Australian Music Therapy Association

12/12/2025

When Vince Higgins began music therapy as part of his rehabilitation at Townsville Hospital, it marked a turning point in his recovery. Working with music therapy student Katy Prideaux Frewen-Lord after having multiple strokes, Vince and his family discovered the value of music therapy in stroke rehabilitation, especially for communication, memory support and emotional wellbeing.

Katy's clinical placement at the rehabilitation unit at Townsville Hospital marked the first music therapy student placement of its kind in regional north Queensland. She is studying a Master of Creative Music Therapy at Western Sydney University. “We’ve seen striking breakthroughs, like non-verbal patients singing lyrics during social sing-along sessions," Katy said.

Thanks to Townsville Hospital and Health Service for sharing this story. 💙🎵

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MYm3CwgBF/?mibextid=RUbZ1f

Support for patients at the Townsville University Hospital (TUH) rehabilitation unit has struck a new chord, bringing evidence-based healing through song, rhythm, and connection. 🎸🎶💙

Western Sydney University Master of Music Therapy student Katy Prideaux Frewen-Lord returned to her hometown of Townsville for a clinical placement at the rehabilitation unit, marking the first music therapy student placement of its kind in regional north Queensland.

Music therapy is a research-based clinical practice where trained professionals use music to support therapeutic goals such as improving communication, emotional expression, cognitive function, and physical coordination.

“We’ve seen striking breakthroughs, like non-verbal patients singing lyrics during social sing along sessions," Katy said.

One patient who experienced the benefits first-hand was Vince Higgins, who joined Katy’s sessions after suffering multiple strokes.

As part of his therapy, Katy and Vince co-wrote a song titled ‘A hurdle in life, a determination to go on,’ drawing on Vince’s own words and experiences.📝

Katy said Vince’s engagement with music therapy marked a turning point in his recovery.

“Vince’s mood, engagement, ability to express emotions, and overall wellbeing have increased significantly,” she said.

“He’s told me on many occasions that writing and singing his song has given him a sense of purpose and pride during his time in the unit."

Vince said the experience helped him reconnect with memories affected by his strokes. 💭💙

“Music brings back memory, it’s like a broken brain lighting up again,” he said.

“I plan to share the song we wrote with my children as a keepsake.

“I’m proud of what we’ve created, and hopeful Katy can come back to help other patients like me.”

10/12/2025

Music therapy remains on the NDIS as a therapeutic support. However, changes to the way music therapy is treated under the NDIS will impact not only registered music therapists but also their participants and the allied health and disability teams they work with. As the community grapples with the impacts, registered music therapists and AMTA members continue to advocate to protect consumer access to music therapy.

Registered music therapist Grace Thompson RMT has worked with AMTA's advocacy team since the changes were announced 12 months ago. Speaking recently with The Wire, Grace was able to explain some of the impacts of a year's worth of uncertainty.

Listen here: https://www.thewire.org.au/story/ndis-price-cap-for-music-and-art-therapists

From November, music and art therapists will be able to bill the National Disability Insurance Scheme at the same rate...

08/12/2025

Congratulations to Bridgit Hogan RMT, who was recently made an honorary life member of the Australian Music Therapy Association.

Bridgit was AMTA's first CEO, serving in the role for 11 years as a key advocate for music therapy across health, disability, aged care and education, ensuring the profession is represented in national policy and funding conversations.

AMTA President Monica Zidar RMT said Bridgit’s professionalism, compassion and courage have strengthened the association and the entire profession.

“Her advocacy has expanded recognition of music therapy across the health and human services sectors. Her contributions have immeasurably shaped AMTA and strengthened the music therapy profession. Under Bridgit's leadership, AMTA has modernised its governance, strengthened professional standards and aligned the profession more closely with national health-sector regulation."

📷 Bridgit Hogan

05/12/2025

Registered music therapist in the spotlight! The prestigious Nordic Journal of Music Therapy recently published an article by Dr Matthew Breaden RMT, researcher and academic at MusicTherapy@Western at Western Sydney University and an AMTA Board Director.

Matthew set out to show how music therapy can facilitate the development of relationships between family members. With co-author Christine Johnston from Western Sydney University, he illustrates how accessible musical tools and collaborative music-making can strengthen family interactions and broaden the impact of music therapy beyond the individual child.

"Building relationships between autistic and non-autistic family members through music therapy: An interpretative case study" by Matthew Breaden and Christine Johnston is available online.

🔗 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08098131.2025.2586556

Contemporary music therapy interventions involving autistic children frequently take family-centred approaches, which seek to situate and inform the therapeutic process within a child’s wider famil...

03/12/2025

AMTA joins countless people around the world in supporting International Day of People with Disability – a United Nations initiative dedicated to promoting inclusion and celebrating the contributions of people with disability.

In Australia, 1 in 5 people live with disability. By talking about disability, we can show our respect and value for people with disability, help reduce stigma around disability, and build a more inclusive society.

It's also a great day to think about how to include the voices of people with disability in decision-making, a matter close to our hearts in the music therapy profession.

"People with disability must be at the table - not just as a token voice, but as equitable partners in shaping policies and decisions that affect our lives. Inclusion isn’t optional, it’s essential for a fair and just society. Nothing about us, without us all."
Megan Spindler-Smith, Acting CEO, People with Disability Australia (PWDA)



📷 International Day of People with Disability logo, with text "3 December".

01/12/2025

Congratulations to A/Prof. Jeanette Tamplin PhD RMT, who was recently made an honorary life member of the Australian Music Therapy Association.

Jeanette is Head of Music Therapy and Associate Dean for Student Wellbeing in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at University of Melbourne, and she is recognised internationally for her work in neurorehabilitation. The association's immediate past President, she served on the AMTA Board for a decade. President Monica Zidar RMT said Jeanette's volunteer service has been extraordinary, as have her professional achievements.

“Jeanette has led pioneering clinical and research work, and advanced the profession through her teaching, mentorship and advocacy. Her warmth, wisdom and sheer determination to get things done have been exceptional – and one of the key reasons AMTA and our profession stand on such strong foundations today.”

Across more than 25 years, she has led research into therapeutic singing, speech and language rehabilitation, therapeutic songwriting, telehealth and adjustment following neurological injury or illness. She has secured over AUD$5 million in research funding, held an NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Fellowship, and is widely published, including co-authoring the influential Music Therapy Methods in Neurorehabilitation: A Clinician’s Manual.

“Her contribution to AMTA,” Monica said, “has strengthened the profession in every way – academically, clinically and organisationally.”

📷 Jeanette with her certificate of honorary life membership.

27/11/2025

🎉 You're invited to discover 50 years of music therapy in Australia, in our beautiful anniversary e-book Orchestrating impact: the people, practice and progress of music therapy in Australia.

It’s a story of courage and creativity, visionaries and ground-breakers, storytellers and researchers, innovators and future thinkers - bringing together just a sample of the thousands of voices that contributed to our song, which continues to evolve.

Because, like a choir or a drumming circle, AMTA’s progression has swelled and softened over the years, finding its balance as new voices join and others move to the side of the stage.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this meaningful project.

🔗 Explore the flipbook: https://www.flipsnack.com/A6EA7C5569B/celebrating-50-years-of-amta/full-view.html?p=1

🔗 Access the PDF:https://www.austmta.org.au/public/151/files/Celebrating%2050%20years%20of%20the%20Australian%20Music%20Therapy%20Association_e-book.pdf

26/11/2025

After its recent annual general meeting, AMTA welcomes 2 new AMTA Board Directors.

Dr Jeanette Kennelly RMT is an experienced clinician, supervisor and private practice founder with a long history of service to AMTA, including roles on the Education, Ethics, National Conference, Supervision Advisory and Queensland Branch committees.

Dr Tanya Marie Silveira RMT leads a multidisciplinary team at KidsXpress, embedding culturally responsive, trauma-informed practice. She has held multiple AMTA roles, including NSW Branch Treasurer and 2019 National Conference Convenor.

Jeanette and Tanya join President Monica Zidar RMT, Vice President Dr Jennifer Bibb RMT and Dr Matthew Breaden RMT on the AMTA Board.

AMTA extends its gratitude to Clare Kildea RMT, Meagan Hunt RMT and Hayley Miller RMT, who ended their terms as AMTA Board Directors.

📷 Headshots of Jeanette and Tanya. AMTA logo. Text: "Announcement: AMTA Board Directors."

25/11/2025

On Monday 24 November, a price reduction for music therapy in the NDIS came into effect.

AMTA President Monica Zidar RMT said the change will seriously risk consumer access to music therapy, the viability of privately owned music therapy clinics, and funding for music therapy in other public programs.

The National Disability Insurance Agency implemented the significant reduction despite the Australian Music Therapy Association's ongoing advocacy.

The price change represents a reduction of 19.5% - from $193.99 per hour ($176.35 after GST) to $156.16 per hour ($141.96 after GST).

Music therapy remains in the NDIS as a therapy support. Only registered music therapists who are registered with AMTA are eligible to deliver music therapy under the NDIS.

Read AMTA's statement: https://www.austmta.org.au/news-item/21476/ndis-price-change-for-music-therapy-now-in-effect

18/11/2025

Each year, AMTA recognises some of the most innovative, inspiring and engaging contributions at our annual national conference. The awards are also a special opportunity to honour the visionary music therapists for whom they are named.

Congratulations to this year's conference award winners:

⭐ Pip Reid RMT: Ruth Bright Award for Clinical Excellence for ‘Innovative partnerships: expanding the reach of music therapy in early childhood’

⭐ Dr Lucy Bolger RMT: Helen Shoemark Award for Research Excellence for ‘Centering musical pleasure as the heart of music therapy’s impact: from lived experience to fMRI research’

⭐ Abby Pemmelaar RMT: Robin Howatt Poster Award for ‘“Hooray, you’re here”: centering a child’s musical self amidst the demands of acute medical treatment’

⭐ Xiaodan Zhu RMT: Denise Grocke Award for a student or new graduate for ‘From body to being: reclaiming whole-person foundations in music therapy practice’

⭐ Dr Grace Thompson RMT: PechaKucha Award for ‘Family-centered music therapy in Australia: professional reflection on the past, present and future’.

📷 Denise Grocke with Pip Reid, recipient of the Ruth Bright Award
Xiaodan Zhu RMT, recipient of the Denise Grocke Award

17/11/2025

Sharing lived experience has become an important part of the music therapy profession, so we're grateful to share Dr Tanya Marie Silveira RMT's contribution to the latest edition of the Australian Journal of Music Therapy.

In a practice article, Tanya shares reflections on the impact of experiencing intersectional microagressions in the workplace, ending with a call to action for collaboration across the profession and beyond.

📖 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gZbBiWU3

Explore volume 35(2): https://lnkd.in/gxX-CcAR

Source: Silveira-Price, T. M. (2024). Sharing stories, support & solidarity: Reflections on the long-term impact of experiencing intersectional microaggressions in the workplace as a registered music therapist. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 35(2), 60–71.


📷 Text: "Research spotlight: music therapy practice article. Dr Tanya Marie Silveira-Price RMT". AMTA logo. Author headshot.

11/11/2025

How does collaboration and shared care work when practitioners are located far away from one another?

When registered music therapists Winifred Beevers and Meghan Thamm took on the role of co-therapists from separate locations, they gained valuable lessons to share with other allied health professionals.

Learned what they discovered in the latest edition of the Australian Journal of Music Therapy.

📖 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gjzsiApp

Explore volume 35(2): https://lnkd.in/gxX-CcAR

Source: Beevers, W. A. & Thamm, M. N. (2024). Sharing a client across the country: How two music therapists made it work. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 35(2), 51–59.


📷 Text: "Research spotlight: music therapy practice article. Winifred Beevers RMT and Meghan Thamm RMT". AMTA logo. Author headshots." AMTA logo. Author headshots.