Maggie Resuggan – Bachelor of Human Science (Neuroscience)
Storytelling Care Song Intern, Melville Cares
Working with Melville Cares, Maggie supported the Care Song program, a partnership between Melville Cares, the City of Melville and Care Song. The choir brings together people living with dementia and their carers, using music to support connection and participation.
“I decided to apply for an internship as a way to develop my interpersonal skills and get the sense of a workplace before finishing my degree, but also as a way to get involved in the community,” she said.
Her project was to create a video that captured what the choir offers. This meant attending sessions each week, speaking with participants, and shaping their experiences into a story that could be shared with others in the community.
Over time, Maggie saw how consistent participation made a difference.
“A highlight for me was going to the choir every week and getting to know the participants,” she said. “I was able to see how much this weekly activity means to them.”
Participants described the choir as something they looked forward to, and Maggie noticed a shift in engagement during sessions — from arrival to the end of the hour, people became more active, responsive and connected.
It was these moments she focused on in her film. Rather than documenting the sessions themselves, she aimed to show the sense of belonging created through the choir.
After watching Maggie’s video, dementia care specialist Michael Verde—an author, educator and international advocate in the field—highlighted the value of these experiences:
“What comes through so clearly in the reflections from Care Song participants and families is that these experiences do not end when the singing stops; they continue outward into confidence, connection, and a renewed sense of being meaningfully part of life.”
The editing process was one of the more challenging parts of the internship, particularly finding the right balance between different moments and voices.
“The most challenging aspect was trying to find the right clips and moments that captured the essence of the choir,” Maggie said.
With guidance from her supervisors and the choir community, she developed a final piece that reflects both the atmosphere of the sessions and their wider impact.
Melville Cares CEO Maria Davison said Maggie approached the project with care and attention.
“Maggie worked with a range of stakeholders and did so professionally, really listening to what they were sharing,” she said. “The final video gave people the opportunity to share their stories and experiences.”
The experience also shaped how Maggie views her studies. Seeing the effect of music and participation in a community setting reinforced the role of everyday activities in supporting wellbeing.
“It has helped me see the community level benefits of interactive therapies such as music therapy,” she said.
She encourages other students to take similar opportunities.
“I loved being involved in the community and knowing my project is going to make a difference,” she said.