Green Shoots Moora Project

Opportunity

The Shire of Moora identified a strong need for increased access to arts opportunities alongside growing demand for mental health and wellbeing support. An arts education gap in local schools meant many children and young people had little or no access to music education, largely due to cost, distance and availability of private lessons. As a result, local students were missing out on creative experiences that support confidence, social skills and communication.

At the same time, Moora residents were experiencing high levels of psychological distress. Research from the points to social isolation as a key risk factor for poor mental health, while a sense of belonging is closely linked to improved wellbeing.

Research from the Wheatbelt Health Service across 2015-2019 identified social isolation as a key risk factor for poor mental health, while a sense of belonging is closely linked to improved wellbeing. These findings still resonate:

In response, the Shire approached Perth Symphony Orchestra (PSO) to deliver Green Shoots Moora, a music residency program adapted from the successful Green Shoots Narrogin pilot. The program focused on shared music-making to strengthen social connection, support mental wellbeing, and build sustainable local capability, with a particular emphasis on schools and local musical ensembles.

Approach

The program began with a local launch that generated strong early interest and community ownership. School-based sessions were a key focus, with PSO musicians working alongside teachers to build practical skills, confidence and long-term sustainability of music education. Eight community ensembles were formed and mentored, welcoming participants of all ages and experience levels.

The program culminated in the Hay Bales Concert, a large-scale community event attended by approximately 1,000 people and widely described as ‘the best event Moora had ever hosted’. Local and PSO musicians performed together in an accessible, distinctly local setting created entirely from hay bales. Cultural inclusion was integral to delivery, with strong partnerships developed with Aboriginal participants, Elders and families throughout the project.

Impact and Outcomes

The most significant impact of Green Shoots Moora was its ability to reconnect local people across generations and backgrounds. Participants consistently reported new friendships, increased confidence, and an improved sense of belonging. The program provided structure, purpose and joy and, for some, community support during challenging personal circumstances.

Regular and meaningful social connection through music contributed to improved mental wellbeing. Participants described Green Shoots as offering something positive to look forward to each week. One participant shared that the program gave her a sense of pride “for the first time in her life” at the age of 39.

Local confidence and capability grew substantially. Teachers who previously lacked confidence in music delivery are now leading ensembles independently. Shire staff and volunteers gained experience in coordination, logistics and event delivery. This growth in local capacity is evidenced by the formation of the Moora Music Project, a new community-led initiative that continues to operate independently with regular rehearsals and planning led entirely by local participants.

For children and young people, the program provided tools to support healthy minds and bodies through group singing, rhythm activities and ensemble participation. By removing barriers to entry and embedding music within whole-of-class and whole-school experiences, the program fostered creativity and new peer connections, while strengthening confidence and teamwork skills.

The project marked a clear shift in cultural engagement and ownership. Before Green Shoots, Moora had minimal access to structured music education or sustained community arts activity. Now, the formation of local musical ensembles, continued rehearsal schedules, and the Shire’s commitment to hosting another Hay Bales Concert in 2026 demonstrate that Moora has moved from being a recipient of arts programs to a community actively seeking and sustaining them.

The impact extends beyond Moora. PSO produced a documentary-style video and professional concert recording, capturing the project’s stories and outcomes. These resources have become powerful legacy tools, used to celebrate local achievement and inspire future Green Shoots locations across Western Australia.

Insights from the Culture Counts Survey

PSO used the Culture Counts survey to evaluate program quality and impact. Notably, the entire survey sample had not previously engaged with PSO, and 50% identified as beginner-level participants, highlighting the program’s success in reaching new and underrepresented audiences.

Four dimensions received 100% agreement from respondents: Place, Connection, Access and Motivation. Participants agreed that the program made them feel proud of their local area, helped them to feel connected to people in the community, provided access to activities they would not otherwise have access to, and motivated them to do more creative things in the future.

Additional results included:

• 90% strongly agreed they felt happy and enjoyed making music
• 71% strongly agreed they felt proud of local music-making in Moora
• 70% felt encouraged to participate more in community activities

What worked

Accurate costing of time and resources
Being transparent about the true costs of musicians’ time and delivery supported sustainable planning and reinforced the value of professional expertise.

Comprehensive documentation and storytelling
Consistent recording of photos, stories and reflections created a rich evidence base that strengthened reporting, evaluation and long-term impact storytelling.

Deep listening and community-led design
Taking time to understand local context ensured the program responded to real needs, while maintaining shared goals with the community.

Flexibility during delivery
Adapting the approach when required strengthened outcomes and ensured the program remained aligned with what the community valued most.

Key challenges

Embedding cultural inclusion early
The absence of a First Nations Cultural Inclusion Officer during the early planning stages limited opportunities for trust‑building and culturally safe dialogue. Earlier appointment of this role would have strengthened relationships, guided culturally informed decision‑making, and supported more meaningful engagement from the outset.

Lead time constraints
A longer lead‑in period, with more time immersed in the region, would have supported stronger community connections and more confident community participation in the project.

Activating community leadership
While local ownership developed over time, community champions were not formally identified or supported early in the project. Earlier investment in local leaders, alongside peer‑to‑peer storytelling from past Green Shoots participants, would have strengthened community‑led advocacy throughout the project.

Next steps

Green Shoots Moora has marked a clear shift in the region’s cultural life, moving Moora from being a recipient of arts programs to a community that actively creates, leads and sustains them. Strong local ownership following the project is evident through independently rehearsing ensembles, the establishment of the community‑led Moora Music Project and the Shire’s commitment to delivering another Hay Bales Concert in 2026. Educators have embedded music strategies introduced through the program, and cultural connections formed during delivery continue to strengthen.

PSO remains a supportive partner while deliberately encouraging local leadership. PSO is applying the learnings from Moora to shape the next phase of Green Shoots, expanding partnerships across WA. What began as a grant‑funded initiative has evolved into a living model of community transformation through the arts.