DAVE JOHNSON

Dave has been teaching music for the ACMF for nearly four years. He currently runs weekly music programs at the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre, and Wandoo Reintegration Facility in Perth, where he achieves fantastic results. As the program coordinator at Banksia Hill said in her recent report ‘…today I had the privilege of sitting in on a session with David. Quite frankly, it was an emotional experience for me seeing the positive impact this music lesson has on a young female detainee who has been participating for two months. Not only does it contribute to her mental health and wellbeing (which she struggles with), it builds on her confidence. David is a wonderful teacher and he has a very calming, patient approach to teaching this young female. She often refuses to attend other programs but will always be happy and waiting for David to arrive. From a conversation with the operational manager of the area, he concurs with me, and advised me he thinks the ACMF program is the best life skills program we have here. He said David is wonderful and will always be willing to engage any other detainee wanting to join. I just wanted to let you know, as the Programs Coordinator the benefit of this program is huge for us.”

At Wandoo Reintegration Facility, the young detainees recently had a group song-writing session and came up with a song called “Wrong Decisions”, which explores the circumstances and the emotional frailties that bring about the wrong decisions in life and how to build a stronger life revolving around giving and helping others who have fallen between the cracks.

Dave is an accomplished singer, songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has been performing in bands and as a solo artist both in Australia and overseas for over 20 years. He’s also released a solo album called Leaving Time.

As well as performing and working for the ACMF, Dave directs and facilitates the Starlight Hotel Choir, a choir for people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless which has been meeting for over five years, writing and performing original songs about their experiences, along with some moving and rousing covers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rDkD8ae0Bs – Dave’s on the far right playing mandolin.