Dinah Thomasset, Founder&Chair, Villagehood Australia: Connecting Mums and Cultures through Singing
Dinah Thomasset is a passionate advocate and expert in maternal mental health, peer support, and early childhood development, with a career spanning over two decades across Australia, France, and the UK. Her extensive experience in the not-for-profit, government, and corporate sectors has equipped her with a unique ability to navigate and influence diverse environments.
In a multicultural society like Australia, fostering understanding and connection between diverse communities is essential for building a harmonious and inclusive society. Villagehood Australia is deeply committed to ensuring that our programs reflect the diversity of the mothers we serve. As a migrant mother myself, I understand the unique challenges faced by mothers from multicultural backgrounds. My own lived experience of navigating motherhood and postnatal depression as a migrant has driven me to help address the specific needs of mothers like me. Approximately 30% of the mothers in our community are migrants, and many have expressed a desire for programs that reflect and celebrate their cultural identities.
To meet this need, we are working towards launching Singing in Colours in 2025. This co-designed initiative, developed in collaboration with mothers from migrant, non-migrant, and First Nations backgrounds, builds on the success of our Singing Hearts program and focuses on promoting cultural diversity, unity, and inclusivity through the universal language of music. Singing in Colours will create a welcoming space where mothers can come together to share their stories, cultures, and experiences. Our goal is to foster a deep sense of belonging, helping mothers feel seen, valued, and supported—regardless of their background.
During this presentation, I will share the vision behind Singing in Colours and its potential to strengthen social connections and celebrate cultural diversity. Through music, we aim to build positive, meaningful relationships between mothers from various cultural backgrounds, enriching both their lives and the broader community. With your support, we hope to bring this project to life, creating an opportunity to promote understanding and build a more connected, inclusive community where every culture is embraced.