
26/11/2024
SOUL SOUNDS Music Therapy is extremely saddened and disheartened to share the recently announced changes to funding of Music Therapy under the NDIS
Earlier this week, the Australian Music Therapy Association received word from NDIA that music therapy is to be removed as a therapeutic support from the NDIS. This decision was made suddenly, without reason or consultation and with the potential to have a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of individuals with disabilities across Australia.
For many, music therapy is a life-changing support that nurtures their wellbeing in ways other therapies cannot. It is a gateway to communication and memory, a means of connection to the world around them and a vehicle for processing and understanding the most challenging of emotions and experiences.
We, as a profession of extremely passionate and dedicated people, have since rallied with everything that we have and our voices are certainly being heard. Things are changing quickly, but with that means new curveballs being thrown, many of which are misinformed and upsetting for our clients and our entire profession π
We have so far been given the gift of time (changes have been pushed from effective Monday to Feb 1st), devastatingly though, it still stands that thousands of participants will lose access as they simply don't have the funding bracket Shorten has demoted music therapy into in their plans!
The most disheartening for music therapists across the country is the dismissal and undermining of the entire evidence-base behind our profession - As a result, the new changes will mean that we are no longer recognised as the research-based Allied Health profession that we are, with music therapy seen as a community support as of 01/02/2025..
We are deflated, but not defeated and ask our communities for support to REVERSE THE DECISION!
Because music therapy IS an evidence-based allied health profession!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Please sign and share our petition:
https://www.change.org/p/save-music-therapy-keep-it-funded-under-ndis?fbclid=IwY2xjawGzGKVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUJaRcNMsir9aAz9LAE08dRrBpx-0XF-ZYZjx4jQkRH5MCDwd3Pk5N_t6g_aem_KAgzUaWIX9tLX7bo7T4IQA
And if you have a moment between 9am- 12pm today to join our calling campaign, the more voices Bill Shorten hears the better (guidance points in comments) πͺπͺ
Bill Shorten's office
Phone (02) 6277 7200
Email minister.shorten@dss.gov.au
For further information on our evidence-base:
https://www.austmta.org.au/public/151/files/Website%20general/2024%20AMTA%20Disability%20evidence%20summary.pdf
With Love, hope and gratitude,
Phoebe
(Director of SOUL SOUNDS Music Therapy)