The aim of ‘Listening to Country’ is to explore the value of acoustic ecology in promoting cultural connection, maintenance and wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in prison. Acoustic ecology is the study of the relationship, mediated through sound, between human beings and their environment. In early 2019, an interdisciplinary team of researchers worked with women in Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre (BWCC) to produce a 1-hour immersive audio work based on field recordings of natural environments (of country) for the purpose of stress relief and relaxation.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are overrepresented in Australian prisons. The majority are mothers, experiencing the trauma associated with separation from family, community and country. ‘Listening to Country’ represents an innovative and creative approach to promoting cultural maintenance and wellbeing among mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties and grandmothers in prison. The research will use principles and processes from acoustic ecology, Indigenous storywork, dadirri (deep active listening), and arts-led inquiry to explore notions of cultural connection and maintenance for the participants, and the effects of the project on their wellbeing.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are overrepresented in Australian prisons. The majority are mothers, experiencing the trauma associated with separation from family, community and country. ‘Listening to Country’ represents an innovative and creative approach to promoting cultural maintenance and wellbeing among mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties and grandmothers in prison. The research will use principles and processes from acoustic ecology, Indigenous storywork, dadirri (deep active listening), and arts-led inquiry to explore notions of cultural connection and maintenance for the participants, and the effects of the project on their wellbeing.
Recent Publications:
Marchetti, E., Woodland, S., Saunders, V., Barclay, L., Beetson, B., (2022). Listening to Country: A Prison Program that Connects People to Country. Current issues in criminal justice. Link to article here
Morrison, Brenda, Sarah Woodland, Leah Barclay, Vicki Saunders, Bianca Beetson (2020). Weaving our Narratives: Amplifying the Social Echo of Restorative Justice through the Arts. In Arte en Prisión. Justicia Restaurativa a Través de Proyectos Artísticos y Narrativos [Art in Prison. Restorative Justice Through Artistic and Narrative Projects], pp.41-52; Tirant lo Blanch. Download here
Marchetti, Elena. 2019. Process Evaluation of Listening to Country: Exploring the Value of Acoustic Ecology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women in Prison Project in Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre. Brisbane: Griffith Law School, Griffith University. Download here
Woodland, Sarah, Leah Barclay, Vicki Saunders, and Bianca Beetson. 2019. Listening to Country: Exploring the value of acoustic ecology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in prison. Soundscape: The journal of acoustic ecology, World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, June 2019. Link to article here
Morrison, Brenda, Sarah Woodland, Leah Barclay, Vicki Saunders, Bianca Beetson (2020). Weaving our Narratives: Amplifying the Social Echo of Restorative Justice through the Arts. In Arte en Prisión. Justicia Restaurativa a Través de Proyectos Artísticos y Narrativos [Art in Prison. Restorative Justice Through Artistic and Narrative Projects], pp.41-52; Tirant lo Blanch. Download here
Marchetti, Elena. 2019. Process Evaluation of Listening to Country: Exploring the Value of Acoustic Ecology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women in Prison Project in Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre. Brisbane: Griffith Law School, Griffith University. Download here
Woodland, Sarah, Leah Barclay, Vicki Saunders, and Bianca Beetson. 2019. Listening to Country: Exploring the value of acoustic ecology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in prison. Soundscape: The journal of acoustic ecology, World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, June 2019. Link to article here
Listen to a short excerpt of the final immersive audio work produced in February 2019:
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Read a feature on Listening to Country published after our presentations at the Lowitja Institute knowledge translation forum #KTthatWorks. Croakey News interviewed Dr Vicki Saunders and Dr Bianca Beetson, read the article online here or watch a video excerpt from Vicki and Bianca |
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See Listening to Country's inclusion in the 2020 Compendium for Music as a Global Resource. This project documents and promotes music initiatives connecting communities and addressing critical sustainable development needs on international, national and local levels.
Download a copy of the Process Evaluation Report prepared by Professor Elena Marchetti from the Griffith Law School
Read our article published in Soundscape: the Journal of the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, Volume 17, 2019
