Music for Refugees
Snapshot
Multiple locations - NSW
Drop-off
REuse
Music for Refugees, founded by volunteer music teacher Philip Feinstein in 2009, provides music classes and jam sessions inside immigration detention centres across Australia—including Villawood, Manus Island, Christmas Island, and Nauru. The initiative sources donated musical instruments from the public and distributes them for use in music rooms and by released detainees. These sessions, including jam sessions, theatre-sports for kids, adult ensembles, and performance jam, serve as a therapeutic outlet to reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and promote emotional healing in isolated environments. Instrument donations remain ongoing as many are given to individuals upon release. If you or anyone you know have any working musical instruments lying around, why not donate them to a refugee?
Accepted items
Small instruments like guitars (nylon strings only), violins, recorders, and percussion can be take to the drop off points listed below. If you have a large instrument like a piano, organ or drum kit please email Phillip Feinstein first.
Condition of items
Usable
Helpful tips
Please contact the drop off points before turning up.
How to get items to us
North Shore Temple Emanuel for Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, 28 Chatswood Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067
Mon – Fri: 9am – 3pm Tel: 02 9419 7011
Emanuel Synagogue for Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, 7 Ocean Street, Woollahra, NSW 2025
Call 02 9389 6444 for opening hours
Balmain Uniting Church Café, 344 Darling Street, Balmain, NSW 2041
Office drop-off hours: Mon – Sat: 9am – 2pm
Dr Marjorie MP O'Neill for Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, 55 Frenchmans Road, Randwick, NSW 2031
Office drop-off hours: Mon – Fri: 10am – 4pm Phone: 02 9398 1822
SSI - Settlement Services International, Level 2, 158 Liverpool Road, Ashfield, NSW 2131
Call first: 02 8799 6799
SSI - Settlement Services International, 4/10 Newton Street, Auburn, NSW 2144
Call first: 02 8799 6799
STARTTS - Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma, 152 - 168 The Horsley Drive, Carramar, NSW 2163
Call first: 02 9794 1900
SydWest Multicultural Services, Level 2, 125 Main Street, Blacktown, NSW 2148
Call first: 02 9621-6633
Asylum Seekers Centre, 43 Bedford Street, Newtown, NSW 2042
Call first: 02 9078 1900
Life Without Barriers, Level 2, 81 Railway Street, Rockdale, NSW 2216
Call first: 02 9508 4000
Community Migrant Resource Centre, Level 4, 1 Horwood Place, Parramatta, NSW 2124
Call first: 02 9687 9901
Categories
Hobbies