Artist Perspective: Jennifer Hickinbotham shares how important creativity has been to her well-being, having come to art later in her life. She describes her early experiences making art and attending community classes to support her mental health. She also reflects on the difficulties in finding a pathway through creative practice—and earning money from it. Undergraduate study at university marked a turning point for her, leading to a PhD and opening up opportunities to exhibit and perform at galleries and festivals. Hickinbotham questions the way that arts funding is distributed in Australia, advocating for a system that is more flexible, accessible and equitable, particularly in the disability sector. She wants to see a fundamental change in the visual arts sector and society more broadly, prioritising mental health and collective well-being.