TEENS in the hills have been tuning in with Soul Shine Creatives’ To the Beat program - a free eight-week youth art and wellbeing program funded by the Shire of Mundaring.

Running throughout the year with strong engagement, the program invites young people aged 11–17 to explore mindfulness through yoga, creative practice and reflection.

Rather than focusing on artistic outcomes, the sessions create opportunities to practise qualities such as patience, self-trust, acceptance and resilience, skills that support wellbeing both inside and outside the creative space.

Students consistently describe the program as “their time” - a space away from school pressure where they can slow down, reset, and feel more connected to themselves.

At its core, To the Beat is about helping young people find their own rhythm and build trust in themselves. Through mindful creative experiences, participants are encouraged to slow down, pay attention, and discover that growth isn’t found in creating the “perfect” artwork, but in the qualities they practise along the way.

Each session explores a principle of mindfulness, inviting students to experience qualities such as non-judgement, patience, letting go and acceptance through yoga, creative exploration and reflection. Rather than simply learning about these ideas, participants are given opportunities to practise them.

“This program gives young people a space to slow down, tune in, and explore who they are,” Soul Shine Creatives co-founder Claire said.

“Through mindfulness, art, and movement, they learn to pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a way that’s playful, creative, and free from pressure. We often see young people discover that they already have wisdom, creativity, and strengths within them, sometimes they just need the space to notice it.”

Co-founder Cale Hosking said the impact is often visible in the room.

“You can see it when young people stop looking for the ‘right answer’ and start trusting their own experience.

“Our role isn’t to teach young people what to think. It's to create a safe space where they can pay attention, explore, make mistakes, reflect and discover things for themselves.

“We often say the artwork isn’t the goal, the creative process becomes a place to practise qualities like patience, self-trust and acceptance. Those are skills that extend well beyond the art room.”

The program also connects young people with local artists, strengthening community ties and inviting them to see different creative pathways.

Recently, students worked with Ric Burkitt, an award-winning abstract artist from Stoneville. Over two sessions, he guided them through experimental acrylic painting, exploring layering, intuition, and expressive mark-making to create their own abstract landscape artworks.

“Art gives us a chance to explore without needing all the answers. When we let go of perfection and become curious about the process, we often discover not only new ideas, but new things about ourselves,” Mr Burkitt said

By the end of the program, participants leave with more than a collection of artworks.

They leave with practical wellbeing strategies, greater confidence in their own creative voice, and lived experience of slowing down, paying attention and approaching challenges with greater curiosity and self-trust.

As conversations around youth wellbeing continue to grow, Soul Shine Creatives is inviting schools and education providers to explore how creative, mindfulness-based programs can complement existing wellbeing initiatives and create meaningful opportunities for young people to practise the skills that support lifelong wellbeing.