Past News
SUNSHINE SINGS has officially launched! Register now!
On Monday October 4th, Sunshine Sings launched with its very first rehearsal at The Djerriwah Services Centre, 20 Hertford Road, Sunshine. Rehearsals will run every Monday from 5:30 – 6:45pm. There are still plenty of places available, so come along and sing your heart out!
Click here to download the press release, here to download the poster, or here to download the registration form.
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WITH ONE VOICE at Melbourne Recital Centre
All six of Creativity Australia’s With One Voice choirs performed as 'one voice' at Melbourne Recital Centre on September 8th. With over 240 singers on stage from our programs in Melbourne, Geelong, Dandenong, Footscray, Royal Children’s Hospital and Orygen Youth Health this was a wonderful celebration. Minister for Community Development Lily D’Ambrosio made a major announcement that the Victorian Government will fund four more With One Voice programs in Broadmeadows, Heidelberg, Ashburton/Chadstone and St Kilda/Prahran. The Governor and Mrs de Kretser were also in attendance in the audience. Over 400 people gave the choirs a standing ovation to conclude the very special event!
Above: all the With One Voice choirs perform together at CI 2010
The Governor and Jan de Kretser with Tania de Jong AM at WITH ONE VOICE
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GREATER DANDENONG SINGS – Debut performances
Greater Dandenong Sings gave its debut performances recently and was booked for two engagements on the one night! An auspicious beginning for what is a diverse and wonderful community group. They performed at a fundraiser for the Dandenong Hospital at Sandown Park and then for the Lions Club 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner.
'I had a lump in my throat and goosebumps!' Margo from Hiltons
'Words are not enough to express my thanks to the wonderful choir. Their performance was outstanding. Please pass on my, and the Lions Clubs congratulations for a most moving and fantastic performance. I look forward to watching as this choir evolves into the best one in Victoria!! If at any time the Lions Club is able to assist the choir please contact me.' Lions Club
To see more photos from the Greater Dandenong Sings debut performance, please visit our photo gallery.
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Creative Innovation 2010 Conference Scholarships announced!
A unique and special opportunity has been given to 10 outstanding applicants to attend the Creative Innovation 2010 conference as upcoming leaders and innovators. To view a list of recipients, click here.
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Melbourne Sings receive a standing ovation for The Global Foundation’s Australia Unlimited Summit 'The promotion of a spirit of social inclusion and international cooperation, which is at the heart of the activities of The Global Foundation, was given a positive step forward by the contribution of the Melbourne Sings choir at our Australia Unlimited Summit on 1 July 2010. The choir brings together people of both sexes, of all religions, all backgrounds and of all ethnicities, it is an inspiring example of cooperation and understanding which is an example to us all. Some 300 people had the pleasure of experiencing the choir and not a single person was unmoved by their performance. We commend the choir and thank them for their contribution to us. We hope that their message will be an inspiration to us all.' - The Global Foundation
Melbourne Sings performing at The Global Foundation, July 2010
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Creative Innovation 2010 - 5 amazing events!
The wonderful Creative Innovation Conference 2010 will feature 5 amazing events in addition to the conference program, including:
Concerts
Wed 8th September - WITH ONE VOICE - OPENING CONCERT Melbourne Recital Centre
Thur 9th September - MAGICAL MUSICAL MELBOURNE! GALA CONCERT Melbourne Recital Centre
Fri 10th September - FROM OPERA TO BRAODWAY - CLOSING CONCERT Melbourne Recital Centre
Click HERE for more info on any of the concerts, and HERE to download the order form.
Deep Conversations
Wed 8th September - Does it always take a war to make peace? Or can peace be built like a bridge, one agreement at a time? With Edward Luttwak, Ian Rogers and Andrew MacLeod.
Wed 8th September - Creativity - The most endangered species of the 21st Century? With Edward de Bono, Rufus Black and Austin Williams.
Click HERE for more info on any of the conversations.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY for inspiring choir conductors
We are seeking outstanding and inspirational choir conductors for our expanding With One Voice program around Victoria. Conductors will play piano or guitar (or both), have a portable keyboard and/or backing tracks and be proficient in leading choirs made up of non-English speaking members and those who do not read music.
Conductors will be required to encourage and build choir capability and numbers. Choirs perform at events and festivals and like to perform a range of songs including African gospel, Australian and international well-loved pieces. Choirs are based in different locations mainly within one hour of Melbourne.
