Cahoots Hearts and Minds Programs

Cahoots Hearts and Minds Program
The Cahoots Hearts and Minds Program (CHAMPS) is an innovative holistic art program, designed to improve mental and emotional health amongst children and youth living with a disability or at disadvantage.
CHAMPS will provide opportunities for participants to
- Come together in a safe, inclusive space, creating personalized artwork themed to positive mental health topics under guidance by an art therapist.
- Participants will explore emotions, self-expression and community (belonging and inclusion) through participating in art, (including culturally appropriate art workshops).
- Participants will be guided by local and Noongar artists, Cahoot’s facilitators, volunteers, and experience Integrated Arts Therapists to create and explore their inner world, express their emotional landscape and cultural heritage (as appropriate), through creating pieces of individual and customised art works.
Holistic Integrated Arts Therapy
HICAT Therapy is the use of creative arts to express emotions and feelings when maybe words do not work.
HICAT as therapy can be used with a wide range of issues and help people overcome or better manage a wide range of disorders both mental and physical.
What are the benefits of the program?
Our participants will benefit in many ways which include the opportunity:
- to explore feelings that may be difficult to put into words
- to express their creativity and imagination
- to develop focus and healthy coping skills
- to improve confidence and self-esteem
- to develop better communication skills
- to share in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment
- to improve motor skills and physical co-ordination
- to identify barriers to personal growth and emotional expression
Cahoots Hearts and Minds Program is modelled off the HICAT principles and adapted to appeal to a range of young people to help them explore their inner world and learn positive self smoothing, self expression and self regulation tools through participating in regular creative therapeutic art.
Who Runs the Programs?

CHAMPS is facilitated by
- Holistic Integrated Arts Practitioners
- Art Therapists,
- Local First Nations artists and Elders.

Cultural Art Workshops


The cultural art workshops are designed for First Nations children and you aged 6 – 16 years. The workshops are designed for first nations kids and youth aged 6 – 16 years to have heaps of fun and create beautiful art!
- Runs on a weekly basis
- Runs during school holidays
- Directed by cultural mentors which allows an increased connection to country and culture
- Improves mental & emotional health
Major Funders

Minderoo Foundation
We're happy to have the Minderoo Foundation as the major funder of the Cahoots Cultural Arts Wellness Program. Minderoo Foundation is a modern philanthropic organisation that takes on tough, persistent issues with the potential to drive massive change. Minderoo is proudly Australian, and one of Asia’s largest philanthropies, with AUD $2 billion committed to a range of global initiatives.
All Abilities Workshops


The All Abilities Art workshops are designed for children of all abilities aged 6 – 13 years. The workshops are free and are designed to be fun, expressive and a great way for young artists to get creative.
- Runs on a weekly basis
- Runs during school holidays
- Directed by experienced facilitators
- Improves mental & emotional health
Major Supporters


About the Workshops
Cahoots Hearts and Minds Programs are:
Culturally safe and appropriate
Fully supervised
Fun and relaxing
Free to community
Designed to use a variety of art therapy’s used include, painting, sculpting, weaving, music, dance and mindfulness.
Workshops are held in both Bunbury and various Perth Metro locations.
Cahoots run the following workshops as part of the program:

Weekly Intergrated Art Wellness workshops
These workshops run on a weekly basis during school term

School Holiday workshops
These workshops run atleast twice a week during school holidays

Community Workshops at events
These workshops are designed for special community events

Cultural Art Workshops
These workshops run during school term and school holidays and are designed for First Nations kids and youth with cultural mentors.
Contact Us
FAQS
If you could not find the answer to your question below, contact our team on together@cahoots.org.au or 0431 447 602 for more information.
CAWP is an innovative program custom designed Program delivered by Cahoots to young children living with a disability or at a disadvantage.
The CAWP Program is facilitated by trained staff and volunteers with specialist knowledge including Holistic Integrated Arts Practitioners, Art Therapists, local First Nations artists and Elders.
- Culturally safe and appropriate
- Fully supervised
- Fun and relaxing
- Free
- Designed to use a variety of art therapy’s used include, painting, sculpting, weaving, music, dance and mindfulness.
HICAT Therapy is the use of creative arts to express emotions and feelings when maybe words do not work.
HICAT as therapy can be used with a wide range of issues and help people overcome or better manage a wide range of disorders both mental and physical.
Practioners use and guide art as therapy for:
- Children who have learning and or intellectual disabilities
- Adults who are experiencing extreme stress and or anxiety
- Children who are suffering from social or behavioural problems at home or at school
- People who are experiencing mental health issues
- People who have suffered an injury to their brain (ABI)
- Adults or children who have experienced a traumatic event (PTSD)
- emotional trauma
- physical violence
- domestic abuse
- anxiety
- depression
- and other psychological issues
Our participants will benefit from engaging in HICAT for many reasons including:
- to explore feelings that may be difficult to put into words
- to express their creativity and imagination
- to develop focus and healthy coping skills
- to improve confidence and self-esteem
- to develop better communication skills
- to share in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment
- to improve motor skills and physical co-ordination
- to identify barriers to personal growth and emotional expression