"We've seen people who haven't spoken who will sing with the music, we've seen people who haven't participated in art activities take them on again.
"Over the years we talked very dearly about the joy and the benefits of having that art and music in a hospital setting," she said. "So when she passed away, as a legacy to her and a memory for her, there was a small bequest and we did the pilot."It now operates three days a week and employs four musicians and two artists as well as a number of volunteers.
It has expanded to other health facilities like the Repatriation Centre in Hobart and St John's Park Renal Unit. "A lot of our referrals are for people with a low mood or who aren't engaging in their treatment and we see them and within a week we've seen it, they've been discharged because they're starting to engage and see the light at the end of the tunnel," Ms Dawborn said.