Central Queensland Music Therapy

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Gladstone, QLD
Central Queensland Music Therapy

Using music as a tool to help you improve your health and wellbeing, change and develop your neuro-pathways, and achieve your goals

18/09/2025

On Wednesday the 10th of September, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) released the report of the Independent Review of Music and Art Therapy in the NDIS, led by Dr Stephen Duckett. The NDIA and AMTA have also shared responses.

POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
• Music therapy is retained as a funded therapeutic support under the NDIS
• Only AMTA-registered music therapists can deliver music therapy services in the NDIS
• This recognition aligns music therapy with other allied health professions (e.g. speech pathology and dietetics), underscoring the profession’s standards and clinical expertise

CONCERNS FOR THE MUSIC THERAPY PROFESSION:
• Pricing cuts were announced by the NDIA upon publication of Dr Duckett’s report. The maximum hourly rate will be reduced from $193.99/hour to $156.16/hour, effective from the 24th of November
• This 20% reduction will make it very difficult for many services to remain viable. The Music and Art Therapy communities are concerned that participants may lose access to these supports when clinics are forced to close

The AMTA is committed to continued advocacy and constructive communication with government bodies to ensure participants can continue to access the supports they need.

For more information about the Independent Review, and to read the full or summarised Duckett Report, as well as the NDIA's response, please visit the link in the comments. To read the Australian Music Therapy Association's response, please see their website or visit their social media pages.

20/08/2025

Want to learn more about music therapy, or about the steps and requirements to join our growing body of Registered Music Therapists here in Australia?

Head over to the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) page for more info and to register for the upcoming “Music Therapy Careers Night” webinar!

06/08/2025

Here’s a song that Jess, one of our RMTs, co-wrote with a young participant recently! 🎶

We use greeting songs in music therapy to help with:
• Routines
• Social skills
•Taking turns
• Recalling names
• Following instructions, such as identifying and playing instruments or doing actions
• Or sometimes just to set the mood and warm up for the session

This participant has also been exploring emotions - notice how they identified that they are “happy” to be at music and that they don’t have to “worry”! We love to see our participants enjoying themselves while they learn and develop a variety of life skills 🎉

15/07/2025

We love this quote from Debasish Mridha, American physician, neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, philosopher, and author 🎵🩺❤️‍🩹

09/07/2025

Did you know that we send a monthly newsletter with music therapy news and business updates? You can also find our previous newsletters on our website if you would like to catch up.

The Australian Music Therapy Association has also just launched a public newsletter called "Music Therapy Matters" to raise awareness and continue to advocate for the profession.

Central Queensland Music Therapy invites you to subscribe to one or both of these newsletters via the links in the comments. We also encourage you to share the links with other health professionals, policy makers, educators, community leaders, potential students of music therapy, or anyone else who you think might like to hear about music therapy!

03/07/2025

🔦 Instrument Spotlight: Lollipop Drums! 🍭

These drums are fan favourites for participants of all ages. Although they may not taste as good as a real lolly, they certainly look as good!

The small, medium and large lollipop drums create different pitches when played with the matching mallets during rhythm, memory or movement activities. The mallets and the handles on the drums are great for working on dexterity, strength and control. They also make excellent targets for throwing activities, when participants can work on their motor and coordination skills through games.

But aside from all of the reasons that these drums are useful, we love how colourful and fun they look, and we always get comments when we bring them into sessions!

16/06/2025

Have you seen our posters around town? It's not too late to RSVP for our upcoming Open Day this Saturday (link in comments)! Or feel free to just swing by on the day for one of our workshops:

🎸 12:30-1:00pm – Information session 1

🎶 2:00-2:30pm – Children’s sing-a-long and music group

🎹 3:30-4:00pm – Information session 2

🥁 Drop-in sessions (come any time): drum circle, collaborative songwriting

27/05/2025

Can you believe winter will be here by the end of the week? As it gets a little colder, we thought we'd share our favourite winter-themed songs... perfect for singing or dancing along to, to keep warm! 💃🎶❄️⛄

21/05/2025

Since the Independent Review of Art and Music Therapy was announced, there has been some confusion around how music therapy can be accessed within the NDIS. While we know there are no changes to the pricing of music therapy, the NDIA has also recently provided clarification around stated supports within participants' NDIS plans.

Key points:
• Plans should list support categories, not individual items such as specific therapies (unless required)
• Capacity building supports are generally stated at the category level, not at the support item level
• Plan comments/guidance should explain the purpose and flexibility of funding, not list detailed supports (at the moment, this area may suggest specific therapies as an example of the types of supports available)
• Participants can still exercise choice and control when it comes to selecting therapies

The NDIA's full statement can be found via the link in the comments.

13/05/2025

🎶 You are invited to our Open Day! Please RSVP via the link in the comments if you are interested in attending 🎶
-
🎸 WHEN:
Saturday 21st June, 12-5pm
-
🎹 WHERE:
CQ Music Therapy practice
Shop 4, 172 Goondoon Street, Gladstone
(Palms shopping centre, under Fresh Fix)
-
🥁 WHAT:
- Tour our space
- Try out some instruments
- Learn about music therapy and the services that we offer
- Join us at one of our drop-in sessions (drum circle, songwriting, children’s sing-a-long, or information session)

05/05/2025

What song are you singing in the universal language that is music? 🎶🎙🌏

28/04/2025

🔦 Instrument Spotlight: Djembe 🥁

The djembe is an African drum, and is a fan favourite in music therapy. It comes in various sizes - the smaller ones can be held in one hand and played with the other, while some of the largest ones are too heavy to hold up and play!

Two main sounds can be produced from the djembe. The bass sound is made by hitting the centre of the drum head, and a higher pitch is made by playing the edge with your fingertips. But don't let the limited tones fool you - this is a very versatile instrument.

In therapy, the djembe can be used:
- In improvisations for self-expression or letting out big energy in a healthy way
- For joint interaction through turn taking which can improve social skills
- For the basis of songwriting, to communicate a story, feeling or theme
- To improve memory and recall by creating and repeating rhythms
- To work on fine and gross motor skills, coordination and crossing the midline, depending on the technique used to play the drum

Address

4/172 Goondoon Street
Gladstone, QLD
4680

Website

https://cqmusictherapy.com.au/

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