Working alongside people of all ages and abilities to develop, maintain and restore health, functioning and well-being through the intentional use of music.
Music therapy is the intentional use of music by a university trained professional who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association. Registered music therapists draw on an extensive body of research and are bound by a code of ethics that informs their practice.
Music therapists incorporate a range of music making methods within and through a therapeutic relationship. They are employed in a variety of sectors including health, community, aged care, disability, early childhood, and private practice. Music therapy is different from music education and entertainment as it focuses on health, functioning and wellbeing.
AMTA is a member organisation of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) and the National Alliance for Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP), along with speech pathology, occupational therapy and social work. Professional self-regulation ensures RMTs are appropriately qualified, skilled, and meet national regulatory requirements.
*Information has been sourced from the AMTA Disability Evidence Summary.
Music therapy delivers essential supports to people with disabilities
Music therapy provides crucial and life-changing supports for people with disabilities and their carers. RMTs are recognised therapy service providers within the National Disability Insurance Scheme. RMTs design and deliver individualised, music-based interventions that support social, communicative, physical, sensory, emotional, cognitive and behavioural goals.
RMTs have specialist expertise in the therapeutic use of music to impact the brain, mind and the body. Music therapy is an engaging, motivating therapy that helps participants address therapeutic goals. Music therapy influences thinking, behaviour, function and actions, and improves access to activities and community participation.
RMTs use their professional qualifications, knowledge and skills to:
Music therapy is a research-based allied health profession in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing. Music therapists are trained musicians and therapists who are interested in achieving non-musical goals through both active and passive participation in musical activities.
A Registered Music Therapist (RMT) is a music therapist who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA). To be eligible to register with AMTA, a Registered Music Therapist needs to complete a certified university course in music therapy and maintain their skills through ongoing professional development as approved by the AMTA.
Music therapy utilises music as a tool to achieve non-musical goals, focusing on health, functioning, and well-being
No music experience is necessary, just a willingness to engage in the therapeutic process. Together we co-create tailored sessions to suit your needs, preferences, capabilities and goals.
Music therapy can support development across multiple domains including:
Participants engage in active musicking with the therapist. This may include singing, movement, playing musical instruments, writing & recording songs, improvising and curating personalised playlists.
The length of therapy depends on the participants’ goals, response to input and funding allocation. Some participants may choose to engage indefinitely through the development of progressive goals while others may choose a more targeted approach of a single term. Sessions are evaluated following each term to ensure they are meeting identified goals.
1. Assessment Period: An initial group of three sessions to; build rapport, identify strengths, trial a range of music-based interventions and discuss goals & expectations.
2. Therapy Plan: An individualised program is developed in collaboration with the participant.
3. Music therapy sessions: Ongoing weekly or fortnightly sessions of 30 to 60 minutes in duration delivered in 10-week terms. Individual and group music therapy sessions can be accessed at our Wandi studio space, online or at your home, school or organisation.
4. Evaluation: The program is evaluated following each term to ensure it is meeting the identified goals.
We partner with organisations to service the needs of communities in residential aged care, schools, early intervention centres, hospitals and hospices. To discuss opportunities to collaborate, contact us or book an introduction call.
You can access music therapy and supported music lessons through your NDIS funding. Click here for more information on Fees and Access.
Our fees are based on the NDIS pricing arrangement and limits. To ensure equitable access the same fees apply whether the participant is NDIS or self-funded.
We charge a travel fee that covers fuel costs, therapist time, and vehicle maintenance. Based on the amount of time spent in transit to your session location (capped at 30 minutes) and back to the Honeywood Music Leeming Studio Space (capped at 30 minutes). Travel fees are calculated at the same hourly rate as Music Therapy sessions. In addition, the RMT will claim $0.99 per kilometre.
The full session fee will be charged for sessions cancelled within 2 clear business days. Sessions cancelled outside of this period will not incur a fee and all effort will be made to reschedule the session.
