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I am pleased to offer my first blog as Australia/New Zealand Regional Liaison and to share the following news.
As a result of the tragic Christchurch shooting experience, Music Therapy New Zealand (MThNZ) have established the Aotearoa Crisis Intervention MThNZ Special Interest Group. Representatives met with the WFMT Global Crises Intervention team; sent a questionnaire to all New Zealand music therapists and gained important insights regarding music therapists’ individual experiences and community responses to complex traumatic events. The group is now investigating the ways that Music Therapy New Zealand might be able to support music therapists to respond to the needs of Christchurch communities.
MThNZ and the Music Therapy Registration Board, with the support of Victoria University of Wellington, are currently revising Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
AMTA is in the final stages of changing the State it is currently incorporated in (Australian Capital Territory, ACT) to Victoria, the State where AMTA’s National Office resides.
AMTA recently applied for membership with the National Alliance for Self-Regulating Professions (NASRHP). In Australia, low risk professions (such as music therapy, social work, and speech pathology) are self-regulated. Other “higher risk” professions (such as chiropractic therapy and physiotherapy) are registered under a national scheme and must meet strict regulatory requirements to ensure public safety. The NASRHP is a relatively new peak body that supports self-regulated health professions to ensure that they too meet equally strict requirements and provide quality and safe services to consumers. Successful membership with NASRHP will require AMTA to update a number of policies and programs, including Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
On 17-18 August 2019, Music Therapy New Zealand hosted a successful symposium focusing on music therapy in dementia care, at Waikato Hospice, Hamilton. Sixteen presentations were offered from Australian and New Zealand music therapists, and other professionals working in the field.
Also in New Zealand, MUSIC THERAPY WEEK was held from 16th-22nd September with the theme ‘Put the Beat Back in Your Step’; supporting mental health and wellbeing. Activities included television and radio interviews; Music Therapy NZ’s first webinar, on the topic of Music & the Brain; and neurological choir presentations.
AMTA has recently increased its advocacy efforts in the public health space by submitting reports and/or providing evidence to two Royal Commissions, parliamentary inquiries, state health awards, and health care reform consultations (to name just a few). These activities are all intended to increase access to and awareness of music therapy in various sectors including disability, mental health and aged care.
The AMTA National Conference 2019, will be held on 29 Nov - 1 Dec 2019, Melbourne VIC, and will incorporate some advanced training as well as a ‘Music, Adolescents and Trauma’ Symposium, in partnership with Professor Katrina McFerran and the University of Melbourne.
Music therapists in Australia and New Zealand are looking forward to the 2020 World Congress of Music Therapy in Pretoria.
Dr Daphne Rickson, New Zealand
Regional Liaison for Australia / New Zealand Region
