Concordia Music Therapy

04/12/2024

Under the new reforms by Minister Bill Shorten and the NDIA, it will no longer be sustainable for RMTs to operate within the NDIS. The majority of participants would be unable to access music therapy outside of the NDIS.

We are an evidence-based allied health profession.
We design and deliver goal-oriented, individualised therapy that delivers functional outcomes.
Music therapy belongs in the NDIS as a therapy support.

If you are willing and able, there are things you can do to help:

1) Sign and share the petition - link in bio.

If you want to do more such as the following, please DM me and I can provide resources and support you through it.

2) Phone and write to your local MP
3) Write to Minister Shorten
4) Phone Minister Shorten's office - 02 6277 7200
5) Share your stories of music therapy
Together, we can ensure that music therapy remains a viable and accessible allied health service through the NDIS.

02/12/2024

Under the new reforms by Minister Bill Shorten and the NDIA, it will no longer be sustainable for RMTs to operate within the NDIS. The majority of participants would be unable to access music therapy outside of the NDIS.

We are an evidence-based allied health profession.
We design and deliver goal-oriented, individualised therapy that delivers functional outcomes.

Music therapy belongs in the NDIS as a therapy support. 

If you are willing and able, there are things you can do to help:

1) Sign and share the petition - link in bio.

If you want to do more such as the following, please DM me and I can provide resources and support you through it.

2) Phone and write to your local MP

3) Write to Minister Shorten

4) Phone Minister Shorten's office - 02 6277 7200

5) Share your stories of music therapy

Together, we can ensure that music therapy remains a viable and accessible allied health service through the NDIS. 



 

30/11/2024

Under the new reforms by Minister Bill Shorten and the NDIA, it will no longer be sustainable for RMTs to operate within the NDIS. The majority of participants would be unable to access music therapy outside of the NDIS.

We are an evidence-based allied health profession.

We design and deliver goal-oriented, individualised therapy that delivers functional outcomes.

Music therapy belongs in the NDIS as a therapy support. 

If you are willing and able, there are things you can do to help:

1) Sign and share the petition - link in bio.

If you want to do more such as the following, please DM me and I can provide resources and support you through it.

2) Phone and write to your local MP

3) Write to Minister Shorten

4) Phone Minister Shorten's office - 02 6277 7200

5) Share your stories of music therapy

Together, we can ensure that music therapy remains a viable and accessible allied health service through the NDIS. 



 

30/11/2024

Huge thanks to Kellie & Brock 🙏🏻 who have consented to share photos and the following statement to advocate for as a therapy support:

"Bonnie has been receiving since her brain tumour diagnosis 5 years ago. This has assisted enormously in her recovery and well being. She is seven years old and has been battling her brain tumour since she was two.

Last year she had a brain tumour resection and six shunt revision surgeries to help drain fluid from her head. For two months she was unable to talk, and she lost the use of her right side. The surgeons weren’t sure whether they could fix Bonnie's complicated head, and numerous times we thought she may not survive. Thankfully she turned a corner, and music therapy has played a crucial part in her recovery. 

Music therapy has helped Bonnie in providing some uplifting moments during long hospital admissions. Despite being unwell and drowsy, her face would always light up with music. This meant the world to us, especially when she was unable to talk. Currently she loves her regular music sessions at home and at school.

Music lifts Bonnie's spirits emotionally and she looks forward to every session. It has helped Bonnie immensely with her speech therapy. The use of instruments has been a helpful strategy to improve the strength and movement of her right arm. Dancing during music therapy sessions and the use of action songs has also assisted her right limb recovery.

More recently, some of Bonnie's music sessions have taken place at school in small groups. To see Bonnie enjoy this social engagement, as well as learn to share instruments has been wonderful.  It's lovely to see a group of young kids share ideas about what song to sing next. This has helped Bonnies' cognitive skills in thinking, listening and decision making.

Due to Bonnie’s brain tumour being inoperable, her health will continue to be up and down. We don’t know how long Bonnie will survive, but we know music therapy is crucial for Bonnie’s well being. Therefore we need funding through NDIS to remain an option to support our daughter."

29/11/2024

Under the new reforms by Minister Bill Shorten and the NDIA, it will no longer be sustainable for RMTs to operate within the NDIS. The majority of NDIS participants would be unable to access music therapy without NDIS funding.

We are an evidence-based allied health profession.
We design and deliver goal-oriented, individualised therapy that delivers functional outcomes.

Music therapy belongs in the NDIS as a therapy support. 

If you are willing and able, there are things you can do to help:

1) Sign and share the petition - link in bio.

If you want to do more such as the following, please DM me and I can provide AMTA resources and support you through it.

2) Phone and write to your local MP

3) Write to Minister Shorten

4) Phone Minister Shorten's office - 02 6277 7200

5) Share your stories of music therapy

Together, we can ensure that music therapy remains a viable and accessible allied health service through the NDIS. 

Let's defy gravity,
Priscilla 🎶💫💚

27/11/2024

The NDIA without consultation recently indicated that music therapy would be removed from therapeutic supports as of next Monday 2nd Dec.

Thanks to the responsive advocacy work of the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and our MT community, these reforms have been delayed until the 1st Feb, 2025.

But the fight is far from over. Under the new reforms by Minister Bill Shorten and the NDIA, it will no longer be sustainable for many RMTs such as myself to operate within the NDIS. The majority of NDIS participants would be unable to access music therapy without NDIS funding.

Formal communication from the NDIA states that Music therapy has been removed as therapeutic supports on the grounds that we are not evidence-based and do not support functional outcomes. This is incorrect. We are an evidence-based health profession. As per Dr Jennifer Bibb: We have Masters degrees and PhDs. We work in universities and hospitals.

We do not provide music education or recreational activities.

Therefore our new advocacy points are as follows:

"We ask that NDIA and Bill Shorten reverse their decision and have music therapy reinstated as therapeutic supports. We are an evidence-based allied health profession."

If you are willing and able, there are things you can do to help:

1) Sign and share this petition - https://chng.it/pWZc8CDP7s

If you want to do more such as the following, please DM me and I can provide AMTA resources and support you through it.

2) Phone and write to your local MP
3) Write to Minister Shorten
4) Phone Minister Shorten's office - 02 6277 7200

Together, we can ensure that music therapy remains a viable and accessible health service through the NDIS.

Let's defy gravity.

Priscilla 💚❤️

Keep Music Therapy as an NDIS funded THERAPEUTIC Support!

17/11/2024

and I are proud to announce the launch of A Taste of Taylor: Singing Sessions!

Today we piloted the singing group, and we had a blast! It was so wholesome to come together and connect across a vast range of ages, races, and singing abilities, and all there in kindness and as lovers of Taylor Swift and her music. Or lovers of those who love Taylor Swift and her music. ❤️

Due to its success we will continue to run sessions in 2025. We will run on a quarterly basis, so stay tuned for more updates on the next one!

Come along and reap the joy and health benefits of group singing! (To Taylor Swift).

Big shout out and thank you to Music therapy student .patty for logistical support and musical contributions today 🎻

As well as & for tea and equipment provision 🍵

For the hope of it all,
Carena & Priscilla 🎶

04/04/2024

Barbara Crowe is a past president of the American Music Therapy Association.

In her 2004 book "Music and Soulmaking", she addresses the four facets of human functioning: mind, body, emotion, and spirit and shows how music can touch them all.🌟

Do you think music has the capacity to connect with all these different domains of being human? 🗨

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03/04/2024

Are you ready for it?

It's here! Concordia Music Therapy is launching its first online group through The Swift Connection in Australia!

When: Monday 15th April
Time/Duration: 60 mins
| VIC/NSW/ACT/QLD @ 7:30pm
| SA @ 7pm| WA @ 4:30pm |
Where: Online
Who: 18+
Cost: $40

Join a fun and safe online space for Swifties to connect over their love of Taylor Swift and her music during this post-Eras period (Post-Eras Tour Blues), and in anticipation of the release of her next album The Tortured Poets Department.

Topics that may be addressed during the session include:

1. The sense of loss over the concert ending
2. The emotions that may have been released during the concert itself
3. How to understand and regulate big feelings through Taylor Swift songs (and music in general)
4. Thoughts and feelings around the upcoming release of The Tortured Poets Department.
5.

💫 DM ‘SWIFTIE’ to secure your spot!
Or head to link in bio.

Limited spots available.

23/03/2024

Calling all Swifties or friends of Swifties!

We are looking to run small online group sessions and provide a safe space where people can connect over their love of Taylor Swift during this post-Eras period now coined the ‘Post-Eras Tour Blues’.

Groups will be determined by and catered to age-ranges, and we are open to Swifties starting aged 10yo + older.

Things we've noticed that might be helpful to address are:
1. The sense of loss over the concert ending
2. The emotions that may have been released during the concert itself
3. Learn how to understand and regulate big feelings through Taylor Swift songs (and music in general)

If you know of anyone who might benefit (young or old(er)), please share this post or the link below where people can register their or their children's interest:

https://forms.gle/P33YVtn8vFN5PZXz8

"Together we can find your harmony within."

Founded by Priscilla Pek, Registered Music Therapist since 2012.

21/03/2024

I'm pleased to announce that I've just been added to the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner list, thanks to the amazing initiative that is 🙏🏻

For those of you that may not know, Shapes and Sounds is the brain child of our very own Asami (RMT).

I am very honoured to be connected with this social enterprise, and be able to contribute to supporting in the space of Asian Australians mental health.

As most of you know, raising awareness around the Asian Australian experience is something that's very close to my heart.

The directory is Australia-wide, so if you know anyone who identifies as Asian Australian and is seeking mental health support that acknowledges, and can hold space for the unique journeys and challenges we face as 1st gen, or adult children of immigrants, and navigating two worlds... spread the word!






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21/03/2024

Did you know?

Singing can help reduce stress. Studies have shown that singing can reduce the level of cortisol (the stress hormone), indicating that people feel more relaxed and calm after belting a banger.

This can occur when singing in a group or by themselves.

An interesting discovery from a 2015 study was that the cortisol levels only reduce if you’re singing in an environment that doesn’t make you feel anxious. Which makes all the sense - singing while you’re sweating up a storm, fearful of stuffing up or spiraling about what people might think of your vocal chops is hardly going to be relaxing.

This is why learning to sing or singing in a safe and contained environment like during a music therapy session can be beneficial. Music therapy can help you start to develop singing an enjoyable coping strategy to manage your stress and anxiety.

What are your thoughts on singing as a stress-reliever?

And if you’re a nerd like me, here are some academic sources below:

🤓Fancourt D, Williamon A, Carvalho LA, Steptoe A, Dow R, Lewis I. Singing modulates mood, stress, cortisol, cytokine and neuropeptide activity in cancer patients and carers. Ecancermedicalscience. 2016 Apr 5;10:631. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2016.631. PMID: 27170831; PMCID: PMC4854222.

🤓https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01242/full
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