The Australian Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as: A research-based allied health profession in which music is used to actively support people as they aim to improve their health, functioning and well-being. It can help people of all ages to manage their physical and mental health and enhance their quality of life. You don’t need to be musical to take part in or benefit from music therapy. Qualified music therapists plan and provide musical experiences for their clients. Each session is tailored to the needs and goals of the person. Music therapists are committed to supporting people of any age, ability or background. They work across the full age spectrum from newborn children through to older adults. (The Australian Music Therapy Association) The AMTA is a member of the National Association of Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP) and the Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) Music therapy is a strengths-based therapy, in that it focuses on the strengths of an individual and what they already do well, and works to build capacity and functioning from there. Music therapy is unique because of music's ability to engage, motivate and bring fun to all different types of therapy in a way that is meaningful and brings value to people's lives. At Music In Mind, we support our clients in their desire to reach their own personalised goals through tailoring music-making and musical experiences and developing an empathetic and authentically human therapeutic relationship.

Music is unique in the way it coordinates all the parts of the brain to work together at the same time. No other known activity does this the way music can. Music therapy is evidence-based, creative, flexible and engaging. It operates at the intersection of psychology, music, and education. Music can work to address a broad range of goals including social and relationship skills, fine and gross motor skills, pain reduction, improved mental health and wellbeing, language, communication, memory, attention and cognition. Music can reduce anxiety or stress, regulate moods and energy levels, increase motivation and manage anger, frustration and challenging behaviour. Music can be tailored to each individual to suit their strengths and needs, empowering them to achieve their goals in a personalised way. More than anything else, music is engaging and fun, creating motivation and an enjoyable environment.

In Australia, Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) are allied health professionals who have completed an accredited postgraduate university degree, with an active registration with the Australian Music Therapy Association. They are skilled musicians who are trained in understanding the effects music has on behaviour, emotions, thoughts and actions. They have hundreds of hours of clinical experience and use evidence-based practice, tailored to each individual to achieve their goals. RMTs use their training to develop personalised interactive musical experiences to address goals such as improved communication, thinking, physical function, mood and wellbeing. RMTs are bound to uphold the Australian Music Therapy Association's Code of Ethics and their standards of practice are overseen by their registering body.

Absolutely! Music therapy can be funded through the NDIS if: - It can assist with your NDIS goals - It is conducted by a Registered Music Therapist (Registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association) - It is considered a reasonable and necessary support Individual and group sessions are available both in the Music In Mind Clinic or at your home, organisation, day program or residential facility. Contact us to discuss how music therapy can support your NDIS goals. NDIS Funding Codes for Music Therapy: - Assessment, Recommendation, Therapy and/or Training (including Assistive Technology) - Other Therapy (01_741_0128_1_3) - Capacity Building Supports for Early Childhood (01_740_0118_1_3) Interventions - Other Therapy - NDIS Outreach music therapy programs: Innovative Community Participation (09_008_0116_6_3) - Multi-disciplinary assessment and sessions (i.e. music therapy and speech therapy combined session): Multi-disciplinary supports (15_049_0128_1_3) If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you are able to access music therapy at Music In Mind.

Music therapy can help to support individuals of any age who might be experiencing challenges or wishing to improve their wellbeing. Music therapy is often used to address a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, behaviour, communication and movement, such as: - Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other mental health disorders and illnesses - Cancer - Post-surgical recovery - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Eating Disorders - Physical Disabilities - Intellectual Disabilities - Stroke and brain injury - Spinal Cord Injury - Neurodegenerative Disorders such as Parkinson's Disease, Dementia and Huntington's Disease - Palliative Care Music therapy can also help to: - foster bonding and relationships between parents and their children, - explore and strengthen connection to culture and heritage - address substance use or dependence - explore psychological processes - reduce depression and anxiety among many others.

A music therapy session occurs face-to-face either in person or online. Music therapists use a range of music therapy methods. They tailor each session to the needs of the person. A session may include: - Listening to music played by the music therapist - Listening to recorded music - Making music by playing an instrument or singing - Using or writing lyrics and songs - Getting resources and activities to do outside of your music therapy session. To maximise the benefit of your music therapy, Registered Music Therapists try to understand your situation and goals. This can involve working closely with your family, carers and other health professionals.