We currently have an opportunity in Geelong and Sunshine and have more new programs commencing. Contracts are for 12 months and choirs rehearse once weekly generally from 5:30-6:45pm.
Please contact tania@creativityaustralia.org.au with a short introductory letter as to your key attributes for this role and CV/biog.
Early applications will be considered favourably – this position is available now.
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Singing for social inclusion
Singing for social inclusion with Melbourne Sings and Creativity Australia’s With One Voice program – Tania de Jong AM with Elook Nur and Nathalie Mbala on ABC’s Life Matters with Richard Aedy. Click here to listen.
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Maribyrnong Sings Launch
We're very excited to announce Maribyrnong Sings launched on Thursday May 27th, and we thank The Mayor Cr Sanli for his attendance and participation (please see attached photo). The choir takes place on Thursdays from 5.30pm to 6.45pm at Braybrook Community Centre, Churchill Ave in Braybrook. It is likely that the venue will change and we will advise of this in due course. We also thank GPT for providing yummy supper for our rehearsals. Sonny Chua, one of Australia’s leading conductors, pianists and composers is the conductor.
OPPORTUNITY – places available in Maribyrnong Sings Choir
Creativity Australia has places available in the mixed community/business choir called Maribyrnong Sings which will be rehearsing on Thursdays at 5:30pm-6.45pm at the Braybrook Community Centre, Churchill Ave, Braybrook commencing 27th May. Even if you cannot come each week we welcome you to be part of this wonderful community.
You can download a registration form here (click here to download), and for any enquiries please contact Creativity Australia ASAP on 9682 9689 or enquiries@creativityaustralia.org.au.
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Click the link below to read this fabulous article on the Melbourne Sings Choir in the Australia Financial Review:
Australian Financial Review - 'To Strike A Chord'. Tania de Jong and With One Voice
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Greater Dandenong Sings Launch
Greater Dandenong Sings was launched last night at the Paddy O'Donoghue Centre in Noble Park. Over 40 members of the local business and community came to sing. Lead by the welcoming and inspiring Shaun Islip, the choir sounded fabulous after only one rehearsal. The new choir members thoroughly enjoyed it and many said they would be encouraging friends and colleagues to join in too.
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Creative Innovation 2010 Launch
Melbourne Sings helped Tania launch the
Creative Innovation
2010 Conference on April 20th at the Sofitel, Melbourne on Collins. Attended by many of Melbourne's business and creative leaders as well as the media, the choir was very popular and several members of the audience want to join in the fun. For more information on the Creative Innovation conference please click here.
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Third Sector Lunch
Tania de Jong AM recently presented for the Third Sector lunch. She is pictured along with Senator Ursula Stephens, Claire Martin and other Third Sector leaders.
'Tania de Jong AM provided an enthralling and entertaining performance for the Third Sector Women's Networking Lunch, held in Melbourne at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tania’s performance delighted women of the third sector, reflecting her work and the event's aim, which is to inspire women to express their creativity and expertise and to achieve success in their endeavours for Australia's not-for-profit industry. It was great to work with Tania and Third Sector is grateful for her for her support.' Third Sector
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GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL
As part of the Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Childrens' Hospital on April 2nd, the choir sang "The Rhythm of Life". The song was altered to make it topical to the choir and to Melbourne. The choir sang beautifully and the performance was screened live on national TV. Click here to see their performance!
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The brand new Greater Dandenong Sings and Maribyrnong Sings choirs have been announced! Check them out in the 'Join the choirs!' section on the left.
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MOOMBA 2010
Melbourne Sings and Royal Children's Sings performed on Opening Night of Moomba 2010 on the Cultural Stage to a very appreciative audience who clapped and sang.
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Royal Children's Sings perform for Lady Southey
The RCH Sings Choir gave a recent performance at the hospital with special Guest of Honour, Lady Marigold Southey AC. Lady Southey is a major supporter of the choir and she also loves to sing! We thank her for her generosity and involved commitment to wellbeing for all employees.
Lady Southey is pictured with the choir, including CEO Christine Kilpatrick who sings in the choir, conductor Shaun Islip and founder of Creativity Australia and the With One Voice program, Tania de Jong.
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Geelong Sings Performs for Pako Festa
Geelong Sings Choir performed to an enthusiastic audience in the Bethel Christian Church on Pakington Street for Pako Festa on Saturday 27th February. The audience was delighted to participate with the choir and was a spirited performance from the choir.
