The PMH SOHK Choir is an inclusive, supportive choir for the vulnerable or marginalised who want to come together, make music and friends. The School of Hard Knocks - Port Macquarie-Hastings (SOHK PMH) evolved from a long conversation in 2014 between Jonathon Welch AM from Melbourne, the Founder of the Choir of Hard Knocks back in 2006, and Ms Val Evans, General Manager of Port Macquarie Community
College and its training arm, SkillsLink Training. Together Jonathon and Val saw the potential in setting up a branch of this creative arts for recovery program here. So they started building the relationship and it led to a formal agreement signed in October 2015. The School of Hard Knocks is now a program of Play It Forward Aust Ltd and has branches in Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Macquarie, ours being the first regional branch in a planned national network. This movement aims to provide a unique range of inclusive arts programs for all Australians and assist people experiencing homelessness, mental distress, social disadvantage, long-term unemployment, risks of re-offending and disability.
