EOI: 3 - 31 March
Bootcamp: 28 April


Program Dates: 
Block 1: Jun 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, Jul 1
Block 2: Jul 21, 22, 28, 29, Aug 4, 5
Block 3: Aug 25, 26, Sep 1, 2, 8, 15, 16
Showcase Event: Sep 10 

R|7.0 Creative Business Incubator is an intensive 10-week program designed to turn creative ideas into sustainable businesses. Suitable for a wide range of ideas and art forms, R|7.0 is a tailored program to help you grow your business idea or creative practice, gain visibility, understand your value and context, identify new markets, build an entrepreneurial mindset and position yourself as a creative leader. Running from June to September, the 2025 program will be delivered in a new format (3 weeks on, 2 weeks off) to give you time to process and apply the learnings and insights directly to your business/creative practice as you go. 

Each week, facilitator Hayley Linthwaite and a team of expert guest presenters, will focus on a specific aspect of creative business building towards a public showcase at The Events Centre, Caloundra where you will pitch your business idea or creative practice to industry, government and business networks. The program develops self-understanding, entrepreneurial skills and a full business plan through targeted workshops, mentorship and community engagement and enables participants to be adaptive, resilient and ready to engage with a dynamic market. 

R|7.0 is committed to the development of First Nations enterprise as well as respectful and equitable collaboration between First Nations and non-Indigenous creatives. First Nations participants are supported by First Nations mentors and under the leadership of Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) Elder-in-Residence and Creative, Aunty Helena Gulash, First Nations participants engage in discussions culturally relevant to First Nations business.

R|7.O Cohort

  • Ro Clark is a Sunshine Coast based artist and qualified graphic designer with over 14 years’ industry experience. After acquiring a spinal cord injury in 2019, she found solace and expression through her painting. Ro works from her home studio, creating original acrylic artworks, limited edition prints and seamless repeat pattern designs. With a lifelong passion for art and design, Ro brings both technical skill and emotional depth to her practice. Her work invites you to connect and reflect as she shares her personal growth in understanding that pain and beauty can co-exist.

  • Tiny Mountains inspires curiosity by building bespoke community events that gather and connect artists with audiences. For example, in September Tiny Mountains will present the history of the hinterlands region in enhanced projections on the historic Noosa shire building. Driven to enable the stories from this region to be told, Tiny Mountains also curates events as well as workshops to teach residents to tell their stories in film and visual media.

  • Gimenez Voice Academy (GVA) empowers singers of all ages and stages to discover their voice—and themselves—through the transformative power of performance. From classical to theatrical to rock, GVA offers private coaching, creative workshops, artist development, and community-rooted performance experiences. Founded by award-winning performer and educator Mia Gimenez, GVA blends technical training with emotional freedom to inspire connection, confidence, and authenticity. Mia is bringing global experience and local heart to the Sunshine Coast’s creative scene.

  • Kerrie Harth is a passionate believer in the importance of child-led play and the role creativity plays in developing children’s thinking, negotiation and problem-solving skills. Her business centres on creating opportunities for joy, curiosity and creative expression in children. Through photography and immersive art experiences, she enables educators, parents and carers to bring creativity into children’s play.

  • Georgia Haupt is a photographer and videographer who founded G Docs out of her passion for capturing the artistry of movement and her desire to champion performing artists. Specialising in dance, theatre, and music, G Docs captures the complete creative journey – from initial development, through to rehearsals and performance. With an understanding of how to visually capture the creative process, Georgia creates compelling visual assets that serve as both artistic archive and professional tool and assist artists to articulate their vision, expand their audience reach, and secure partners.

  • Sara Ingram is a visual artist who creates bold, collectible ceramic and mixed media artworks that are political and speak with emotional honesty. Her provocative work spotlights the plights of those who feel unseen: people navigating mental health, marginalisation or disconnection. Her practice is deeply personal and uses a raw, reflective process that transforms her lived experience into a powerful visual language. Sara’s ability to hold space for discomfort, complexity, and truth, enables her to lead and support a growing community of artists who share her passion for political art.

  • Grapevine is a digital sanctuary for artists of all disciplines, designed to keep creativity alive. Founded by musician and educator Edwina Masson, the Grapevine app is a platform for an artist community to gather, to collectively inspire each other, share, and create new work. In a world dominated by content culture, Grapevine is a refreshing reprieve for artists, driving them off their phones and into their studios. Grapevine tethers artists of all forms back to their creative selves. Planned release date January 2026.

  • Mary is a photographer who empowers passionate female business owners and leaders to be seen for who they truly are – in work and in life – through story-led, personal branding photography. Mary partners with emerging and accomplished leaders who value connection, purpose, and making real impact. She guides them to reveal the person behind the business. Her calm and empowering sessions help clients reconnect with their values and vision and celebrate the real person. The result is imagery that builds trust, deepens connection and showcases the person standing confidently in their true character, ready to make a difference.

  • Jenny is an internationally award-winning comedian on a mission to boost people’s moods through high energy interactive comedy that is as joyful and mind-blowing, as it is kind. Whether through her hilarious corporate keynotes and live performances – that fuse music and comedy with warm-hearted audience interaction – her books, online community ‘Funny Mummies’, or her film and TV projects, Jenny’s unique comedy leaves people uplifted, more connected and re-energised.

Cooper Brady
Cooper Brady Photography

“When I came into The Refinery, I was still working as a hospital nurse and shooting 10 weddings a year. The program helped me turn my creative practice into a sustainable career. I have 50 weddings booked this year, I am able to support myself and my family and I live the lifestyle I want.”

Turn your creative practice or business idea into a sustainable career.

Check out our 2024 cohort at Showcase

The Refinery’s Creative Business Incubator program has successfully supported
86 independent creative practitioners and businesses to date.

Meet your R|7.0 facilitator

Hayley Linthwaite

For over 30 years, Hayley has made it her life’s work to ignite the sparks of transformative change all over the world. An experienced facilitator, coach, consultant, social entrepreneur and educator, she has empowered leaders and teams, facilitated multimillion dollar organisational change programs, founded social enterprises, and cultivated a community of changemakers. Hayley bridges the latest explorations in systems change, adult development and neuroscience with the transformative power of the arts and embodiment to unlock profound shifts in individuals and systems. All of her work is propelled by her unwavering belief in our human capacity to ignite change and create abundant futures.

Learn more about Hayley →

Shaye Harsidy
Textile artist

“From sewing on the kitchen table to where I am now, The Refinery really helped me challenge my idea of what a creative business can be.”

Have a Question about R|7.0?

Applications have now closed.

Email us at hello@therefinerysunshinecoast.com or fill out the contact form to get in touch →