Samantha Ewart, PhD candidate, University of Western Sydney
Samantha Ewart has been nominated for the 2012 Young Women of the West Award for using her passion for music technology to improve the quality of life of people with illnesses and disabilities.
At 24 years of age, Samantha is testament to the value of education and the opportunities that it brings. After finishing year 12 at Caroline Chisholm High School in 2006, Samantha enrolled in the University of Western Sydney's Bachelor of Music program and is now continuing her studies at UWS as a PhD candidate.
Under the supervision of Associate Professor Garth Paine and Dr Amanda Third, Samantha's PhD focuses on improving the well-being of young people in hospital. Using 'Audio Cubes,' an interactive digital music installation, Samantha introduces colour, light and music into hospital wards to give patients a stimulating distraction from their illness.
The study encourages socialisation, creative engagement, and numerous other skills to positively benefit young peoples stay in hospital. She is currently working on developing more devices that combine music and technology that are suitable for hospital patients with a range of different illnesses.
Samantha was nominated for the 2012 Young Women of the West Award by Marina and Francis Reader, her mother and step father. Marina and Francis explain that Samantha's accomplishments are all the more remarkable considering her struggles with dyslexia.
"Her school years were difficult... Persistence made her achieve above average results in all that she did. But her strong will to be something special has made her a confident, intelligent and proud young lady," says Marina.
Samantha's interest in the healing and rehabilitative power of music stemmed from growing up with a disabled brother. Joseph, now 21 years old, was born with cerebral palsy, scoliosis and periventricular leukomalacia – his disabilities mean that is unable to eat, talk or communicate.
Samantha's studies at UWS introduced her possibilities of using technologies to give a range of able bodied and disabled people the ability to creatively engage and have fun with music. In 2008, Samantha began volunteering at the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre and continues to regularly contribute time to administrative tasks, as well as fundraising and assisting with music therapy sessions.
Iani Sujono, Operations Manager at Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Australia, provided an assessment of Samantha's work at the Centre, assisting in conducting sessions for teenage school children with disabilities.
"Sam shares many wonderful qualities which have assisted the clients greatly. She is attuned to the subtleties needed when working with teenage children and she has the ability to build rapport with them quite quickly and comfortably," says Iani.
The nomination is supported by Michael Stevenson, Samantha's HSC Music teacher from Caroline Chisholm College. As early as high school, he says Samantha's passion to use music to benefit others was clear.
"As a highly intelligent and independent young woman, her achievements inspire others and she is a role model to younger women in Greater Western Sydney," says Michael.
Samantha's PhD is under the supervision of Associate Professor Garth Paine and Dr Amanda Third within the School of Humanities and Communication Arts at UWS.
Photo: Sally Tsoutas
Mobile options:
