Australian Music Therapy Association

27/01/2026

AMTA would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new registered music therapists.

After completing their masters degrees, graduates are ready to embark on their first year of practice as fully qualified professionals.

Congratulations also to the teams who support music therapy students enrolled in the only two AMTA-accredited music therapy programs in Australia:
- the Master of Music Therapy at University of Melbourne and
- the Master of Creative Music Therapy at Western Sydney University.

It's so rewarding to see students become graduates and then registered music therapists, ready to show how music therapy changes lives.

We can't wait to see what you do next, and to share the resources of the Australian Music Therapy Association.

18/01/2026

Singing for breathing (SFB) programs can help people with chronic respiratory illnesses to live well. Well-established in other countries, we have not yet seen SFB programs implemented in Australia.

A practice article in the latest edition of the Australian Journal of Music Therapy offers insights into how SFB programs can be developed within the Australian context, including by incorporating an online element.

Congratulations to researchers Stefanie Zappino, Amy Pascoe, Catherine Buchan, Lena Ly, Jennifer Philip, Nicole Goh, Peter Hudson and Natasha Smallwood.

🔗 Read the article: https://www.austmta.org.au/australian-journal-of-music-therapy/read/volume-361-2025/singing-for-breathing-program-for-COPD-&-ILD/

🔗 Explore volume 36(1): https://www.austmta.org.au/australian-journal-of-music-therapy/read/

Source: Zappino, S., Pascoe, A., Buchan, C., Ly, L., Philip, J., Goh, N., Hudson, P., & Smallwood, N. (2025). Key reflections from implementing SINFONIA, a singing for breathing program for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 36(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.65328/2025.ntkx4667

11/01/2026

If you’re a doctor, registered nurse or allied health clinician who works in hospitals, tune in.

If you've ever wanted to learn more about music therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit, this is your chance.

AMTA is offering the rare opportunity to undertake training in First Sounds: Rhythm, Breath, Lullaby (RBL), an internationally recognised, evidence-based neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) training developed by Professor Joanne Loewy (USA) and world leaders in NICU music therapy.

The training will take place in Melbourne in May this year. Tap below for detail, and keep an eye on AMTA socials to see when registration opens.


📷 A registered music therapist strums a guitar near a crib in the neonatal. intensive care unit. Text: "First Sounds: Rhythm, Breath, Lullaby (RBL). Advanced competency training 2026." AMTA logo.

08/01/2026

So it was great to see the Australian Journal of Dementia Care run an article by prominent registered music therapists and AMTA members Phoebe Stretton-Smith RMT, Zara Thompson RMT and Felicity Baker.

"For people living with dementia, music therapy can improve mood, memory and cognition, reduce depression, anxiety and agitation, as well as support engagement and social connection," they write.

Learn more at the link below, including why it's important that music therapy interventions are only delivered by a registered music therapist who holds expertise in both the beneficial and potentially harmful effects of music.

🔗 https://journalofdementiacare.com/articles/music-therapy-interventions/

By Phoebe A Stretton-Smith (MMusThrp), Zara Thompson (Phd), Felicity A Baker (PhD), The University of Melbourne The benefits of music therapy for people living with dementia are increasingly becoming recognised. The specific approach involves the intentional and therapeutic use of music by a qualifi...

06/01/2026

AMTA has published a fact sheet about the state of music therapy funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Written with participants and their carers, plan managers, support coordinators and the general public in mind, we hope it clarifies the rules for accessing music therapy under the NDIS.

Here's the most important part:
- Music therapy is still an approved therapeutic support under the NDIS.
- Music therapy remains a funded therapy support under Capacity Building.

Check it out: https://www.austmta.org.au/news-item/21809/music-therapy-under-the-ndis-still-an-approved-therapeutic-support

📷 A registered music therapist and NDIS participant enjoy a music therapy session together.

31/12/2025

🎉 Happy new year from all of us at the Australian Music Therapy Association!

We have a lot to look forward to in 2026, starting with a terrific opportunity for health professionals who work alongside music therapists in NICU settings or who are interested in integrating a NICU music therapy program on their unit. Watch this space!

And it's a Census year. That means. for the first time on Census night, our members will have the opportunity to write 'Music Therapist' as their occupation and be counted as a unique occupation: 'Music therapist: 261933'. Thanks, Australian Bureau of Statistics!

With music therapy a part of important government programs being rolled out in aged care, schools, primary health networks, creative therapies programs and more, AMTA will remain focused on our mission to advance equitable consumer access to music therapy across the lifespan.

Here’s to a year of harmony, growth and making a difference together.

#2026

📷 A person blowing a red toy trumpet

29/12/2025

AMTA's leadership team would like to send a heartfelt thanks for your support for music therapy, particularly this year.

For, although the Australian Music Therapy Association had a lot to celebrate in our 50th anniversary, we also had a lot to advocate for. After the independent review of NDIS funded music and art supports by Dr Stephen Duckett AM, music therapy retained its place in the NDIS as a therapeutic support. However, a price cut for 19.5% seriously risks consumer access to music therapy.

Over the next few weeks, the NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee (EAC) will review music therapy (and other supports, too). It’s a public consultation - which means you can have a say! - and they want to hear from NDIS participants. They’ve even provided Easy Read materials to help.

The EAC will make recommendations to government on the safety, suitability and value for money of supports for NDIS funding, drawing on the best available evidence.

If it’s appropriate for you, do send your thoughts on how music therapy has helped you or someone you care for. The consultation closes on 20 January 2026.
https://consultations.health.gov.au/evidence-advisory-committee-eac/december-2025/

Again, thank you for helping the association show how music therapy changes lives.


📷 Seniors in a music therapy session sit together.

28/12/2025

We said at the start of 2025 that the music therapy community in Australia has a lot to celebrate this year - and celebrate we did!

Our 50th anniversary year was a whirlwind. We shared meaningful moments in music therapy on our digital memory wall, hosted a public celebration at the beautiful Ian Potter Southbank Centre in Melbourne featuring an incredible performance by the Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir, launched a beautiful e-book - and much more.

And we could not have done it without the committed volunteers who made up the 50th Anniversary Working Group. AMTA says thank you to all of you, particularly its Chair, Natalie Jack RMT. You all made the anniversary a year-long event to remember while also looking to our vision of wider, more equitable access to safe and effective music therapy services provided by registered music therapists.

Thanks to Carlin McLellan RMT, Dr Cindy Lai RMT, Stefanie Zappino RMT, Dewi Pearce RMT, Katja Enoka RMT, Teresa Lau RMT and Lulu Xiaoyan RMT.


📷 AMTA's 50th anniversary cupcakes

22/12/2025

After another big year promoting and advocating for the music therapy profession, working to increase consumer access to music therapy services and supporting registered music therapists, it's time for AMTA's staff and volunteers to take a break.

Our office will close on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and re-open on Monday 12 January 2026. If you have an urgent enquiry, please email ceo@austmta.org.au

The AMTA Board and staff wish you a very happy holiday and a restful break.

21/12/2025

AMTA's latest newsletter is out now.

Music Therapy Matters is for anyone interested in music therapy - whether you're a participant, a multidisciplinary colleague, potential career changer or all-round music therapy champion.

Edition 3 is packed with good news and a wrap-up of our 50th anniversary. Read it now at the link below or subscribe from our website.

🔗 https://www.austmta.org.au/news-item/21800/music-therapy-matters-edition-3


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21/12/2025

The latest edition of the Australian Journal of Music Therapy expands horizons amid systemic challenges, reflecting a profession responding creatively and thoughtfully to contemporary challenges, including shifting service environments, evolving delivery models and increasing demands for evidence-informed practice.

AJMT Editor A/Prof. Jinah Kim RMT notes that music therapy has continued to expand its scope in 20025, while also navigating system pressures in the health and disability contexts. “The contributions demonstrate the profession’s capacity to adapt with integrity, grounding innovation in relational ethics, scholarship and reflective practice,” she said.

🔗 Explore AJMT Vol. 36:1, Music therapy in 2025: expanding horizons amid systemic challenges
https://www.austmta.org.au/australian-journal-of-music-therapy/read/


📷 Australian Journal of Music Therapy logo, with volume and title information