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Music for Moomba
Creativity Australia is thrilled to announce that Melbourne Sings and Royal Children's Hospital Sings will perform on the Cultural Stage at Moomba at around 7pm on
Friday 5th March. Please come along and join in the fun of the festival and the songs.
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TAC Christmas Carols
Geelong Sings Choir echoed their fabulous debut with a great performance with the TAC on Tuesday 22nd December. An early start, the choir had a great turnout and sang joyfully to nearly 100 staff and friends. Many in the audience sang along and they applauded loudly and appreciatively at the end.
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Geelong Hospital
In traditional Christmas spirit, the Geelong Sings choir had their first performance at the Geelong Hospital on Monday 21st December. The choir was nervous and excited at the start, and elated at the end after a fabulous performance. Lead by Adrian Portell, the choir joyfully sang a number of Christmas carols, complete with harmonies after only five rehearsals! The patients and staff thought it was magic and had huge smiles on their faces, and many sang along too.
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Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Christmas Function
The Melbourne Sings Choir sang at the Christmas Function at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins on Tuesday 15th December. Normally rehearsing in these gracious surrounds, the choir was delighted to sing for the Sofitel community. Annie Dawson and Clive Scott from the Sofitel came to join in the fun and were presented with certificates from the choir.
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Parliament of the World's Religions
The Melbourne Sings Choir and the Melbourne Gospel Choir with Conductor Shaun Islip performed at the Parliament of the World's Religions at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre on December 8th. Broadcast around the world, the uplifting songs were interspersed with dancing and speakers. The choir ended the day's events with joy.
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Asia Pacific Breakthrough Conference
The Melbourne Sings Choir and Conductor Shaun Islip encouraged the
audience to get up and dance and sing with them when they performed at BMW Edge at Federation Square on 2nd December. The performance was broadcast on the main screen at Federation Square as well.
"Thankyou for your help organising Melbourne Sings to perform. It was a great end to an inspiring day; they had the audience up and dancing!" Ruth Tedder, Greenstone Group
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Serious Womens' Business Conference
The Melbourne Sings Choir received a standing ovation when they performed at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on November 10th.
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Diversity @ Work Awards
Melbourne Sings received a huge ovation as the Closing Act at the Diversity@Work Awards 2009 which recognise excellence in diverse workplace practice. The event took place at Peninsula, Docklands.
"Melbourne Sings Choir was inspiring and a perfect ending to a very successful night" Diversity@Work Awards
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Digital Inclusion Launch for InfoXchange
Melbourne Sings were able to get the audience going with their enthusiastic repertoire of uplifting songs!
"Melbourne Sings were able to get the audience going with their enthusiastic repertoire of uplifting songs!" InfoXchange Digital Inclusion Launch
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Brainlink Woman of Achievement Award
Tania de Jong AM was named the winner of Brainlink Woman of Achievement Award. She is pictured with Christine Nixon at the Park Hyatt after receiving her award.
Read about it in The Age - 'Singer and social worker scoops Brainlink Award' 15th October 2009.
You can also read a media release about the event here.
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Geelong SINGS!
This brand new community and business choir started on Monday 16th November at Geelong Performing Arts Centre. Creativity Australia Director Peter Kronborg introduced the Choir Conductor Adrian Portell who got over 60 of us in the mood with some fun songs. We started to get to know one another and we even sang in harmony! The joy of combining employees from various businesses in Geelong and disadvantaged people from various of the community agencies in the region ended with broad smiles and nibbles provided by Diversitat. Three are still places available so come and join us!
Click here to download the poster, and here to download a registration form.
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World Social Enterprise Forum
Melbourne Sings performed at the Opening Ceremony of the World Social Enterprise Forum and received a wonderful ovation as well as encouraging the delegates to join in! They are pictured (2nd top right, photo: Fiona Basile) having a fantastic time singing and inspiring!
"Melbourne Sings performed at the Opening Ceremony of the 2009 Social Enterprise World Forum. They were incredibly enthusiastic and performed an uplifting song that soon had the audience clapping along. Well done for all involved for a spirited performance!"
Social Ventures Australia
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Royal Children's Sings Choir at AIMA Conference
"On 9th October at the opening of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association Annual Holistic Health Conference, we were privileged to open this conference with the wonderful Royal Children’s Hospital Choir. It was most appropriate to have this great initiative of the hospital involving their staff from many departments come together in such skillful harmony, to perform at our Conference with its emphasis on health and wellness. The choir sang beautifully and with such passion and joy. The feedback from our delegates was excellent and they appreciated the conference opening on such a high note! Many thanks to Shaun Islip and Tania de Jong from Creativity Australia for organizing this."
