AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...

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AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
AMTA 2018
                               44th Australian Music Therapy
                               Association National Conference
                               14 - 16 September 2018 | Rydges Sydney Central

           Program & Abstracts
www.austmtaconference.com.au
AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
Contents
Welcome............................................................... 3     Thank you to our Sponsors
National Conference Committee ................ 4                             and Exhibitors
General Information......................................... 7
                                                                             Gold Sponsor
Venue Floor Plan................................................ 8
Keynote Speakers.............................................. 9
Program
     PDS................................................................14
     Saturday.......................................................16
                                                                             Conference Supporter
     Sunday..........................................................20
Conference Awards.........................................22
Scientific Committee......................................24
Abstracts
     PDS................................................................26
     Saturday.......................................................42
     Sunday..........................................................67

                                                                             Exhibitors

AMTA2018 Conference Secretariat
GPO Box 3270
Sydney NSW 2001
Ph: +61 (0) 2 9254 5000
www.icmsaust.com.au

Email: info@austmtaconference.com.au
www.austmtaconference.com.au

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AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
Welcome
On behalf of the National Conference Committee, I would
like to welcome you to the 44th Australian Music Therapy
Association National Conference to be held in Sydney,
September 14 -16 2018.

Reflecting on last year’s conference, we as music therapists
were encouraged to consider our professional trajectory,
negotiating an ever-changing landscape to deliver, refine and
reconnect with the music, and music therapy’s capacity to
change lives.

It is this ever-changing landscape that has captured this
year’s Committee’s imagination to explore the on-going
process of adaption. As music therapists, we are constantly
adapting to the landscape of our working environment,
cultures, roles, people and politics. Each of these landscapes
brings challenges and barriers as well as celebrated successes
that in turn help us to further develop and facilitate our
profession.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic song “Hey
Jude” by Paul McCartney. Timeless in its words and melody,
it too has been adapted from its first 36-piece orchestral
recording lasting more than 7 minutes to the present day
versions. As we continue to adapt and “make things better,”
I would like to warmly welcome you to the 2018 Conference
held at the Rydges Sydney Central. This vibrant and creative
Committee welcome you and your support with a program to
stimulate the chameleon in all of us!

Samantha Schoeler-Jones - Conference Convenor

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AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
National Conference Committee

               Samantha Schoeler-Jones
               Conference Convenor
               Having completed a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Western
               Australian Conservatorium of Music with Richard Gill as Dean, Sam
               moved to Germany to further her studies in flute at the Hochschule
               fuer Musik, Franz Liszt. Weimar. On completing these studies, she had
               one of those life changing moments when she found some brochures
               on a table at the music school about studying music therapy in
               Germany. And so began a new journey…..
               With a passion for teaching, Sam began a Diploma of Education
               (Music) and returned to Australia in 2004 with her family to build on
               the knowledge and experience she’d gained during the 9 years of
               living in Germany and completing her Dip Ed.
               In 2007, Sam completed the process of registration with the AMTA
               and in 2008 became involved with the NSW AMTA in the role
               as Treasurer for a number of years. As someone who values the
               importance of being active within our Association, she also accepted
               the opportunity to be Social Chair for the 2013 National Conference.
               Currently, she is working as a Clinical Specialist with Sing&Grow
               Australia (NSW Team), specialist classroom music teacher and music
               therapist for the Department of Education, mentor for the National
               Music Teachers Mentoring Program and curriculum consultant, with
               the occasional performance to nurture the musician inside!

               Dr. Alison Liew Stewart (previously Creighton)
               Scientific Chair
               Ali is passionate about empowering families to develop and maintain
               secure attachments. She currently works as a Clinical Specialist for
               Sing&Grow Australia (NSW team) and privately facilitates the Circle of
               Security Group Parenting Program.
               Ali has a penchant for studying, learning and teaching. In 2014, she
               completed her PhD in how the experience of mother-infant singing
               interaction contributes to attachment. In 2015-2016 she was a casual
               lecturer at the University of Western Sydney Creative Music Therapy
               course. In 2017 she completed a Masters in Special Education (deaf
               and hard of hearing) to pursue her interest in assisting children with
               hearing loss to acquire and develop language.
               Ali’s goal is to combine and utilise all these passions to continue
               empowering families while assisting children reach their potential.

                          4
AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
Vanessa Lucas
PDS Convenor
As a Masters’ graduate from UTS in 2010 and current Music Therapist
at Giant Steps School in Sydney, Vanessa is passionate about elevating
the well-being, emotional health and quality of life of her students
through active engagement, participation and diversity of musical
and arts-based experiences.
Vanessa is committed to improving and increasing informed and
inclusive arts-access options for young people with Autism and
their families. She has worked collaboratively with prominent arts
organisations (i.e. Sydney Opera House, Sydney Festival, Australian
Museum and the Art Gallery of NSW) to share her knowledge
and experience on how to provide effective Autism-friendly
communication and support, in order to enhance the venue’s offering
and consequently each patron’s experience.
Vanessa presented on this subject at both the Arts Activated
Conference in 2014 and at the National AMTA Conference in Sydney in
2015. In 2014 she also presented a research paper on the ‘Xylophone
Project’ at both the World Congress of Music Therapy in Austria and
the AMTA Conference in Melbourne. Last year, she received an Access
award from the Sydney Opera House for her training, advice and
expertise relating to Relaxed Performances.

Christine Morson
Social Chair
Christine completed her Graduate Diploma of Creative Music Therapy
at WSU in 2004. Since then she has worked as a contractor for
Nordoff-Robbins, Sing and Grow, Boppin Babies as well as her own
private practice servicing individual clients and organisations such as
relationships Australia.
Over the past 13 years she has worked as part of an outreach team
establishing programs in state high schools for adolescents with
behaviour and emotional disorders. Implementing programs for
families at risk including the prison setting. Working with people with
disabilities of all ages to reach their full potential and more recently
for Health NSW in adult mental health.
Christine is currently the NSW Chair and has been challenged and says
she learnt so much during the past 18 months or so. She loves the
diversity that our profession provides and being a part of the change
of so many lives through music is a pleasure and a privilege.

                               5
AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
National Conference Committee

               Lauren Bortolazzo
               Conference Assistant
               Lauren graduated from the Western Sydney University’s (WSU)
               Masters of Creative Music Therapy degree with Distinction in 2016
               and has been enjoying her first few years as a newly graduated
               Registered Music Therapist. Lauren was previously the WSU Student
               Representative on the NSW AMTA board and she currently holds
               the Secretarial position. This role has given Lauren the opportunity
               to engage with NSW AMTA members and help organise beneficial
               events and opportunities for RMT’s as well as advocate for the Music
               Therapy profession through Social Media. Lauren is passionate about
               supporting students and RMTs who are new to the profession.
               Lauren currently works as an RMT for MusicConnect and the Salvation
               Army in the areas of youth mental health and family therapy and she
               is passionate about empowering the young people and families she
               works with.

               Jacinta Calabro
               Conference & PDS Chair
               Jacinta Calabro runs TLC Music and is the founder of Music Therapy
               Online. She has extensive clinical experience working with babies,
               children and families and is passionate about ongoing learning and
               empowering music therapists to thrive.

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AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
General Information

Catering
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be available during the Conference and PDS and is
included in your registration fees. All dietary requirements will be catered for according to the
information provided on your registration. Catering times are as follows:

                             Friday (PDS)               Saturday                    Sunday

 Morning Tea              11.00am – 11.30am        10.15am – 10.45am          10.00am – 10.30am

 Lunch                     1.30pm – 2.30pm          12.45pm – 1.45pm          12.10pm – 1.10pm

 Afternoon Tea             3.30pm – 4.00pm          4.05pm – 4.30pm           3.30pm – 4.00pm

Climate                                             Name Badges
The average temperature for Sydney in               For security purposes, delegates, speakers and
September ranges from 11°C (minimum) to             exhibitors are required to wear their name
20°C (maximum)                                      badges to the sessions. Entrance into sessions
                                                    is restricted to registered delegates only.
Conference Party &
Registration Ceremony                               Parking
                                                    Parking is available at the hotel at $44 for over
Will be held on Saturday 15th September from
                                                    4 hours.
6.00pm onwards at Rydges Sydney Central in
the Surry Room.
                                                    Registration Desk
Hashtag                                             The registration desk is located in the foyer of
                                                    the conference venue. The registration desk
This year’s official conference hashtag is
                                                    will be open at the following times:
#AustMTA2018

Internet                                            Friday 		         7.30am – 5.00pm
                                                    Saturday          7.30am – 5.00pm
The conference venue has complimentary
                                                    Sunday 		         8.00am – 4.00pm
internet Wi-Fi access for all delegates. Details
for connection are:
                                                    Speakers
Wi-Fi Network = Rydges Event
                                                    Please ensure that you are available in your
Password = conference
                                                    presentation room at least 15 minutes prior to
Lost and Found                                      the start of the session. Speakers will need to
                                                    upload their presentations onto the computer
Any found items may be turned into the
                                                    in the session room at least 2 hours before the
registration desk located in the foyer of the
                                                    session starts.
conference venue.

Mobile Phones
Delegates are requested to switch off vtheir
mobile phones or set them to silent when in
sessions.

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AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
Venue Map

          Terrace

      Harbour Bridge Room
    Harbour Bridge                           Service
                                               Lift
                                                                                        Rydges Sydney Central

8
        Room
                                      Lift    Lift

       Opera House Room
                                                          Taronga      Zoo
                                                              Taronga Zoo
     Opera    House                                    Registration,    Posters and
                                                           Registration,Posters   and
                                                                Catering Area
        Room                                                Catering Area
                            Sydney Tower
                              Sydney Tower Room
                                Room
AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
Keynote Speakers

                        A/Prof. Stine Lindahl Jacobsen
                        Aalborg University, Denmark
                         “This will be my first visit to Australia and I am thrilled at the opportunity
                        to share and exchange knowledge with Australian music therapists!
                        I have always felt connected to several Australian approaches and
                        perspectives within music therapy and I feel honored to be invited as an
                        international guest to the national AMTA 2018 Conference.”
                         Stine Lindahl Jacobsen is Associate Professor and Head of Music
Therapy at Aalborg University in Denmark. She currently hosts the International Music Therapy
Assessment Consortium (IMTAC) and the research center Arts & Health in North Jutland, Denmark.
Her main lecturing areas since 2008 include music therapy improvisation skills, group music
therapy skills and music therapy assessment. Since 2011, she has held numerous conference
presentations, lectures, workshops, and trainings mostly in Scandinavia, but also several times in
Spain, Germany, UK, and Austria. She has published various articles and chapters in the area of
working with children and families at risk and in the research area of standardized music therapy
assessment tools and effect studies. As part of her PhD in 2012 Jacobsen developed the music
therapy tool “Assessment of Parent-Child Interaction” (APCI). Currently she trains and certifies
music therapists from around the world, who work or have an interest in working with families.

    Music Therapy with Families: Diversity & Adaption
    The field of music therapy with families is fast developing including therapeutic approach,
    research, training and populations. There is much diversity both across and within layers
    highlighting how music therapists adapt to different settings, needs, challenges and aims
    when working with families. Building from a presentation of diversity, focus will move
    towards adaption as a main theme when working with families. Music therapy approaches
    need to connect and adapt to current social and societal needs and challenges maybe
    even especially when working with families. The concept of adaption is active in how the
    therapist consciously intervenes and adapts to each individual family and in how family
    members can strengthen communication, mutual attunement and attachment. Likewise,
    when new therapeutic approaches and aims develop, training, research designs, and
    outcome measures have to follow and adapt. The valuable and challenging dance between
    research, training and therapy is presented and discussed including a short presentation of
    “Assessment of Parent-Child Interaction” (APCI) recently developed. APCI is an observation-
    based music therapy measure investigating parent-child communication and attachment
    using structured and unstructured improvisations and is carried out in close collaboration
    with the parents.

                                                           9
AMTA 2018 Program & Abstracts - 44th Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference - Australian Music Therapy ...
Dr. Valerie Looi
                         Advanced Bionics, NSW, Australia
                         “I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the profession I started in and
                         the professionals I started with, and to see the phenomenal progress
                         music therapy has made in Australia from being an emerging profession
                         when I first registered, to now being a well-respected one built on
                         research evidence and clinical expertise. I also look forward to the
                         opportunity to show that the benefit and value of music therapy extends
                         to other professions and can be successfully integrated into a range of
other clinical and research fields.”
Valerie completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy, and a Masters in Clinical Audiology
at the University of QLD followed by a PhD in Audiology from the University of Melbourne.
Her PhD combined the professions of audiology with music therapy, investigating the music
perception of cochlear implant recipients, compared to hearing aid users. She is a clinically
certified member of the Audiological Society of Australia, and has previously held positions as
a Senior Lecturer in Audiology at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and the Senior
Research Manager for the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre. She is currently the Asia Pacific
Research Manager for Advanced Bionics. Her research has focused on the music perception and
appreciation of cochlear implant recipients, developing music training programs to improve their
music appreciation levels, as well as quality of life issues, clinical outcomes, and tonal language
perception for cochlear implant recipients. As a music therapist she has previously worked for
Education Queensland as their first music therapist in QLD, as well as at various other special
schools in Brisbane, and with private clients.
With over 35 peer-reviewed publications in international audiology journals, she is recognised as
one of the pioneers and international expert in the area of music perception for cochlear implant
recipients, and has presented extensively at many international conferences. She has edited
for several journal editions, successfully obtained numerous competitive research grants, and
has supervised 35 Masters or PhD audiology students to completion. She currently also holds
affiliate positions with Macquarie University here in Sydney, as well as the National University of
Singapore.

                                      10
Music Training for the Hearing Impaired - The bridge between Audiology &
Music Therapy
Music training for the hearing impaired may sound like an oxymoron, but to quote the
iconic Simon & Garfunkel song, it creates “A bridge over troubled waters”. For the hearing
impaired, communication is usually their first priority. Devices such as hearing aids (HAs)
and cochlear implants (CIs) aim to restore a person’s ability to hear auditory stimuli, and
better communicate. After speech, many hearing impaired rate music as the next most
important auditory stimuli in their lives. After all, music serves many roles, contributing to
quality of life, socialisation and communication.
Adult CI recipients score significantly lower on music perception tests, and rate music
to sound poorer than normally hearing (NH) listeners. They struggle to perceive pitch
accurately, or identify well-known instruments or melodies, and report music to sound
‘tinny’, ‘unnatural’ and ‘unpleasant’. Some even deliberately avoid music. It has also
been shown that although CI users perform more poorly than HA users with significant
levels of hearing loss at some music tasks, HA users do not perform equivalently to NH
listeners, and in some cases score similarly to CI recipients. HA users also report music to
sound unpleasant, unnatural, not how they remember, and/or distorted. These findings
suggest that a significant hearing loss, along with the devices used to help remediate the
impairment impacts on music perception, regardless of whether a HA and/or CI is used.
The first part of this presentation, ‘HEAR we are’ will start by giving a short overview of
hearing loss, HAs and CIs, followed by presenting an overview of music perception research
involving CI recipients – both in comparison to NH listeners, as well as HA users. What
elements of music do they hear well? What elements do they struggle with? Why is this the
case?
The findings of these studies are important for the second part of the presentation, ‘HEAR
we go…building that bridge”. Despite researchers and CI/HA companies having spent
a lot of time, effort and money on trying to develop new signal processing strategies,
updated technology, or even new devices to improve music perception, there has been
little clinically significant improvement, with accurate and enjoyable music perception
remaining elusive to many hearing impaired adults. Time with a CI or HA does not improve
music perception, nor does the brand of the device matter.
So what can be done?
Recent research has shown that music listening practice and training does improve music
perception and appreciation, despite the limitations of the devices and the physiological
considerations related to hearing loss. Some of these research studies and their outcomes
will be presented. Additionally, considerations for clinicians involved in developing and/or
implementing such sessions or training programs will be covered.
The chameleon of both music therapy and audiology means our independent yet
overlapping, unique yet diverse, skill sets and scope of practice enables us to bring a new
dimension to rehabilitation for the hearing impaired, beyond technology and engineering.
This presentation aims to demonstrate how we can build a bridge between professions, as
well as between hearing impairment and enjoyable music listening experiences.

                                                       11
Local Spotlight

                                 Iani Sujono & Rob Devlin
                                 Sound Expression, NSW, Australia
                                 Iani Sujono
                              Iani is a Senior Registered Music Therapist with over 19 years’ experience
                              and she is a Director of Sound Expression. Iani has worked with early
                              childhood intervention programs, community disability groups, special
                              needs schools, aged care facilities as well as in private practice. Her
                              passion lies in working with children with special needs including
                              children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, especially in developing their
        relational and engagement skills.
        Iani founded Sound Expression in 2000. In 2001 she was invited by Nordoff-Robbins Music
        Therapy Australia to join their team. Iani was an integral part of this not-for-profit organisation for
        over 13 years – she initially joined as a clinician and soon became the Operations Manager of a
        team of 12 music therapists servicing around 500 clients on a weekly basis.
        Iani then re-established her Sound Expression business in late 2015 and expanded her service
        from purely delivering music therapy, to delivering music lessons and various projects including
        their “Connecting Abilities Through Music” community music project. Since 2015, Sound
        Expression has grown into a clinic with 3 workrooms, 6 Registered Music Therapists and an office
        administrator servicing over 120 clients through private, HCWA and NDIS funding systems.
        Iani’s clinical work has included providing music therapy at Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
        Australia, ASPECT, Barnardos, KU Children’s Services, Catherine Sullivan Centre, Glenmore Park
        Public School, Surveyors Creek Public School and working with individual children referred by
        their parents, psychologists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists.

        Rob Devlin
        Rob is a Senior Registered Music Therapist with over 10 years’ experience and he is a Director
        of Sound Expression. Rob has worked with community disability groups, special needs schools,
        support units within mainstream schools, aged care facilities as well as in private practice. He was
        previously Senior Music Therapist and Head of Business Development for Nordoff-Robbins Music
        Therapy Australia, overseeing it grow to servicing over 700 clients per week. He completed his
        Master in Creative Music Therapy through Western Sydney University.
        Rob has extensive experience as a music therapist with many clinical populations, including
        children and adults with a wide range of disabilities, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,
        ‘at risk’ children with behavioural and emotional disorders, mental health diagnoses, and
        rehabilitation work with clients who have had strokes, acquired brain injuries and spinal cord
        injuries. He also has extensive experience providing music therapy in aged care settings including
        clients with dementia.
        His role at Sound Expression is a dual one – Rob divides his time between clinical work across a
        range of client populations and he also heads up the new business development initiatives for
        Sound Expression.
        Before coming to music therapy, Rob had many years’ experience in the corporate world in
        various senior sales and marketing roles. He happily left that world behind to focus on his passion,
        which is using music to help others live a more fulfilled and rewarding life.

                                                12
Diversifying and adapting music therapy services – can you stay sane in a
rapidly changing clinical and business environment?
It’s no secret that we live in a rapidly changing world and this is certainly true of the life of
a music therapist. Whether you work in private practice, are employed by an organisation
or work as a contract RMT, the only real constant in our lives is change. Technology,
legislation, workplaces, client and other stakeholder expectations are all rapidly evolving.
While the pace of change has been steadily increasing over the past few decades,
all indications are that this will only increase in the years ahead. So, faced with even
more change, how do we as clinicians and business people, stay sane and focussed on
delivering quality music therapy outcomes for our clients? Research in the UK has shown
that currently one third of people working in organisations have some form of anxiety or
mental health issue about the degree and the rate of change, which indicates we aren’t
dealing very well with this pressing concern. The need for adaptability has never been
greater.
Adaptability is the ability to adjust your approach or actions in response to changes in
your external environment. Strategic adaptability is the ability to plan for, cope with and
hopefully thrive when faced with the unexpected – a much more challenging task. In a
nutshell, we need to respond to change not on impulse, but on strategy. The ability of
music therapists, in all contexts, to adapt well to their changing environments will be a key
determinant of their future survival.
We have drawn on an excellent business publication and adapted it (there’s that word
again) with our own “coal face” clinical experience over many years, to provide some
insights and reflections on how to not only stay sane, but also how to stay ahead of the
curve in this rapidly changing clinical and business environment.
Our presentation will outline key characteristics of what it means to be adaptable and
how these factors interplay in the day-to-day life of a busy music therapy clinic. We give
examples of how we have adapted our practice (and our practise) to grow very quickly to
servicing 130 individual clients, including how we have navigated the challenging NDIS
waters.

                                                        13
Friday 14 September 2018 (PDS)

       Time                Sydney Tower Room       Harbour Bridge          Opera House Room
                                                   Room
                           POPULATIONS             BUSINESS                PROFESSIONAL
                                                                           SKILLS
       8:45am – 9:00am                             Introduction and welcome by Vanessa Lucas
       9:00am – 10:00am                            ‘Rhythms of Change’ - A Rhythm2Recovery
                                                   and Village Music Circles-Inspired Rhythm
                                                   Experience presented by Bek Wermut
                                                   Facilitator: Bek Wermut
       10:00am – 11:00am   Aged Care Q&A           Spice Up Your           So You Want To Run
                           session                 Guitar Playing and      Your Own Music
                           Panel members:          Improvising             Therapy Business/
                           Belinda Mar, Johanna    Facilitator:            Clinic?
                           Haire, Alexandra        Ann Lehmann             Facilitators:
                           Morse, Jeannette                                Iani Sujono and Rob
                           Harvey and Elizabeth                            Devlin
                           Benedict

       11:00AM – 11:30AM   MORNING TEA
       11:30am – 12:30pm   Mental Health Q&A       Accessible Music        NDIS: The essentials
                           session                 Technology for          and the latest
                           Panel members:          Music Therapy:          Facilitators:
                           Kate Aitchison,         Making Technology       Melissa Murphy and
                           Jennifer Bibb, Linda    Accessible for Client   Michelle Fisher
                           Blyth and Talitha       and Therapist
                           Evans                   Facilitators:
                                                   Rachael Mackay and
                                                   Tanya Silveir
       12:30pm – 1:30pm    Hospital and            “I like to move         RAILE building a
                           palliative care Q&A     it move it!” The        win win business
                           session                 use of dance and        model for therapy
                           Panel members:          movement within         businesses
                           Roxanne McLeod,         music therapy           Facilitator:
                           Priscilla Pek, Monica   sessions: Methods,      Vicky Abad
                           Lee and Lucy Forrest    applications and
                                                   rationales
                                                   Facilitators:
                                                   Bronte Arns, Lene
                                                   Jeffrey, Selena
                                                   Cheyne and
                                                   Jo Poulden

                                        14
LUNCH
1:30PM – 2:30PM
                  State Liaison meeting in boardroom
2:30pm – 3:30pm   Disability sector     Insights into          Improving and
                  Q&A session           Contemporary           expanding clinical
                  Panel members:        Supervision Practice   practice through
                  Michelle Fisher,      Facilitator:           research: A
                  Valerie Looi, Peter   Natalie Jack           clinician’s guide
                  McDonald, Meg Toon                           to designing and
                                                               implementing
                                                               studies within the
                                                               workplace
                                                               Facilitators:
                                                               Felicity Baker and
                                                               Jeanette Tamplin
3:30PM – 4:00PM   AFTERNOON TEA
4:00pm – 5:00pm                         Sing Up and harmonise - exploring our
                                        voices together
                                        Facilitator: Trish Watts

                                               15
Saturday 15 September 2018

        8:45am – 9:15am    Official Conference Welcome
                                                                                    Sponsored by
        9:15am – 10:15am   International Keynote Presentation
                           Music Therapy with Families: Diversity & Adaption
                           A/Prof. Stine Lindahl Jacobsen
       10:15AM – 10:45AM                              MORNING TEA
                           Paediatrics/infants     Rehab / Song-            Music Therapy in
                           Sydney Tower Room       Writing                  different contexts
                                                   Harbour Bridge Room      - Adapting to
                                                                            landscapes
                                                                            Opera House Room
       10:45am – 11:15am   ORAL                    ORAL                     ORAL
                           PRESENTATION            PRESENTATION             PRESENTATION
                           -Music in the Mix:      -Adapting to             -Music therapists
                           Integrating Music       the needs of             as case managers.
                           Therapy into a          community-dwelling       Why we should
                           Paediatric Palliative   people living with       be adapting to
                           Care Service            dementia and their       the contemporary
                           Ms Roxanne McLeod       family caregivers:       interdisciplinary
                                                   Development              health and welfare
                                                   of a protocol for        landscape
                                                   therapeutic group        Dr Jennifer Bibb
                                                   songwriting
                                                   Dr Imogen Clark,
                                                   Ms Phoebe Stretton-
                                                   Smith
       11:15am – 11:45am   ORAL                    ORAL                     ORAL
                           PRESENTATION            PRESENTATION             PRESENTATION
                           -The Heartbeat          -Adaptation of the       -Professional
                           Project: Combining      self post-injury - The   Advocacy Fatigue:
                           technology and          effect of identity-      Implications for
                           music to capture        focused songwriting      Music Therapists and
                           meaningful              interventions            Music Therapy
                           memories                on depression,           Ms Natalie Jack
                           Mrs Annabelle Keevers   psychological
                           & Mr Matt Ralph         wellbeing, and
                                                   satisfaction with life
                                                   post neurotrauma:
                                                   a randomized
                                                   controlled trial.
                                                   Professor Felicity
                                                   Baker

                                       16
11:45am – 12:15pm   ORAL                    ORAL                     ORAL
                    PRESENTATION            PRESENTATION             PRESENTATION
                    -Weaving the            -Functional Electrical   -Perfect Pitch:
                    cradle: Promoting       Stimulation+iPad-        Presenting Music
                    flourishing             based music therapy:     Therapy as an
                    relationships           a novel approach to      obvious inclusion
                    between new             the rehabilitation of    in multidisciplinary
                    parents and their       the arm/hand post        healthcare
                    babies through baby     stroke                   Dr Kathleen Lawson
                    music groups.           Ms Tanya Silveria
                    Ms Jacinta Calabro
12:15pm – 12:45pm   ORAL                    ORAL                     ORAL
                    PRESENTATION            PRESENTATION             PRESENTATION
                    -Fosterers and          -Mapping the             -Music therapists’
                    barriers to parents’    musical landscape        professional
                    musical engagement      post stroke: Musical     identities: Stories
                    with their baby         expertise as a           from another land
                    across their neonatal   consideration for        Ms Penny Warren
                    journey: The evolving   functional recovery
                    role of the NICU        Ms Fiona Sham, Ms
                    music therapist         Janeen Bower
                    Ms Elizabeth Mclean
12:45PM – 1:45PM                                   LUNCH
                    Children/trauma         Clinical training/       Clinical practise
                    Sydney Tower Room       education                Opera House Room
                                            Harbour Bridge Room
 1:45pm – 2:15pm    ORAL                    ORAL                     WORKSHOP -A case
                    PRESENTATION            PRESENTATION             study demonstrating
                    -Amplify: a             -Helping music           how adapting
                    collaboration           therapy students         to independent
                    between speech          adapt to the             community living
                    pathology and music     interprofessional        after a severe mental
                    therapy                 landscape of an          breakdown was
                    Mrs Anita Connell &     acute paediatric         achieved by a 54 year
                    Mr John Field           medical setting.         old woman through
                                            Miss Miriam Cromie       the combined uses
                                                                     of music therapy
 2:15pm – 2:45pm    ORAL                    ORAL
                                                                     and counselling
                    PRESENTATION            PRESENTATION
                                                                     techniques.
                    -Stories of Van Go      -What should I
                                                                     Dr Kirstin Robertson-
                    – A mobile creative     do now? Critical
                                                                     Gillam
                    therapy service for     thinking in music
                    children traumatised    therapy training and
                    by family violence      practice
                    Miss Erin Crighton      Dr Alison Short, Ms
                                            Allison Fuller

                                                  17
Saturday 15 September 2018

        2:45pm – 3:15pm   ORAL                   ORAL                    WORKSHOP
                          PRESENTATION           PRESENTATION             -Music Therapy
                          -Changing the          -The One Tune           in the Digital Age:
                          way we measure         Medley: empowering      An exploration of
                          success: Balancing     musical flexibility &   the use of music
                          the building of        responsiveness          technology in music
                          relationships with     Mr Oliver O’Reilly      therapy practice
                          the gathering of                               Mr Carlin Mclellan
                          meaningful data.
                          Ms Lorna Berry & Dr
                          Maree Stanley

        3:15pm – 3:45pm   ORAL                   ORAL
                          PRESENTATION           PRESENTATION
                          -Cultural Learning     -How do three
                          through Music in       music therapists
                          Remote Australia       from collectivistic
                          Dr Dianne Langan       culture view
                                                 community music
                                                 therapy in Asia?- An
                                                 international study
                                                 Miss Chin Cheung

        3:45pm – 4:05pm   STUDENT/NEW            STUDENT/NEW
                          GRAD                   GRAD
                          -‘How’d that kid get    -Being a chameleon
                          that good’ – A case    and adapting to
                          study in adapting      new approaches:
                          the Nordoff-Robbins    Future directions for
                          improvisational        integrating Auditory
                          approach to            Verbal Therapy
                          childhood PTSD         and Music Therapy
                          Mrs Chanelle           interventions
                          Henderson              in children with
                                                 hearing loss in an
                                                 interdisciplinary
                                                 setting
                                                 Ms Robyn Fernandez-
                                                 Baca

       4:05PM – 4:30PM                             AFTERNOON TEA

        4:30pm – 6:00pm   Annual General Meeting

        6:00pm onwards    Conference Party & Registration Ceremony

                                      18
19
Sunday 16 September 2018

       9:00am – 9:15am     Welcome & House Keeping
       9:15am – 10:00am    Local Spotlight Presentation
                           Diversifying and adapting music therapy services – can you stay sane in a
                           rapidly changing clinical and business environment?
                           Iani Sujono & Rob Devlin
       10:00AM –
                           MORNING TEA
       10:30AM
       10:30am – 11:30am   National Keynote PresentationMusic Training for the Hearing Impaired
                           - The Bridge Between Audiology & Music Therapy
                           Dr. Valerie Looi
       11:30am – 12:10pm   Poster Express Session
                           PO4 - Miss Amy Howden
                           Singing, creating, composing and cuddling: A parent’s recipe for coping
                           with an extended premature NICU admission.

                           PO5 - Mrs Aniek Janssen
                           Phases of music therapy treatment in a severe paediatric burns case.

                           PO6 - Miss Helena Olofsson
                           "Sharing meaningful experiences with infants in oncology: A
                           phenomenological inquiry into the insights of music therapists".

                           PO7 - Miss Tina Read
                           Living with schizophrenia: a musical approach to addressing enduring
                           cognitive impairment

                           PO8 - Miss Tina Read
                           Inspiring confidence: supporting parents to develop parenting self-
                           efficacy through increased social confidence and connectedness

                           PO9 - Ms Catherine Russell & Ms Catherine Schmidt
                           Music Therapy in Special Education and AAC: Reflective & Reflexive Music
                           Therapy Practice working with Augmented Assistive Communication with
                           children.

                           PO10 - Ms Emma-lee Steindl
                           The Engagement and Interaction of Adolescents from Refugee
                           Backgrounds in Music Therapy
       12:10PM –           LUNCH
       1:10PM              OPS COMM MEETING

                                          20
Autism/special ed       Policy/NDIS                 Mental Health /
                  Sydney Tower Room       Harbour Bridge Room         theory/brain injury
                                                                      Opera House Room
1:10pm – 1:40pm   ORAL PRESENTATION       ROUND TABLE                 ORAL PRESENTATION
                  -Making Music,          -Navigating through         -Differentiated-Self
                  Making Change:          the ever changing           and Integrated-Self in
                                                                      Music Therapy on an
                  supporting adaptive     NDIS land
                                                                      Individual-Communal
                  thinking beyond         Dr Juyoung Lee, Dr          Continuum
                  music therapy           Melissa Murphy, Ms          Ms Izumi Nago
                  Mrs Clare Jones         Iani Sujono, Mr Rob
1:40pm – 2:10pm   ORAL PRESENTATION       Devlin                      ORAL PRESENTATION
                  -Figurenotes, Autism                                -Linking mind and
                  and Action Research:                                body in Guided
                                                                      Imagery and Music
                  Adapting Resources
                                                                      practice: The extended
                  and Approaches                                      physical marker
                  Mr Matthew Breaden                                  imagery model
                                                                      Dr Alison Short
2:10pm – 2:40pm   ORAL PRESENTATION       ROUND TABLE                 ORAL PRESENTATION
                  -Framework for          -Implications for           -“I Have a New Song
                  collaboration and       policy and practice         to Sing!” Group music
                                                                      therapy programs
                  moving forward:         when patients want
                                                                      within a women’s
                  Music therapy, music    their songs to ‘go viral’   residential drug and
                  in special education    Ms Karen Bolger,            alcohol treatment
                  and Universal Design    Anneliis Way, Stephan       service.
                  for Learning.           Skov & Erin Li              Allison Fuller & Lauren
                  Mrs Catherine Schmidt                               Bortolazzo

2:40pm – 3:10pm   ORAL PRESENTATION                                   ORAL PRESENTATION
                  -Reimagining                                        -Reaching the
                  Access: exploring                                   forgotten: Sensory
                                                                      Training for Arousal
                  and adapting new
                                                                      Recovery by a
                  technology to                                       Transdisciplinary Team
                  maximise music                                      Mrs Christobel Clark
                  creation for children
                  with disability
                  Ms Tanya McKenna, Ms
                  Jo Rimmer, Ms Megan
                  Spragg
3:10pm – 3:30pm   STUDENT/NEW                                         STUDENT/NEW
                  GRAD -I’d Like to                                   GRAD -Using Music
                  Teach the World to                                  Therapy to work with
                                                                      power relationships in
                  Sing’: An Examination
                                                                      the context of mental
                  of Singing and                                      health
                  Functional Language                                 Mr Michael Mcinerney
                  Use in ADL &
                  Transition Songs for
                  Children with ASD
                  Miss Tess McLennan
3:30PM – 4:00PM   AFTERNOON TEA
4:00pm – 5:00pm   Conference Closing & Awards

                                                   21
Conference Awards

       Each year, the National Council of the Australian Music Therapy Association presents two awards
       for excellence for a presentation during the closing ceremony of the National Conference.
       These awards are intended to recognise both the quality of the content of the presentation
       and the professionalism of the presenter. These awards particularly value a well-articulated and
       presented session, with innovative and inspiring content. The recipients are presented with a
       certificate of achievement and cheque for $300, plus the opportunity to be awarded a further
       $200 if they present the same paper at another conference within 12 months.

       The Ruth Bright Award
       Named in honour of Australia’s pioneering music therapist and prolific music therapy author,
       Dr Ruth Bright, AM, this award is open to RMTs with more than one year’s clinical experience. Dr
       Bright was the inaugural president of the AMTA, holds an AMTA Lifetime Achievement Award and
       is a past president of the World Federation of Music Therapy. Highly regarded for her lectures, as a
       supervisor and clinician, and for the never-ending support she provides for music therapists, she
       also laid the foundations for professional training courses in New South Wales. We are proud to
       offer this award in recognition of Dr Bright’s remarkable achievements.
       Past recipients are:
       1994 Dr Lorna Lloyd-Green
       1995 Clare O’Callaghan
       1996 Jeannette Kennelly
       1997 Kate Witmee
       1998 Brigit Hogan
       1999 Vicky O’Shea (Abad)
       2000 Allison Fuller
       2001 Catherine Threlfall
       2002 Robyn Booth
       2003 Helen Shoemark
       2004 Robin Howat
       2005 No award due to World Congress
       2006 Maggie Leung
       2007 John Hedigan and Helen Shoemark
       2008 Lucanne Magill and Clare O’Callaghan
       2009 Jeanette Milford
       2010 Clare O’Callaghan and Richard Hiscock
       2011 Grace Thompson
       2012 Katrina Skewes McFerran and Carmen Cheong-Clinch
       2013 Priscilla Pek and Angela Mallia
       2014 Felicity Baker
       2015 Tim Minchin
       2016 Jeanette Tamplin
       2017 Cameron Haigh

                                              22
The Denise Grocke Award
Named in honour of Emeritus Professor Denise Grocke, AO. This award is open to final year
students of AMTA-accredited music therapy courses and RMTs with less than one year’s
experience. Professor Grocke is renowned for her commitment to the development of music
therapy education in Australia. She was pivotal in developing the first Australian course at the
University of Melbourne and taught more than 350 students before she retired. Professor Grocke
has guided the development of music therapists through undergraduate and graduate courses,
including Masters and PhD qualifications.
Professor Grocke was a founding member and past president of AMTA, past president of the
World Federation of Music Therapy, and a recipient of AMTA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The
Denise Grocke award is a recognition of her extraordinary achievement and leadership of the
profession.
Past recipients are:
1995 Jeanette Kennelly, University of Queensland
1996 Melissa Grasso, University of Melbourne
1997 Louise Bear (Miles), University of Queensland
1998 Patrick Penfold, University of Melbourne
1999 Meagan Hunt, University of Queensland
2000 Emily Shanahan, University of Melbourne
2001 Claire de Bruin, University of Melbourne
2002 Tina Liu, University of Queensland
2003 Carolyn Jones, University of Queensland
2004 Karen Bolger (Hamlett), and Janeen Bower (Mackenzie), University of Melbourne
2005 No award due to World Congress
2006 Libby Gleadhill (Flynn), University of Queensland
2007 Hayley Miller, University of Queensland
2008 Christobel Moore, University of Queensland
2009 Astrid Notarangelo, University of Melbourne
2010 Kym Weatherley, University of Technology Sydney
2011 Jennifer Bibb, University of Melbourne
2012 Lene Jeffrey, University of Technology Sydney
2013 Sian Truasheim, University of Queensland
2014 Romy Englebrecht, Univeristy of Queensland
2015 Matthew Lewin and Asami Koike, University of Melbourne
2016 Zara Thompson, University of Melbourne
2017 Rachael Mackay, Western Sydney University

Adjudication
The awards are adjudicated by a panel of experienced music therapists, representing a broad
range of clinical expertise. Should one of them have presented a paper, they are excluded from
consideration. The awards are presented at the closing session of the conference.

                                                        23
Scientific Review Committee List

       With special thanks to our Scientific Review Committee
       Ms     Kate           Aitchison           Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children’s
                                                 Health Queensland

       Ms     Bronte         Arns                Giant Steps Sydney

       Dr     Carmen         Cheong-Clinch       Logan Hospital Adolescent Mental Health Unit

       Dr     Imogen         Clark               University of Melbourne

              Angela (Ang)   Delaney             Attuned to Health

       Dr     Lucy           Forrest             Monash Health

       Mrs    Allison        Fuller              Western Sydney University

       Dr     Libby          Gleadhill (Flynn)   University of Qld

       Mr     Cameron        Haigh               Metro South Health

       Dr     Cherry         Hense               University of Melbourne

       Dr     Jeanette       Kennelly            Inspiravision & University of QLD

       Mr     Jason          Kenner              Melbourne conservatorium of music

       Dr     Juyoung        Lee                 University of Melbourne

       Mrs    Eudora         Low                 Private practice and Salvation Army

       Prof   Katrina        McFerran            University of Melbourne

       Mr     Tim            Minchin             Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service.

       Dr     Clare          O’Callaghan         Cabrini Health and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

       Mr     Oliver         O’Reilley           Western Sydney University

       Dr     Kirstin        Robertson-Gillam    Creative Horizons Healthcare

       Dr     Helen          Shoemark            Temple University, Philadelphia

       Ms     Rosemary       Signorelli          STARRTS

       Ms     Kate           Teggelove           PaKT4CHANGE

       Dr     Stephanie      Thompson            The Tasmanian Specialist Palliative Service Care -
                                                 South

       Ms     Catherine      Threlfall           Sunraysia Arts and Learning

       Dr     Kate           Williams            Queensland University of Technology

                                           24
Abstracts

25
AMTA2018 – PDS ABSTRACTS

‘Rhythms of Change’ - A Rhythm2Recovery and Village Music Circles-
Inspired Rhythm Experience

Bek Wermut1
1
Women's & Girls' Emergency Centre (WAGEC)

                                           Harbour Bridge Room, September 14, 2018, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Biography:
Bek Wermut has been working as a Registered Music Therapist since completing her studies at UTS in
2007. Since that time she has primarily worked with adult and adolescent mental health populations,
facilitating ongoing programs in such facilities as South Pacific Private Hospital, Fairfield Drug Health Unit,
Women and Girls Emergency Centre (WAGEC), Vincentian House (St Vincent de Paul), Buckingham House,
Parramatta Mission and Headspace Mt Druitt.

Bek’s main area of passion and focus is in therapeutic rhythm facilitation. She has trained extensively with
Arthur Hull, father of the modern day drum circle movement, American music therapist and pioneer in the
world of therapeutic drumming, Christine Stevens, and is an accredited DRUMBEAT facilitator,
Rhythm2Recovery facilitator and Rhythm2Recovery teacher trainer.

With a passion for sharing what she has learned, Bek has facilitated staff training in therapeutic rhythm
facilitation for organisations such as The Sydney Children’s Hospital, The Starlight Foundation and the
Australian Music Therapy Association and lectured on therapeutic rhythm facilitation for the music
therapy programs at UTS and WSU.

Get ready to start this year’s PDS with a bang! Get connected, energised and ignited with this fun, co-
creative, rhythmic music-making experience.

                                          26
AMTA2018 – PDS ABSTRACTS

Aged Care Q&A Session

Belinda Mar1, Johanna Haire2, Alexandra Morse3, Jeannette Harvey4 and Elizabeth Benedict5
1
Huntingdon Gardens, 2Let the Music play, 3Child and Family Centre, 4ACAT and 5The University of Melbourne

                                           Sydney Tower Room, September 14, 2018, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Biography:
Belinda Mar
Belinda Mar is a Registered Music Therapist with the Australian Music Therapy Association and a piano/
music teacher. In 1999 Belinda completed a Bachelor of Education (music) at the University of Newcastle,
majoring in piano. She has been teaching piano for more than 16 years. She has also worked for the
Department of Education and Training as a casual teacher in various high schools, teaching music in
mainstream classes and students in a special needs unit. After several years of teaching in high schools
Belinda wanted a change in career. She became interested in working with people who have special needs
but still wanted to use music in her work. She began study at the University of Technology, Sydney; firstly
completing the Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy and later completing extra subjects to obtain a
Master of Arts Music Therapy. Belinda decided that she wanted to specialise in aged care after doing a
practicum in an aged care facility. She has been providing music therapy programmes in aged care
facilities in the St George/Shire area for more than 10 years and also with people who have special needs.
Her focus is to use specialised music therapy interventions to meet the social, physical, psychological,
emotional, spiritual and cognitive needs of the people she works with.

Johanna Haire
Johanna Haire has been a practising Registered Music Therapist for ten years with experience in aged
care, early childhood and autism. Johanna is passionate about the value of older people in society and
believes that music therapy plays a vital part in providing them with a better quality of life. Johanna is
interested in the relationships between client populations, families, and health care professionals and the
rich creative opportunities that they provide. Johanna is also an advocate for the importance of self-care
for music therapists.
At present Johanna works for Catholic Care and Hall & Prior as well as seeing clients through her own
business, Let The Music Play…
Johanna holds a Bachelor of Music degree from City University, London; a Graduate Diploma in Music
Therapy from UTS, Sydney and is currently working through a Bachelor of Dementia Care at University of
Tasmania.

Alexandra Morse
Alexandra is a registered music therapist, completing a Bachelor of Music Therapy at the
University of Queensland in 2007. Alexandra specialises in dementia care, supporting families through the
dementia trajectory with music therapy programs such as choirs for people with dementia and their
families, music technology including iPod and iPad programs, community and connection through music
programs, music in palliative care and intergenerational play through music. Since 2010 Alexandra has
been producing a diverse range of innovative arts and community development projects in aged care,
achieving national recognition in arts and health, most recently directing the Meander
Valley Festival of Creative Ageing in 2016 and 2017. Alexandra provides education and consultancy to
aged care staff, focusing on person centred lifestyle programs and frequently presents work at national
conferences, including the Aged Care Quality Agency
Conference 2017 Melbourne, ‘Creative Ageing – Engaging community, changing culture, raising
expectations and challenging the ‘ageing well’ concept, 17th Alzheimer’s Australia
Biennial National Dementia Conference Melbourne, 2017, Intergenerational Music Play
Project – A celebration of musical connection between young and old.

