Creative practice has always been a grounding force for Linda Crispin. When she needs to clear her head or refocus, she turns to drawing and painting, something that’s shaped both her personal life and professional direction.
After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Linda went on to exhibit her work in solo shows and was named a finalist in the prestigious Henry Jones Art Prize. But alongside her artistic career, Linda has long held a strong interest in mental health and wellbeing, an interest shaped by lived experience.
“Mental health has been a big part of my life and my family’s life. A lot of us have had mental health issues, so it is very front of mind for me. Mental health and feeling good and creating ways to make people feel good is important to me.”
That passion led Linda to enrol in the University of Tasmania’s Diploma of Creative Arts and Health, a program that brings together creativity, health and community wellbeing. Shaped by her interest in psychology, particularly the ageing brain, and the loss of her grandparents to dementia, the course gave her a new way to connect longstanding personal interests with formal study.
Linda says the course has broadened her perspective in unexpected ways.
“It has expanded my mind. I’ve learnt a lot about the brain and how the brain works. I never thought that I’d ever know anything about that, so that has been quite good.”
Having previously studied on campus, Linda initially had some reservations about learning online. But she was quickly won over by the flexibility and strong sense of connection fostered through the course.
“Studying online has been fantastic. The teaching staff work hard on keeping you connected. They make sure there are activities, that you participate in discussion groups, talk to your fellow students, that sort of thing. You do feel like you’ve been in a classroom almost.”
Linda has also appreciated the diversity of her cohort, which includes students of different ages and backgrounds from across Australia.
“There’s such a great mix of people, and that’s helped me form really meaningful connections,” she says.
Now nearing completion of her diploma, Linda is looking ahead to what’s next. She plans to establish a small home-based studio and run creative health workshops for her local community.
“It might not be art therapy as such, but me being a trained artist and having the Diploma of Creative Arts and Health behind me will allow me to offer something a little more targeted around arts, creativity and health. I think there’s plenty of scope out there to make art with community groups or school groups and just to help find a creative outlet which I think is important for learning, and life.”
Creative Arts and Health brings together creativity, wellbeing and community impact.
Whether you’re interested in mental health, ageing, education or community settings, studying in this area explores how creative practice can support connection, learning and quality of life in meaningful ways.