From left to right - Dr Min Zhu, Amy Wiseman, Gary Hodge, Professor Caroline Mansfield and Dr Maria Gamble.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Ausdance WA have formalised a new partnership with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening dance education, participation and workforce development across Western Australia.
The agreement reflects a shared commitment between ECU's School of Education and Ausdance WA to foster collaboration in research, professional learning, sector engagement and knowledge exchange, while creating new pathways to support the future dance workforce in WA.
The partnership builds on a strong foundation of research, advocacy and sector engagement led by ECU's Dr Maria Gamble, in collaboration with Ausdance WA President (and Chair of the Board) Gary Hodge and Executive Director Amy Wiseman. Together, they have been exploring key issues shaping the future of dance in the State, including participation, career pathways, workforce sustainability, lifelong engagement and the broader social and community impact of dance.
"Dance plays a vital role not only as an art form, but as a powerful contributor to health, wellbeing and social connection," Dr Gamble said.
"This partnership with Ausdance WA creates exciting opportunities to strengthen dance education and research, support the sustainability of the sector, and ensure more Western Australians can experience the lifelong benefits of dance."
The MoU also builds on recent cross-sector engagement activities convened in partnership with Ausdance WA, bringing together educators, artists, researchers, industry representatives, and community stakeholders to discuss the future of dance participation and career sustainability in WA.
These conversations and collaborations have helped shape an emerging research trajectory around dance, health, participation, pathways, and lifelong engagement, led by Dr Maria Gamble with support and collaboration from colleagues including Dr David Aldous and Professor Dawn Penney.
"This partnership is a significant milestone for Ausdance WA. Nationally, Ausdance will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year in 2027, marking half a century of dedication to advocacy, research, education and capacity building for the dance sector. In Western Australia, Ausdance WA is thrilled to formalise this collaboration with ECU to increase capacity and impact for dance," said Ausdance WA Executive Director, Amy Wiseman.
Through the collaboration, ECU and Ausdance WA will develop research-informed initiatives that respond to current industry needs and emerging areas of practice, including the growing intersection between dance, health and wellbeing.
"The ECU–Ausdance WA partnership creates an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to Western Australian and national cultural policy at a far more strategic and influential level," said Ausdance WA President and Chair, Gary Hodge.
"The arts, culture and creative industries are already recognised by the Western Australian Government as major drivers of innovation, creativity, skills development and engagement with global markets. Through this partnership, we look forward to drawing on the distinguished research capability of ECU to build a robust evidence base that demonstrates the full value of dance and the arts, not only as powerful forms of artistic expression, but also as contributors to public health, education, social cohesion, workforce capability, economic productivity and international competitiveness."
It is envisaged that the MoU will be in place for three years.
Dr Gamble said that the partnership with Ausdance WA reflected ECU's ongoing commitment to industry collaboration, research and delivering meaningful impact within the community.