Anna Ryan, AIMA
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Sing For Your Supper Gala Dinner
The inaugural Creativity
Australia gala dinner SING FOR YOUR SUPPER took place at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. Guest of Honour was Creativity Australia’s Patron, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and amongst over 400 guests I spotted Hugh Morgan, Professor Allan Fels, Dr Alan Finkel, Evan Thornley, Clive Scott, Frank Cicutto, Leanne de Bortoli, Sam and Christine Tarascio and Kelly O’Dwyer (a wonderful, female candidate for Peter Costello’s seat). Everyone was very positive about unlocking the right side of our brains to achieve our full human potential. And we all did sing for our supper with a great deal of gusto and in good tune! The Sofitel even created a very special dessert platter to inspire our minds!
Entertainment included MCs Zara and Troy, the wonderful Pot-Pourri, brilliant young pianist Stefan Cassomenos and the Royal Children’s Sings (a staff choir for the whole hospital) and Melbourne Sings. These are two choirs created by Tania de Jong to bring people together for greater wellbeing, connections and innovation skills.
Over $180,000 was raised towards programs for disadvantaged people and communities. Enormous thanks to the hardworking team, supporters, sponsors and donors.
To see some of the photos taken by the Sunday Herald Sun, check out Snaparazzi (23rd and 24th August 2009)
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OPPORTUNITY – limited places available in Melbourne Sings Choir
Creativity Australia has limited places available in the mixed community/business choir entitled Melbourne Sings rehearsing Tuesday night at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. This choir involves employees from various city businesses and residents from the Fitzroy/Collingwood Housing Estates. The choir rehearses weekly on Tuesday afternoons at 5:15pm with a top choir leader and there are performances scheduled for local hospitals, charities and special events every quarter. Sofitel provides catering and venue and Allans Music discount cards and assistance with musical resources.
This is an opportunity to bridge social capital as well as identify, train and employ residents from the estate. For participants it is an opportuntiy to improve self esteem, develop leadership potential and use your voice to be heard. You will also learn how to work as a team to meet challenges by unlocking your creative potential. Casual mentoring and networking is encouraged.
The cost per employee is $500 plus GST for the 12 month program (approx $10 per session) and we encourage a donation of $500 to cover the cost of one disadvantaged person to participate as well.
Please contact Tania de Jong at Creativity Australia ASAP on Tania@creativityaustralia.org.au.
Click here to download the poster, and here to download a registration form.
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Mind Over Music
A new program created for Orygen Youth Health is commencing in October designed as a positive intervention to assist young people with emerging mental health issues. The choir will also involve researchers and staff from Orygen Youth Health.
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Melbourne Sings
Melbourne Sings have been booked for a number of major events over the next few months including:
- Opening Ceremony for the Social Enterprise World Forum - Parliament House
- Diversity@Work Awards Dinner
- Breakthrough Conference on Women, Poverty and Faith - Opening Reception
To book any of the choirs please email enquiries@creativityaustralia.org.au
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Collingwood Football Club - Magpies Choir
Creativity Australia is thrilled to present the With One Voice program at Collingwood Football Club. We invite you to sing together - side by side - in the brand new Magpies Choir. Eddie McGuire’s dream is for the whole ground to sing together at AFL Games and to bring audience singing into Australian sports events. The choir is for all Collingwood staff and supporters to get together and create a happier, healthier, more connected Collingwood Football Club community. With One Voice is for everyone who wants to gain greater self esteem, networking and leadership skills, capacity for creative and innovative thinking and general wellbeing - even if they have never sung before! The choir rehearses every Thursday at 5:30-6:30pm at St Igantius Church, 326 Church St, Richmond. They are being invited to present performances for charities, special events and AFL Games. Their debut performance occurred on 6 August for the Club Night at Lexus Centre. Please see pictures from the performance HERE.
Click here to download the flier, or here for full details on the Collingwood website.
Some press on the new choir:
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The Royal Children's Sings - Going strong
The Royal Children's Sings Choir has been coming along wonderfully since their first rehearsal on May 25th. The choir performed at the Health and Productivity Management Congress Opening Reception and Sing For Your Supper Gala Dinner. Upcoming performances include the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association Opening Ceremony and the RCH AGM. Click here to view photos from rehearsals and performances.
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The Melbourne Sings Choir Debut Performance
On Thursday May 21st, the Melbourne Sings Choir performed beautifully at their very first public performance, the Artists Unite Bushfire Appeal Auction. See footage below:
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Visit Creativity Australia's Blog!
Creativity Australia now have a new blog where we will be posting updates, photos, video, news, stories and more. Click here to check it out.
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Visit Creativity Australia on Facebook!
Become a fan of Creativity Australia on Facebook for all the latest news and updates on our programs and events. Click here to get started!
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Allan's Music Online article supporting Melbourne Sings
Melbourne Sings choir partner Allan's Music have published an article on their website with some photos and video from the first rehearsal of the Melbourne Sings choir! To read the article, please click here.
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Visit Creativity Australia's profile on ABAF
Creativity is now featured on the Australia Business Arts Foundation website. Click here to view our profile.
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WITH ONE VOICE - the ultimate training / management tool for your employees and teams
This corporate choirs program is designed to build leadership skills and improve communication, self esteem, wellbeing, innovation and productivity. Recommended for a minimum of 12 months to bring multi-divisional companies together and transform organisation culture. Choirs rehearse once-weekly and perform every quarter for hospitals, charities, company events etc. Choir leader, instruments and other resources supplied. Wellbeing Survey from Deakin University available to measure outcomes. Also available for 3 and 6 month programs and one-off Battle of the Choirs team building experiences.
***We are delighted to announce that Eddie McGuire AM has just become Patron of the WITH ONE VOICE program. He has offered choirs the opportunity of singing on the MCG pre-AFL matches. One of our goals is to have Australian sports crowds singing together led by corporate and community choirs!
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Creativity Australia is up and running as of November 10th, 2008, celebrating the launch of the exciting new initiative at Sofitel Melbourne.
With an ever-growing list of partners and supporters, we can already feel the creativity spreading...
Right, a look at some of the potential members of the Sofitel Melbourne Choir in song leading up to the Launch of Creativity Australia.
"As Melbourne’s Hotel for the Arts, we look forward to utilising the power of singing and the camaraderie of a choir to engage our employees with community groups as a vehicle for developing new creative leadership skills and personal transformation, as well as identifying potential new employees from the community groups and providing a network for social cohesion and change."
Clive Scott, General Manager, Sofitel Melbourne On Collins about Creativity Australia.
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Opportunity to Make a Creative Difference
It takes a Living Donor to make a difference in this world. Someone who is willing to give everything they’ve got – their heart, brain, determination and all the rest – to change the world for the better.
A major Australian Foundation is looking for people to make a difference to a not-for-profit organisation of their choice. While you donate all of yourself to the charity of your choice for a year (…as in work), the Foundation will pay you a reasonable salary and expenses for doing so.
How to apply to gain the experience of a lifetime?
Creativity Australia, a new not-for-profit organisation developing creative thinking and leadership programs to enhance wellbeing, inclusion, innovation and productivity in organisations and in partnership with communities, is seeking an outstanding candidate to apply for the opportunity above. The successful candidate Creativity Australia chooses will be asked to prepare a submission to the Foundation. You will receive assistance you’re your submission if required. You will then compete against other applicants to the Foundation for similar roles in other organisations.
A tertiary qualification and Melbourne-base is mandatory. The submission to the Foundation requires a minimum of 3 years full-time business experience which may be in the fields of marketing, sales, advertising, events management, fundraising, teaching, executive assistance, presentation development, business owner etc. You will need to possess the following attributes:
- Personal drive for results and high standards is essential
- Outstanding interpersonal skills required
- High level IT/computer and typing skills mandatory
- Sales, design, marketing experience is an asset
The successful Foundation candidate will then work with Creativity Australia. The role would suit someone with strong administrative and IT skills who is up for a challenge, likes to work in a small, cohesive, fast paced team and creative environment. Working along side the CEO and assisting with executive tasks, you will liaise with current and potential clients, as well as provide administrative support to the Board and other stakeholders.
To find out more about our innovative organisation visit www.creativityaustralia.org.au
Applications close this coming MONDAY 2nd February, 4.00pm
Applicants must send a cover letter detailing 5 points about what makes them the perfect candidate, along with a short CV to Tania de Jong at tania@mtaust.com.
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Creativity Australia are partnering with the UpClose with John Cleese Tour, 2008! Click here for further information and special rates!
