Updates from the Western Pacific Region

Greetings from the Western Pacific Region once again! I would like to begin by sending everyone around the globe my warmest thoughts and prayers for good health, safety, and healing during these challenging and painful times. May we muddle through these times with love and support for each other, and with faith that we will come through this as more resilient and compassionate human beings together.

It is with excitement and sadness that I write this final exit blog as I approach the end of my term as the regional liaison for this region. It has been a fruitful and rewarding four and a half years since I assumed this post. I have been continually encouraged and inspired by my colleagues and the work and growth that has been happening here during this period of time. Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you an overview of the challenges faced by the region and some of the highlights that has been happening over the term.

Overview of challenges:

• Due to the lack of local government recognition as an allied health profession in the region, the professional title of Registered Music Therapist is not protected. This lends itself to the issue of untrained individuals claiming the designation and the provision of ‘music therapy services and training’ with no legal implications. From the 8 countries of the region where music therapy services and/or training is offered by trained and qualified music therapists, 7 of them have at least one well established music therapy association that works hard to support and advocate for the profession and mitigate the aforementioned issues.
• Local music therapy training is offered in 6 out of the 8 countries with varying standards of quality, and 3 of the 6 countries have their own national registration and accreditation system. One of the crucial challenges in creating and establishing local professional training programmes is the cultural aspect of the training, the ability to recognise and incorporate local music traditions and culture into the standard training of music therapy from the west. Cultural diversity is evident within the region, and in some cases, even within a particular country.
• The development and maturity of the profession varies from country to country within the region. In general, job and service referrals for music therapy have mostly been operating passively with the lack of well established referral pathways and mechanisms, and insufficient knowledge and understanding of the profession by service users and employers. Hence, continual efforts in promoting and advocating for the profession is largely required in the region.
• Misunderstandings and confusions about music therapy and other music related professions and practices such as music teaching, music education, music performance, and traditional indigenous music healing practices have been prevalent. These confusions along with other misunderstandings have often need to be addressed in the promotion and advocacy of the profession. This is naturally followed by the need to define what music therapy is in the local cultural context and various settings to establish its unique presence and identity.
• Job sustainability has been a widespread challenge within the region with few full-time and part-time music therapy positions. Many jobs are contract-based hence, a large number of music therapists work as a freelance with multiple contracts and perhaps some side jobs. This challenge can be aggravated for some when the price point at which our service rates are set becomes unaffordable for low socioeconomic groups of people, where the needs are most evident and prevalent. The concern and severity of this issue varies from country to country.
• In some countries, there is an unequal distribution of qualified music therapists hence in some parts of a country, there could be an over supply of qualified music therapist whereas in other parts, an under supply, or music therapists would need to travel long distances to provide their services.
• More local music therapy research is needed in the region to support the development of the profession. There is much potential for growth in this area.

Inspiringly, despite of these challenges, the profession continues to grow and develop with the persistent and tireless efforts of local music therapists in the region. Here are some of the highlights I am proud to review with you:

• The Japanese Music Therapy Association (JMTA) hosted the 15th World Congress of Music Therapy in Tsukuba in 2017 which was an enormous success. Prior to this historic event, the JMTA also engaged in music therapy research which offered some valuable insights to the Japanese society on the issue of ageing.
• The Hong Kong Music Therapy Association (HKMTA) hosted its inaugural national conference in August, 2018; and the very first Master of Music Therapy program in Hong Kong was introduced by The Hong Kong University School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE) in collaboration with The University of Melbourne in July 2017.
• Colleagues from China have also emerged themselves in music therapy research periodically with publications on various platforms such as the open access journal “Creative Arts in Education and Therapy”. Earlier this year when China was first hit by COVID-19, they rallied together and collaborated with colleagues in other parts of the world to offer support and relief to locals who have been greatly effected by the pandemic. Although it was a trying battle, they were rewarded with much success!
• Colleagues in Malaysia has seen increasing awareness and acceptance of music therapy by its government over the past few years and are making exciting progress in obtaining government recognition.
• Whilst the Philippines currently do not have an established music therapy association in the country, a couple of local qualified music therapists have worked hard to introduce the profession. A significant accomplishment was the introduction of its very first music therapy training program taught by a board-certified music therapist!
• South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan have been very active in promoting the profession through annual national conferences and symposiums, and regular workshops and trainings hosted by local and international trainers.

It has been such an enormous pleasure and privilege to serve in this role. I have learned a great deal along the way from those I have worked with and met. I would like to finish by sending my very best wishes to my fellow colleagues, near and far, and to the succeeding regional liaison in their continued efforts to move our profession forward!

All the best,

Vivian Chan, MMT, MTA, MT-BC

WFMT Regional Liaison, Western Pacific Region

All updates from the Western Pacific Region are provided by local music therapists from their respective countries. If you have any updates and news on the development of music therapy in your country within this region, and would like to share them with us, please do not hesitate to contact me at westernpacific@wfmt.info.