C2-Tune In, Vibe Up: Supporting Mental Health and Inclusion with Music. A Pilot Program for High School Students with and without Disability
Introduction
Australian schools are experiencing rising numbers of students requiring additional support. Almost one in four now require educational adjustments. Mental health concerns, particularly anxiety, are highly prevalent. Young people with disabilities or who identify as neurodivergent also need greater opportunities for meaningful inclusion in high school settings. Tune In, Vibe Up is a pilot, community grant funded program to promote the healthy use of music for mental health and wellbeing, while also facilitating accessible and inclusive music-making for students of all abilities. The program aims to strengthen integrated education and youth mental health in high schools.
Method
Tune In, Vibe Up was delivered in a high school of more than 1,000 students, across both mainstream and specialist learning support classes. Sixty students from the years 8–9 mainstream and support classes joined an educational workshop on music for health and the use of the music and mood app, Moody Tunes. Following this, ten students worked with two music therapists to co-create songs. Accessible music-making was encouraged through the iPad app, Thumb Jam. Students contributed vocal and instrumental parts, and the final pieces were professionally recorded and shared. A post-program survey measured student awareness of music for mood regulation, uptake of the app, development of music skills, and social connection. Teachers completed a post program evaluation reviewing program content, relevance and accessibility.
Results & Discussion
We will present student and teacher evaluations of Tune In, Vibe Up, alongside the music and our own key learnings when designing and facilitating inclusive music programs for high schools with diverse student needs. Running until mid-October, the program is expected to show that inclusive music programs can expand opportunities for collaborative and accessible music-making, bring greater student awareness to the benefits of music for health and strengthen peer connections in high schools.