Music therapy is different to music lessons and music entertainment in that: - The main goal of music therapy is not musical, but is rather focused on health, wellness and functioning. For example, your goal might be to improve fine motor skills, develop language or communication skills, or improve mental health. Musical experiences are utilised to achieve non-musical goals, e.g. motivating use of fingers or to respond to music emotionally and physically. The added benefits of music therapy are musical, and often include opportunities for musical participation and perhaps performance. - The main goal of music lessons is music focused, e.g. to learn how to play a musical instrument, sing or read music. The added benefits of music lessons are not musical, and may include improved confidence, focus and fine motor skills. - The main goal of music entertainment is entertainment, e.g. a person listens to music or watches a concert to be entertained. It is a passive experience that involves listening to or participating in a musical activity. The added benefits of music entertainment can be relaxation, thrill or an emotional feeling from the experience. It may be helpful to think of it as "making music together" to address a specific goal, rather than "playing music for" someone.

To start music therapy at Music In Mind, please complete our Music Therapy Referral Form. Once submitted, we will contact you to arrange an initial consultation with a therapist.

1. Initial assessment: we assess the client’s needs within a music therapy setting to determine the client’s current abilities and needs 2. Goal-setting: an individualised program is developed with goals based on the client’s needs. 3. Music therapy sessions: sessions consist of interactive interventions designed to address the music therapy goals. These could include singing, moving to music, playing instruments, improvising through music and song-writing. 4. Evaluation: the program is regularly evaluated to ensure it is meeting the identified goals. Sessions are 30, 45 or 60 minutes duration (depending on the needs of the client/s) and are conducted on a weekly basis.

Music is a means of expression that can be used to effectively educate and provide therapy for people with intellectual and learning disabilities. Music therapy uses music as a channel for persons with unique needs and non-typical communication styles to improve their ability to express themselves, improve their daily functioning and manage anxiety or stress. Music therapy also supports people with intellectual disabilities to interact and communicate in a safe space and then apply those skills in the real world.

Music therapy aims to address some of the basic issues that affect people with ASD and other neurodiversities by utilising musical experiences and the connections that grow through them to facilitate communication and expression.

Music therapy has been widely found to decrease pain and anxiety levels for palliative clients and their family members. Music therapy can help with stress relief, relaxation, pain alleviation, spiritual support, emotional support, and overall well-being. Palliative care clinicians often report that music therapy creates a holistic healing experience for the patients. Music therapy, therefore, has a positive effect on multiple domains of well-being for patients receiving palliative care.

Music therapy allows those suffering from mental illnesses to enhance their communication and expression. It can also assist clients in exploring their thoughts and feelings, as well as improving their mood, attention and coping skills. Music therapy can also decrease anxiety by providing grounding and a constructive, healthy channel through which to express their emotions.

Music interventions with people with ABI have been demonstrated to improve: - Negative mood states and quality of life - Cognitive recovery - Physical performance, including walking, upper limb function and talking - Communication outcomes, including voice, speech and language

Music can be powerful. Studies have shown that music therapy may improve common symptoms of dementia, for example reducing agitation and improving behavioural issues. Music therapy helps to calm people with dementia if they experience states of agitation. Music also generates autobiographical recall. If someone with dementia listens to music they know, it stimulates their memories, which helps to calm the person, restore a sense of self, and reconnect an individual to their family and friends.

Music Therapy works well alongside other supports and allied health professions such as psychology, speech therapy, occupational therapy or physiotherapy. Music can offer a unique pathway for self-expression and a new way to work on your goals. Often, the progress made in music therapy can showcase an individual's strengths and skills in a way not apparent through other therapies. Music therapy focuses on a person's strengths, and builds on them in a fun and engaging way to reach individualised goals, using music as the way to deliver therapy. Music can engage people and allow them to showcase their strengths in unique ways.

Not at all. Anyone can access music therapy, you don't need to have had any music lessons. Music therapy is personalised to you, and designed to support you with your own individualised health, wellness and/or functioning goals.

Schools based music therapy programs such as Department of Education Specialist allied health and behaviour support provider scheme Schools Mental Health Fund Music Therapy for older participants (65 years and over) Disability Support for Older Australians Program