Dr Shona Erskine

Registered Psychologist

Performance Psychology

Shona holds a PhD in Psychology, specialising in young people’s experiences of the performing arts. She has taught performing artists at Deakin University, The University of Melbourne, Edith Cowan University and Curtin University, as well as working with professional companies and in private practice.

Her work focuses on helping artists and crew understand and apply psychological principles to support the demands of making, performing, and sustaining creative work.

Shona also works with teachers and directors to support psychologically informed approaches to developing and working with artists.

Psychology for Leadership and Organisations

With a Masters in Organisational Psychology, Shona brings psychological expertise to her work with leaders and organisations. She coaches leaders, provides consultation services, and facilitates workshops across corporate, not-for-profit, and creative sectors.

Her approach is grounded in research and designed to be practical. Facilitation processes help groups explore complex issues, develop shared understanding, and translate insights into actions that can be applied in their day-to-day work.

As one half of AFOCAL, Shona applies systems thinking to complex challenges across the arts, cultural, community, and local government sectors. She works with leaders and groups to step back from individual problems, understand the wider system they are part of, and identify opportunities for practical action and change.

Systems Thinking

Research

Research continues to be an important part of Shona’s practice. She undertakes and contributes to research projects both collaboratively and through her private practice.

Qualifications and Professional Membership

  • AHPRA Registered General Psychologist

  • Medicare registered

  • MPsych(Industrial and Organisational)/PhD          

  • BA (Hons) Psychology

  • Bachelor of Dance

In her early career Shona was a professional performer of Australian contemporary dance, touring throughout Australia and New Zealand, Britain, China, Mongolia, Taiwan, Japan, and Germany.

Shona keeps her creative skills sharpened through her ongoing involvement in the arts. She employs collaborative processes that call strongly on her respect for people, social narratives, and context.

Select Publications and Conference Presentations

Shona has published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, Research in Dance Education, and the Journal of Dance Education, and keeps her skills honed by attending national and international conferences.

 

Publications

Blevins, P., Erskine, S., & Hopper, L. (2026). Mindfulness as a tool for enhancing recovery in the performing arts. In E. Altenmüller, M. Kellmann, J. Beckmann, & G. M. Moyle (Eds.), Recovery and Well-being in the Performing Arts (pp. 78-96). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003566885

Blevins, P., Moyle, G., Erskine, S., & Hopper, L. (2021). Mindfulness, recovery-stress balance, and well-being among university dance students. Research in Dance Education. DOI 10.1080/14647893.2021.1980528

Blevins, P., Erskine, S., Hopper, L., & Moyle, G. (2020). Finding your balance: An investigation of recovery-stress balance in vocational dance training. Journal of Dance Education, 20 (1), 12-22, DOI 10.1080/15290824.2018.1532571

Blevins, P., Erskine, S., Moyle, G., & Hopper, L. (2020). Student and teacher attitudes towards overtraining and recovery in vocational dance training. Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Journal, 11(1), 5-24, DOI 10.1080/19443927.2019.1637369

Hopper, L., Blevins, P., Longbottom, R., Hendry, D., Erskine, S., & Hill, R. (2020). Sustaining dancer wellbeing throughout independent professional dance careers. Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Journal. DOI 10.1080/19443927.2020.1740312

Erskine, S. (2010). Quantum leaping. Brolga, 32, 23-32.

Erskine, S. (2007). Psychology and contemporary dance. Dance Forum: The Ausdance National Industry Journal, 17, 12-13.

 

Conferences

Blevins, P., & Erskine, S.(2026). Mindfulness as a foundational strategy for recovery-stress balance in vocational dance. Paper presented at the 36th conference of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science., Melbourne, Australia.

Erskine, S., Borg, S., & Schonfeld, A. (2024). Building a self-care contract for dancers wellness and performance. Workshop presented at the 34th conference of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science., Rimini, Italy.

Blevins, P., Erskine, S., Hopper, L., & Moyle, G. M. (2016). Dancers' experiences of overtraining and recovery during vocational dance training. Paper presented at the 26th conference of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, Hong Kong.

Erskine, S. & Ainley, M. (2009). Diversity of dancer experience in a dance program. In A. Williamon, S. Pretty, & R. Buck (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2009, Auckland, 15 – 18 December.

Erskine, S. (2009). The integration of somatics as an essential component of aesthetic dance education. In C. Stock (Ed.), Dance Dialogues: Conversations across cultures, artforms and practices, Proceedings of the 2008 World Dance Alliance Global Summit, Brisbane, 13 – 18 July. On-line publication, QUT Creative Industries and Ausdance.

Healey, S., Erskine, S., & Griffiths, L. (2003). Navigating Fine Lines. Paper presented at Unspoken Knowledges: A research forum on contemporary dance and choreographic cognition. Federation Hall, Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia.