Community care has always been at the heart of Medicine – not only in the way we show up throughout the year, but in the way we gather. At the festival, care is woven into everything: how we welcome one another, the support offered in shared spaces, the sensitivity we bring to ceremony, and the collective responsibility we carry for the land, each other and ourselves. It is part of what makes the experience feel sacred, held and deeply human.
Below is a summary of insights from our 2024 Community Care Report (based on a small data set of 297 responses), our first step in bringing greater visibility to this work. It reflects both the deep sense of connection many feel at Medicine, and the areas where more clarity, structure and consistency are being asked for as the gathering evolves.
As we continue to grow, so does our responsibility to refine how we create safe, nurturing and inclusive spaces that honour the diversity of our community. Community care is an evolving practice – shaped by feedback, listening, learning and a commitment to walk with integrity.
YOU CAN EXPLORE THIS WORK IN MORE DEPTH BELOW
AUDIENCE AND COMMUNITY PROFILE
Based on 297 responses, the survey comprises of 75% women, 21% men and 3% non-binary, with strong representation across ages 25–54.
14% of respondents identify as disabled and 39% as neurodivergent, alongside a diverse range of sexualities and heritage. This highlights the importance of accessibility, inclusion and care structures for a significant proportion of attendees.
These statistics don’t represent the audience at Medicine, but rather those that completed the form, however aspects of this are somewhat representative as we do see an overwhelmingly female audience, both at the gathering and online, with our instagram audience being over 75% Women, and the ma jority of followers between the ages of 25-44.
BELONGING, SAFETY & THE HEART OF MEDICINE
However, participants from marginalised groups consistently reported lower scores (–0.3 to –0.6) for safety, voice and trust in escalation path ways. While Medicine’s heart and ethos are strong, the community is calling for structured clarity, consistent communication and embedded accountability, so care isn’t reliant on good intentions alone.
EMOTIONAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
Care spaces were widely appreciated, and described as places to exhale and ground. While gratitude was high, awareness of where and how to access support was inconsistent, with many respondents unsure whether care spaces were “for them” or when to use them.
CLARITY & ESCALATION
Confidence around how to escalate an incident was notably lower, with scores ranging between 3.1 and 3.5 out of 5. This points to a need for clearer communication around how harm is addressed, who to speak to, and how care responsibilities are shared across teams.
REST, REGULATION & INTEGRATION
Feedback highlighted that care teams, guardians and crew were often overstretched, carrying significant emotional load. Respondents called for clearer rest rhythms, integration spaces and structured support to ensure those holding care are also cared for.
INCLUSION & REPRESENTATION
While 85% of respondents reported feeling safe to be themselves, scores dropped among racialised, queer, disabled and neurodivergent participants. Access to regulation spaces, clarity around cultural etiquette and trust in care pathways were among the lowest-scoring areas.
SACRED SPACES & SPRITUAL CULTURE
Sacred spaces were deeply valued, though awareness varied significantly. Only 18% of respondents were aware of the Temple, suggesting the need for clearer invitations, orientation and accessibility support. Sacred Fires were widely loved, with feedback highlighting opportunities for clearer cultural protocols for how to interact around the fires, and when the designated quiet times are.
ROLE SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES
Experiences varied by role, with a strong sense of purpose and gratitude across attendees, artists and crew, alongside consistent requests for clearer communication, role boundaries, scheduling and rest.
MEDICINE’S CORE ACTIONS + RECOMMENDATIONS
CLOSING PRAYER & REFLECTIONS
These findings form part of an ongoing integration process. The Community Care Report is not a final statement, but a commitment to learning out loud, deepening accountability and evolving how care is held across the Medicine ecosystem.
READ OUR COMMUNITY CARE REPORT