NeuroRhythm: Drumming Up Connection, Movement and Recovery
NeuroRhythm is an innovative arts-and-health pilot program owned and developed by Citrine Sun Entertainment to support people living with brain injury, alongside their carers and support networks.
In 2024, Citrine Sun Entertainment was awarded funding through the Heart Foundation’s Active Australia Innovation Challenge, a national initiative supported by the Australian Government Department of Health to increase physical activity and wellbeing in communities experiencing high levels of inactivity and chronic disease.
Program Leadership & Partnerships
NeuroRhythm - a Citrine Sun Entertainment program is spearheaded by program founder Belinda Adams OAM, Director of Citrine Sun Entertainment and Ambassador for the Hopkins Centre. Belinda created NeuroRhythm in response to the limited inclusive, creative and community-based wellbeing programs available to people living with brain injury.
The program is co-led by Belinda and Danielle Pretty, PhD Candidate, as creative and program partners. Belinda brings lived-experience advocacy and creative leadership, while Danielle contributes facilitation and research expertise through her work in dance and rhythm-based rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury.
Both hold research affiliations with The Hopkins Centre, a leading research centre for rehabilitation and resilience which supports the program through research partnership.
A Co-Designed, Evidence-Informed Approach
NeuroRhythm was co-designed by drum facilitators, clinicians, occupational therapists, and people with lived experience of brain injury, ensuring the program was accessible, safe and participant-centred.
Over five weeks, six brain injury survivors participated in weekly sessions that combined:
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Djembe drumming
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Body percussion
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Free-form movement and dance
These activities were specifically adapted to support people living with acquired brain injury (ABI), catering to a wide range of physical abilities while offering a safe environment for those at risk of falls.
Why Rhythm and Movement?
Research shows that rhythm and drumming provide a powerful workout for the brain, with the physical transmission of rhythmic energy helping to synchronise the left and right hemispheres. Combined with movement, rhythm supports:
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Physical coordination and upper limb function
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Cognitive engagement and neuroplasticity
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Emotional expression and regulation
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Social connection and community belonging
For many brain injury survivors, social isolation and lack of engaging cultural activities can be as challenging as the injury itself. NeuroRhythm addresses this gap by using the universal language of music and movement to foster connection, confidence and joy.
Outcomes & Participant Experience
The pilot program recorded a 100% attendance rate, reflecting strong engagement and participant commitment. Pre- and post-program measures, alongside interviews and filmed personal accounts, indicated:
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Positive impacts on mental health
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A strong sense of belonging and camaraderie
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Clinically significant improvements in upper limb function for some participants
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Increased confidence, persistence and pride in learning new skills
Participants frequently described NeuroRhythm as a rare space where their often “invisible injuries” were understood and accommodated.
Documentary Film: Sharing Lived Experience
A key component of NeuroRhythm is Rhythms of Recovery, a documentary by Citrine Sun Entertainment that captures participants’ drumming and movement journeys, their stories, and the impact of the program.
The film disrupts stigma by making invisible experiences visible and re-frames recovery as creative resistance. Rhythms of Recovery, activates social change by amplifying community voices and inviting audiences into empathetic understanding.
Looking Ahead
NeuroRhythm demonstrates the powerful role that arts-based, community-led programs can play in brain injury recovery, wellbeing and social inclusion. As the program continues to evolve, it offers a compelling model for integrating movement, music, research and lived experience to build stronger, more connected communities.