encouraging that person to sing with us. This is not a performance, but rather a simple activity that promotes wellbeing and cements our shared bond. We are not concerned with the technical quality of our own singing in this context, but rather the emotional quality. The process of sharing the singing is its own goal. The same may apply when we are dancing together, acting, improvising, painting, sculpting, wood working, cooking, gardening...indeed, any act of creativity. Our creative act becomes an act of caring for someone else, who, in turn, is supported to actively engage and express their own caring instincts in return. We all benefit from both our creative expression and our aspiration to comfort and support each other. By reaching out, we find self-care through other-care. Caring through creativity is a way of being, rather than a set of skills. It is achievable by a pre-schooler and by a senior citizen living with dementia. Indeed, the pre-schooler or the senior citizen may well lead the way in automatically aligning their creativity with their caring. The test of every act of creativity: Does it help you to enthusiastically, passionately, whole-heartedly and gratefully Embrace all your life? This, I believe, is the basic purpose of all the arts—and thus should be the basic Intention of every artist. John Diamond MD, A Few Words on Art (Just a Few) (2010) p 2 What is 'Caring through Creativity'? What does ‘Cordialis’ mean? Post-classical Latin cordialis (adjective) (of medicine) stimulating (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources), of or relating to the heart (from 14th cent. in British sources), heartfelt, sincere... Oxford English Dictionary We chose the name Cordialis as it combines both the emotional and medical senses of the heart, which is the only aspect that truly matters when engaging in creativity as care. The relevance of the heart to creativity is was stated beautifully by classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven: Von Herzen—Möge es wieder—Zu Herzen gehn! From the heart – may it go to the heart! Beethoven, inscribed on a score for his Missa solemnis , 1824 Our approach Cordialis facilitates and employs many types of creative engagement to support the wellbeing of individuals at all life stages. Most importantly, we encourage all participants to support the creativity of others. All those engaged can be both givers and receivers of creative sharing. We offer friendly, low-pressure opportunities for singing, dancing, drama and other creative arts, often in partnership with other like-minded organisations. More than being inclusive, Cordialis activities are designed to be non-exclusive. We do not exclude anyone who wishes to engage, and work to provide opportunities that will meet the needs of any interested participant. A feature of Cordialis is its intergenerational projects that allow families, teachers and students, staff and the cared-for to share creative, artistic pursuits together. We aim to provide services that allow for maximum engagement and the minimum cost. At the same time, we offer various types of engagement and training for professionals in education, the arts, business and health to maximise their own creative abilities while giving back to their communities. Proceeds from fee-paying programs support the Cordialis charitable mission. Our approach

Cordialis (a Latin adjective meaning 'of, or from, the heart') is a registered Australian charity promoting a more creative and caring society by helping everyone use their innate creativity to help others. We develop resources, initiatives and research that support teachers, health workers, parents, carers and volunteers to engage with those they care for in active, everyday, outwardly directed creativity for wellbeing across all stages of life. Cordialis (a Latin adjective meaning 'of, or from, the heart') is a registered Australian charity promoting a more creative and caring society by helping everyone use their innate creativity to help others. We develop resources, initiatives and research that support teachers, health workers, parents, carers and volunteers to engage with those they care for in active, everyday, outwardly directed creativity for wellbeing across all stages of life. About us Our approach draws upon decades of practice, research and development in creativity and wellbeing. Our story Inside each of us is the deep desire to open our hearts and sing out with love. John Diamond, M.D., The Life Energy in Music, Vol. 1 (1981), 105 Singing and other forms of creativity are simple, fun, cost-effective, and proven to enhance and support social aspects of wellbeing. Our research Our Mission We are an Australian charity promoting everyday creative care. We provide resources that support teachers, health workers, parents, carers and volunteers to help those they care for engage in active, everyday, outwardly directed creativity for wellbeing across all stages of life. We like to help the helpers. Engaging in creativity is great, but engaging in creativity with the intention of helping someone else is even better. Everyone can help to encourage other people’s creativity, no matter their age, skill level, or perceived (dis)ability. Those who are perceived as being in need, such as children, older people, or people living with disabilities, have great capacity to help others. We help the carers and teachers of these groups to find ways to facilitate those they support to help their society through creativity. Learn about our logo, a painting by the late Dr John Diamond (1934-2021), the arts and health pioneer, and how his philosophy lives on through the Cordialis approach. Learn more

