Cassandra Danckert is a PhD student and an accomplished woodwind player (saxophone and flute) regularly performing in university ensembles and around the Hunter. Cassie grew up in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, but moved to Newcastle right after high school and has since been at The University of Newcastle since 2015. Her PhD research project is in the field of creative ageing and aims to identify how creative engagement activities enhance brain functioning and promote cognitive and emotional wellbeing in older adults. Through a series of 10 week songwriting courses for older adults in aged care facilities, the project also aims to provide proof-of-concept that, in addition to improving self-reported mood and quality of life, systematic engagement in creative activities produces measurable changes in brain and cognition. Through a carefully designed group songwriting intervention, neural, cognitive and emotional processes will be examined. Similar programs have been shown to have positive outcomes in people with dementia, their caretakers, and healthy older adults. Objective tests of brain function, cognitive and emotional health will be used, as well as showing the duration of creative engagement required to produce enduring positive outcomes.