Alex has been placed at the school through the Song Room program, a national initiative that provides creative and performing arts learning opportunities for schools in rural, remote and disadvantaged areas.

She will provide music, singing, dance and drama workshops to the Paxton students every Friday throughout first and second term, before heading off to nearby Millfield Public School for the rest of the year.

Alex is in the third year of her primary teaching degree at the University of Newcastle, and has extensive experience in the performing arts, including seven years working in London’s West End.

She said her role with the Song Room is the perfect way to incorporate her newly-acquired teaching skills with her performing arts background.

Through drama games, movement and song, Alex aims to improve the students’ confidence, team work, cultural awareness and most importantly, self-esteem.

“If performing arts can give them a platform to express themselves in their own manner, as individuals, then that’s a great thing,” she said.

Last Friday’s activities included learning about music from other cultures, including modern Aboriginal, Spanish and Turkish tunes, with the students making posters on how the music made them feel.

Year 5 students Sarah Watts and Lachlan Archer said the activity taught them a lot about other cultures.

“It was definitely not how we thought they would sound,” Sarah said.

“The Turkey music was really boppy, it made you feel happy, and the Aboriginal music was not just didgeridoos.”

And the students are not the only ones to benefit – the Song Room program works closely with teachers on a “Sustainability Plan”, featuring recommendations on how the school can continue to incorporate creative arts into its program after the teaching artist’s workshops are finished.

Professional development workshops are also held on site for the teachers, and external sessions are offered to Song Room member schools.

Established in 1999, the Song Room has reached more than 150,000 disadvantaged children with its unique, free and tailored programs and currently has 250 programs across Australia.