Sound Beginnings 

Please read all sections of this form before completing the Consent Form.

 

If you need assistance completing this form or would like an interpreter, please contact Music In Mind on 0401 158 142 before the return date.

 

INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

 

Sound Beginnings is a clinical music therapy program delivered at Eden Academy by Music In Mind Music Therapy. The program uses music: rhythm, song, movement and play, as a clinical tool to support children aged 3–6 in their regulation, communication, and participation in early childhood settings.

 

Sound Beginnings is delivered by a Registered Music Therapist and co-facilitated by a centre educator. The program runs for 10 weekly sessions of 45 minutes each during Term, 2026. Sessions take place during the standard care day. Your child will be collected from and returned to their regular room by the co-facilitating educator.

 

The program is strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming. It is designed to complement what your child already does well and to build skills that help them thrive in group settings.

 

Please note: Sound Beginnings is a therapeutic group program. It is not a diagnostic service and does not replace specialist assessment, medical care or individual therapy your child may already be receiving or may require. Where our therapist identifies a need for additional or specialised support, we will discuss this with you directly.

 

Program Participation

 

Sessions are 45 minutes long and run once per week for 10 weeks. Sessions are conducted in a small group of up to 6 children, supported by a Registered Music Therapist and a centre educator. Regular attendance supports the best outcomes for your child. Where your child will be absent, please notify the centre as early as possible. Participation is voluntary. You may withdraw your child from the program at any time without affecting their enrolment at the centre.

 

Clinical File and Record Retention

 

Music In Mind Music Therapy will create and maintain a clinical file for your child for the duration of the Sound Beginnings program. The file will contain assessment results, session notes, goal information and end-of-program reports.

 

Clinical reports are managed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. In accordance with NSW requirements for health records relating to children, Music In Mind will retain your child’s clinical records until your child reaches the age of 25, or for 7 years from the date of last service, whichever is later. At the end of the required retention period, records will be securely destroyed. You may request access to your child’s records at any time by contacting Music In Mind.

 

Standardised Assessment

 

Before and after the program, standardised assessment tools will be completed for your child. These help the music therapist understand your child’s needs and measure progress across the program. Assessment results are used only for clinical purposes within the Sound Beginnings program. De-identified, aggregated data may be used by Music In Mind for program evaluation and quality improvement. No individually identifiable information will be used for this purpose.

 

Clinical Observation

 

The music therapist will conduct structured clinical observations of your child in the centre environment. Observations may take place during group sessions, transitions, mealtimes or other routine parts of the care day. The purpose of the observation is to inform clinical goal setting and session planning.

 

Sharing of Reports and Information

 

Music In Mind will prepare an individual report for your child at the end of the program. In the response section, you will be asked to indicate whether you consent to this report being shared with:

• The Centre Director to support ongoing planning and inclusion

• The co-facilitating educator, to support strategy continuation in the daily setting

• Other professionals involved in your child’s care (e.g. speech pathologist, occupational therapist, paediatrician), only with your specific written permission at the time of referral.

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Reports will not be shared beyond the parties you have consented to without additional written consent. You may request a copy of your child’s report at any time. Information will not be shared for commercial purposes.

 

Photography and Audio Recording

 

Your consent will be sought before any photography or audio recording of your child takes place during the program. This is optional and is not required for participation.

 

Where consent is given, recordings are for clinical purposes only (e.g. reviewing session material to inform therapy goals). No images or recordings will be shared publicly or used for marketing without separate written consent. Recordings are stored securely and deleted when no longer clinically required.

 

Family Focus Sheets

 

Each week, a brief family focus sheet is available summarising the session’s theme and suggesting one simple music activity to try at home. You may choose to receive this by paper copy via the centre or via email.

 

Individual Support Options

 

During the program, the music therapist may identify that your child could benefit from individual music therapy support beyond the group program. In the consent form, you can indicate whether you would like the therapist to contact you to discuss this if it arises. Any individual support would be subject to a separate agreement and consent process. You are under no obligation to proceed and may choose any provider of your choice.

 

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

 

Music In Mind Music Therapy is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all information shared by families collected through the program. There are limits to confidentiality that we are required by law to observe. Music In Mind staff are mandatory reporters under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW). This means that if a Music In Mind staff member has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is at risk of significant harm, they are legally required to make a report to the NSW Child Protection Helpline, regardless of whether consent to share information has been given. Where a mandatory report is made, Music In Mind will notify the Centre Director so that coordinated follow-up can be arranged for the child and family, unless doing so would place the child at further risk.

 

Withdrawal of Consent

 

You may withdraw consent for your child’s participation in Sound Beginnings at any time by contacting Music In Mind by phone or email. Withdrawal will not affect your child’s enrolment at the centre. If consent is withdrawn

• Your child’s participation in the targeted group program will cease as soon as possible

• Music In Mind will retain records already created in accordance with legal record-keeping obligations

• Mandatory reporting obligations are not affected by withdrawal of consent

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Privacy Notice

 

Music In Mind Music Therapy collects personal and health information about your child and family for the purpose of delivering the Sound Beginnings program. Your information is handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. It will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent, except as required by law. You have the right to access the personal information we hold about your child and to request corrections. To make a request, contact Music In Mind Music Therapy directly. Music In Mind’s Privacy Policy is available on our website. If you require assistance in a language other than English, please contact us.

 

Complaints and Feedback

 

If you have a concern or complaint about any aspect of the Sound Beginnings program or the conduct of Music In Mind staff, you have the right to raise it at any time.

1. Contact Music In Mind directly

2. If your concern is not resolved, contact the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA)

3. Privacy complaints: contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

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Making a complaint will not affect your child’s participation in the program or their enrolment at the centre.