Training Cordialis provides accredited and self-identified training opportunities for teachers, carers, allied health professionals, workplaces, parents, arts professionals, and more. View our Humanitix page for upcoming training events , or contact us to see how we can support you and/or your organisation. For Teachers and Schools Cordialis designs and delivers a range of accredited and teacher-identified professional learning opportunities, both face-to-face (ACT and NSW) and online (Australia-wide). Courses include short on-off workshops and multi-week training programs designed to help teachers embed creativity for wellbeing across the curriculum, for themselves and their students, from preschool to year 12. Contact us to inquire about in-school workshops for your whole staff, or to seek advice about your school's professional development needs. Find out about upcoming opportunities on our events page: Upcoming courses and events For Workplaces Cordialis can help your organisation by delivering workshops designed to support the wellbeing of your workplace, and to help you think of creative ways to support the wider community. Workshops are designed to meet your organisation's needs, whethere fun team-building workshops or more intensive development. We cover everything from growing confidence as a public speaker, to mindful creativity activities for micro-breaks at your desk. Contact us to inquire about fees and to book a training workshop, or to seek advice about your organisation's needs. Contact us

Cordialis develops resources including videos, research publications and information sheets designed to encourage all individuals to engage in creative care. NB: This section of our website is currently under construction - more resources will be added as they are developed. Resources Training Cordialis provides accredited and self-identified training opportunities for teachers, carers, allied health professionals, workplaces, parents, arts professionals, and more. Click below to see upcoming training events, or contact us to see how we can support you and/or your organisation. Learn more Videos Explore the broad range of videos developed by and about the work of Cordialis board members Dr Susan West and Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney. From lectures to news clips, the below videos cover a range of topics related to creativity, particularly music, participatory practice, and wellbeing. Explore videos Research Cordialis board members and alumni of the original Music Engagement Program (MEP) regularly publish research relating to creative care. The aim of these publications is to support and encourage evidenced-based creative care in health, education, and community settings. More research is added all the time. Our research Information Sheets Cordialis is developing a suite of information sheets, posters and printable resources for health and education professionals, carers, parents, and community members targeted for specific contexts. This includes the school classroom, residential care facility, family home, waiting room, rehearsal room, and more. Coming soon!

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Our Advisory Group The Cordialis Advisory Group is made up of professionals and community members from a range of fields who advise the Cordialis Board of Directors on programming, initiatives, and strategic priorities. Susan Burghardt Diamond Susan advises Cordialis on uses of music and singing for wellbeing, and the legacy of her late husband, creativity and health pioneer John Diamond MD. Susan Diamond is a concert and operatic soprano soloist and long-time collaborator of her late husband and arts health pioneer John Diamond MD. Susan trained at the Juilliard School of Music, performing professionally throughout the US, Europe, and Australia. She was Professor of Voice at Fairfield University, Connecticut and Columbia Teacher’s College, New York City. Dr Bonnie McConnell Bonnie advises Cordialis on research and practice initatives, particularly relating to musical care, peri-natel wellbeing, and migrant communities. Bonnie McConnell is Associate Professor in the ANU School of Music. Her research examines music in relation to issues of health, identity, and social change in Africa (The Gambia, Tanzania, South Africa) and Australia. She holds an MA and PhD in ethnomusicology with a graduate certificate in public health from the University of Washington. Mrs Linda Hurley Mrs Hurley advises Cordialis on school-based initiatives, community singing, teacher professional development, and community partnerships. Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley (nee McMartin) worked as a teacher until her retirement from full time teaching in July 2011. She has been an active member of the community as a Pastoral Carer at the Canberra Hospital and Hospice. Mrs Hurley is passionate about singing, and showing how singing, especially in a group, can have a positive impact on individuals and the community. BJ Anyos Susan advises Cordialis on uses of music and singing for wellbeing, and the legacy of her late husband, creativity and health pioneer John Diamond MD. info@mysite.com Kevin Nye Susan advises Cordialis on uses of music and singing for wellbeing, and the legacy of her late husband, creativity and health pioneer John Diamond MD. info@mysite.com Lisa Driver Susan advises Cordialis on uses of music and singing for wellbeing, and the legacy of her late husband, creativity and health pioneer John Diamond MD. info@mysite.com Our Advisory Group The Cordialis Advisory Group is made up of professionals and community members from a range of fields who advise the charity on programming, initiatives, and strategic priorities. Susan Burghardt Diamond Susan Diamond is a concert and operatic soprano soloist of international caliber. Trained at the Juilliard School of Music, she has performed with many opera companies and orchestras in the US and Europe, given numerous solo concerts throughout the US and completed five tours in Australia. Her recording of the Nielsen Symphony Number 3 conducted by Sixten Ehrling hasbeen widely praised. An accomplished popular/jazz singer as well, she has also performed in jazz concerts in the US, Britain, Europe, and Australia. She is former Professor of Voice at Fairfield University in Connecticut and Columbia Teacher’s College in New York City. Item Title Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text. Item Title Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text. Item Title Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text. Item Title Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text. Item Title Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text.

