Melbourne-based speech pathologist and university-qualified photographer Nicole Jackson has lent her considerable skills to two Port Macquarie-Hastings high schools.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Jackson was in Port Macquarie to present at the just completed 10th international arts and health conference.
She then attended workshops at Wauchope High School and Hastings Secondary College Port Macquarie campus students.
With funding from the Moran Arts Foundation, Ms Jackson presented a photography workshop to students.
"The workshop deals with supporting the social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of students," she said.
"A photo can document and share information, tell stories, enable self-expression and highlight to others what is important to you.
"It can open doors, change minds, create empathy and be an instigator of change.
"Seeing what someone sees is a powerful thing," she said.
With her dual background, Ms Jackson currently works in both health and arts sectors.
She has been a workshop presenter for the Moran Arts Foundation since 2011.
The foundation offers photography workshops to schools around Australia, she said.
"I've also partnered with Melbourne-based universities and health services in designing, implementing and evaluating a pilot participatory photography project for families living with progressive or chronic health conditions," she said.
"The results of the pilot project support the huge benefits that participatory photography offers in terms of empowerment, communication, social connectedness and wellbeing."
