The event is at Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges from November 12 to 15.

The conference is presented by the Australian Centre for Arts and Health (ACAH), a national not for profit organisation, based in Port Macquarie. 

Youth mental health, dementia, stroke recovery, creative ageing, veterans’ mental health, arts programs in hospitals, healthcare and aged care, are just some of the important topics to be discussed as 85 experts, including 12 international guests, present at the conference.

One of the driving forces behind the conference, Port Macquarie's Margret Meagher, regularly attended international events where peak organisations were active in the field of arts and health.

"Attending these international events really convinced me that if we were to develop a refined, robust arts and health program here in Australia, we needed to look at creating a national conference," Ms Meagher said.

"This need was borne out by a 2006 survey where people working in community and cultural development said they saw the need to further investigate how arts impacted on health.

"These professionals called for a meeting place for professional development, to inform government on policy development and to gather and discuss research information.

"This encouragement saw the development of this conference."

After relocating to Port Macquarie in 2006, Ms Meagher set about establishing Port Macquarie as a hub for arts and health.

With the input of like-minded people from local organisations, a conference platform was development.

The Glasshouse hosted the first conference in 2009 - just the second business event held at the newly-opened site.

"One of the outcomes from this initial conference was the idea of creative ageing - arts and health programs designed to assist and help older people," she said.

"Programs (have since been developed) to help people with chronic conditions to live well and to live independently.

"These arts program support people through all ages and across all cultural backgrounds."

Ms Meagher said arts programs in schools also have a role to play in providing resilience to students.

Statistics show more than 75% of mental health issues develop before a person turns 25 and approximately 20% of Australians live with a mental health condition such as depression and anxiety.

"We also try to look at different areas of community that can benefit from arts programs too," she added.

Another of the conference success stories is its ability in attracting government.

The conference is designed for people working in health, education, arts, local government and aged care.

She said the conference could, potentially, open up some sessions to the public.

"We are certainly keen for the community to be involved," she added.

Speakers at this year’s conference include two art therapists working in youth early psychosis programs at headspace, Jennifer Jamieson from Perth and Fiona Fitzpatrick from Western Sydney. 

Art psychotherapist and advisor to the UK National Health Services (NHS) Hospitals Arts Strategy, Elaine Burke will look at why and how the arts provide a uniquely powerful means to improve health and wellbeing, often succeeding where other interventions fail to connect.

Mahlie Jewell, a stroke survivor, brain injury and mental health advocate, as well as a qualified counsellor and graphic artist, will share her lived experience and describe how creating art has helped her and others deal with difficult and traumatic physical and emotional experiences and connect with themselves and others.

Other key speakers include Dementia Australia national policy and strategy advisor Kirsty Carr; Alice Thwaite, director of the UK’s Equal Arts, Newcastle, a world leader in creative ageing programs, skills training and arts on prescription models; Gary Glazner, arguably the world’s leading practitioner in the utilisation of poetry for people living with dementia in community and aged care settings (including prisons); and Dominic Campbell, a leading authority on creative ageing in the UK and USA.

The 10th Art of Good Health and Wellbeing conference is at Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges from November 12 until 15.

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