In 2026, the Fogarty Foundation established a new partnership with Musica Viva Australia, supporting its Music Education Residency Program, bringing high-quality, specialist music education to schools in communities experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. As a national leader in music education, Musica Viva Australia delivers long-term, school-embedded residencies designed to create genuine depth of engagement rather than one-off experiences, and we are proud to support that vision here in WA.

The residency model is built around whole-school participation, with weekly classroom music delivered by specialist teaching artists alongside two live, in-school performances each year from Musica Viva Australia's culturally and musically diverse In Schools program. It also includes professional development for all teachers, access to instruments and resources, opportunities for student performance, and a robust evaluation framework to ensure the program's impact is sustained well beyond the life of the residency.

This partnership sits within our Future Ready Students pillar because the benefits of music education extend far beyond the classroom. Research and program evaluation show improvements in student attendance, behaviour, and engagement, as well as strengthened teacher confidence and capacity to deliver music education independently. By building a culture of music within schools and a community of practice across the region, we are supporting learners to develop creativity, confidence, collaboration, and wellbeing alongside their academic growth.

“Students are visibly enjoying the programme and they are actively engaged within the activities. The students who are generally more quiet are also starting to come out of their shell and willing to give things a go that they wouldn't have done before.’’

Nina Faulkner, Teacher, Gosnells Primary School

To read more about this new partnership and the Fogarty Foundation's work in 2026, read our full Report.

2026 Fogarty Report