Dr Susan West B.Mus, M.Ed, Ph.D Chair, Board of Directors, Co-Founder Dr Susan West is an award winning educator, musician, composer and arranger with over forty years’ experience developing pre-tertiary music programs and post-graduate teacher-training. Susan trained in music performance at the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music and the Victorian College of the Arts and obtained a post-graduate degree in music education from the Kodaly Institute of Hungary. She was invited to the then Canberra School of Music in 1984 to help establish the Music Education Program. Recognising a need for different and more successful forms of music education, she continued her studies at Charles Sturt University and later with the Institute for Music and Health, New York. She transformed the Music Education Program into the Music Engagement Program, from which emerged a new philosophy for music making that embeds altruistic sharing at the centre of community and professional music making: ‘The Music Outreach Principle’. This approach has since affected the musical lives of tens of thousands of teachers, school children, secondary and tertiary students, musicians, seniors, and community members. Dr West’s philosophy and approaches are now being implemented across the globe, particularly in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and New York State. She has been recognised with a National Children’s Week Award, a National Women’s Day Award, a citation for Teaching Excellence from the Carrick Institute, a Community Outreach Award from the Music Council of Australia, an ANU Vice Chancellor’s Award for Community Engagement, and in 2016 was recognised as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review. As well as continuing her practice and research in Canberra, Susan regularly collaborates with researchers and practitioners in New Zealand, trialling the application of outreach approaches in the South Island. She is currently completing a second PhD in Occupational Therapy at the University of Canberra exploring ways of fostering everyday singing for wellbeing.

Projects Collaborators and funders Enabling Connections: resourcing embedded creative residential care Enabling Connections is a collaboration between The Cordialis Foundation and Warrigal Queanbeyan (a residential care facility in NSW) to pilot resources for embedding creative care in a residential aged-care facility. Funded by a Community Grant from the Queanbeyan-Palarang Regional Council, the Cordialis team will collaborate with care staff to develop resources that will help both staff and residents embed creative care into their daily lives. This reduces the reliance on incursions from external individuals, empowering staff, residents and visiting family members to embed creative care into their lives and interactions. Heritage Community Singing Heritage Community Singing events are facilitated by Cordialis Co-Founder Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney, accompanied by Cordialis Co-Founder Dr Susan West on piano. Georgia facilitates these participatory heritage events for all ages, reintroducing a heritage of community singing that formed a core part of the Australian community life in the interwar period, supporting wellbeing and recovery after WWI and during the depression years. This project builds upon research undertaken by Dr Pike-Rowney at the National Library of Australia in 2020/2021, on a research fellowship supported in the memory of Averill Edwards. This led to a small project funded by the Queanbeyan-Palarang Regional Council in 2022: 'Singing in the Park', a collaboration with the Queanbeyan Historical Museum. This then developed into a larger scale Heritage Community Singing Regional Tour through the Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Program. Visit our Humanitix events page for future Heritage Community Singing opportunities. Everyday Singing Researching and conceptualising Everyday Singing as a form of creative care forms the basis of Cordialis Chair and Co-Founder Dr Susan West's second PhD, based in Occupational Therapy department at the University of Canberra. In this project, Everyday Singing is conceived of as a form of regular, free, embedded, and self-instigated caring activity for all. Framed as a form of Musical Care, this conception of Everyday Singing emerges from the longitudinal practice and research of the Music Engagement Program (MEP), the organisation at the heart of the now expanded Cordialis Foundation. The MEP singing approach is a social-altruistic form of music making that encourages everyone to participate in musical activity, particularly singing, while supporting the musical activity of others. The approach has shown significant impacts in overcoming the documented singing anxiety of adults in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand as a means of enabling access to regular singing for those with less autonomy, such as children and the elderly. Learn more by reading Susan's published research article on Everyday Singing.

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Nicole Mengel B.Ed., B.Bus Director, Treasurer, Co-Founder Nicole Mengel is an educator with over 20 years’ experience teaching in primary schools in the ACT. Nicole was awarded her Bachelor of Education (Primary) with distinction in 2002 and her interest in business led her to complete a Bachelor of Business, majoring in marketing, in 2008. Nicole was an employee of the Music Engagement Program (MEP) at the ANU School of Music from 2007-2011 leading teacher professional learning workshops, community outreach events, setting up innovative music pilot programs to enhance gender diversity in arts engagement, and project co-ordination for 'Music Count Us In' - a national annual event celebrating music participation. Nicole led the organisation of the annual MEP 'Big Gig' concerts, engaging over 1000 school children in communal singing. She was awarded the National Award for Excellence in School Music Education in 2009. Nicole is community-oriented, with a passion for lawn bowls, representing the ACT for over 10 years. She was President of the Belconnen Bowling Club (2010-2012) demonstrating outstanding leadership and organisational skills, leading one of the ACT's only independent bowling clubs. One of the highlights of her time as President was running charity days with her dedicated committee of volunteers to support organisations in the local community. She now dedicates her time as a junior lawn bowls academy co-ordinator, encouraging young children to learn to play the game. In 2025 she received the ‘Club Member of the Year Award’ for her ongoing contributions to the Belconnen Bowling Club for 20 years.