                                          27
AMTA2018 – PDS ABSTRACTS

Jeannette Harvey
Jeannette Harvey is an Occupational Therapist who has worked in the Age Cared Sector for nearly 40
years, in Residential Aged Care Facilities and Community and Rehabilitation Teams. She has 21 years of
experience working in an Aged Care Assessment Team, employed by NSW Health. She has been an RMT
for 9 years and completed her master’s degree in music therapy at UTS in 2012. Her aged care Music
Therapy work has been in RACF’s, a day centre, and providing home-based sessions for people with
dementia and their carers. Jeannette feels optimistic that there are avenues for RMT’s to become
providers under the Commonwealth Government’s My Aged Care system and through NSW Health,
alongside other allied health services. She is passionate about promoting Music Therapy and creating
networks and within the Health System for the benefit of our elderly population. She has found a satisfying
balance in her part time work in ACAT with developing early childhood intervention and community music
programs. She partners with Schools as Communities Centres, Non-Government Organisations and NSW
Health staff within the Sydney area. She thrives on these collaborations and adapting her programs for to
fulfil needs. One of her hopes is that we can create opportunities for those at the beginning and end of life
to engage with and benefit from each other.

Elizabeth Benedict
Elizabeth has worked at Montefiore Residential Care as part of the Creative Therapy team for the past 11
years. Her passion and area of special interest lies with those people who have dementia. Her expertise is
in being receptive to the 'meeting point' that stimulates communication, engagement and memory, while
facilitating meaningful interaction and connection.
She holds a Bachelor of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music, UK, and spent many years
teaching children and adults in schools and in her own private practice, as well as playing in
orchestras. On moving to Australia, she worked in a Steiner setting for Adults with special needs and this
prompted her to change musical direction and undertake postgraduate study in Music Therapy at UTS.

This Q&A session hopes to explore how RMTs are responsive and flexible to meet the ever-changing
needs of community and residential aged care service providers, the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency,
consumers and their families. With the introduction of Australian government's draft aged care quality
standards and a greater focus on consumer choice, how can Music Therapists maximise the opportunities
in supporting consumer's independence, health, wellbeing and quality of life? We would also like to have
conversations around our music therapy sessions in practice and managing expectations of residents,
management, families and self.

                                         28
AMTA2018 – PDS ABSTRACTS

Spice Up Your Guitar Playing and Improvising
Ann Lehmann1
1
Wollongong Conservatorium
                                        Harbour Bridge Room, September 14, 2018, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Biography:
Ann Lehmann-Kuit (RMT) is an engaging facilitator, music therapist, teacher and performer. She has a
passion for connecting through music and enjoys developing creative networks in the community
facilitating children and adults’ creative processes.
Ann is passionate about teaching guitar and improvisation, inspiring students to become flexible and
creative musicians. She is a guest lecturer at WSU for the Masters of Creative Music Therapy and is a
casual tutor for the music undergraduate program at the University of Wollongong. She has taught guitar
at the Wollongong Conservatorium for 25 years where she also runs music therapy sessions.

‘Spice up your guitar playing and improvising’ will cover a range of different strumming and
accompaniment styles to let you get creative with what you already know. This session is aimed at
beginner through to intermediate level guitarists.

This practical workshop will cover energising styles like funk, rock, reggae, fandango and tarantellas as
well as the blues and more gentle accompaniment styles that create space for vocal improvisation. We’ll
look at informing your playing with bass lines and explore simple approaches to chord progressions to
spice up your improvising.

We will have some spare guitars available but please bring along your guitar if possible.

                                         29
AMTA2018 – PDS ABSTRACTS

So You Want To Run Your Own Music Therapy Business/Clinic?

Iani Sujono1 and Rob Devlin1
1
    Sound Expression
                                           Opera House Room, September 14, 2018, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Biography:

Iani Sujono
Iani is a Senior Registered Music Therapist with over 19 years’ experience and she is a Director of Sound
Expression. Iani has worked with numerous clinical populations in many different settings. She founded
Sound Expression in 2000. In 2001 she was invited by Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia to join
their team and she was an integral part, as Operations Manager, of growing their business to 500 clients
per week. Iani then re-established her Sound Expression business in late 2015 and has successfully grown it
into a very busy clinic with 3 workrooms and 5 RMTs servicing 140 clients through private, HCWA and
NDIS funding.

Rob Devlin
Rob is a Senior Registered Music Therapist with over 10 years’ experience and he is a Director of Sound
Expression. Rob has also worked with numerous clinical populations in many different settings. He was
previously Senior Music Therapist and Head of Business Development for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
Australia, overseeing it grow to servicing over 700 clients per week. He joined Iani at Sound Expression in
2017 where his role is divided between clinical work and new business development initiatives.

Our presentation will focus on our key learnings in establishing, managing and growing a busy music
therapy business or clinic. We will share with you how we have adapted our business to grow quickly to
servicing 140 individual clients.

We’ll keep it as practical and useful as possible – so whether you are a sole practitioner, a contractor
working for other organisations or already running your own clinic, there will be plenty of information
and tips that you can take home and adapt for your own use.

Topics that we will touch on include:
   • Developing your vision and clarifying your sense of purpose - refining your niche
   • Developing flexibility and adaptability
   • The balancing act of “wearing many hats” (RMT, Business owner, Planner/Strategist, Supervisor,
        Administrator, Bookkeeper, Business Development, HR, Cleaner)
   • Business planning and knowing your numbers – Budget / Profit & Loss / Cashflow
   • Marketing your business
   • Systemising your business
   • Staffing – the most challenging element of any business
   • Risk management – financial risk and business risk

It will be an impactful and practical workshop, so come along for some fresh ideas and strategies on how
to grow your music therapy business

                                         30
AMTA2018 – PDS ABSTRACTS

Mental Health Q&A Session
Kate Aitchison1, Jennifer Bibb2, Linda Blyth3 and Talitha Evans4
1
 Children’s Health Queensland, 2University of Melbourne & St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, 3South West Allied
Therapies
                                               Sydney Tower Room, September 14, 2018, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Biography:
Kate Aitchison
Kate Aitchison is a registered music therapist with 13 years’ experience providing therapeutic services across the
lifespan, in a variety of settings. She completed her music therapy training in 2005, and obtained a Master of Mental
Health, psychotherapy in 2013. In 2008 Kate began employment with Child and Youth Mental Health Services
(CYMHS) in Brisbane. Since then, she has worked in acute inpatient settings, consultation liaison and intensive
outpatient programs.
In 2009, Kate ran a CYMHS-based program for children under 4 and their primary care-giver focussing on healthy
attachment and bonding, in conjunction with Heart Kids and Sing & Grow. She also ran a pilot project with Dr
Genevieve Dingle, University of Queensland. The manualised program, Tuned In, is based on Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT) principles. It utilises music listening in a group setting to evoke and process emotions. Kate currently
works with adolescents with chronic and complex mental health needs in a CYMHS day program. She is also
undertaking her PhD, focusing on music therapy assessment with adolescents in mental health settings.
Jennifer Bibb
Jen is a senior RMT at St Vincent’s Mental Health Service and Peninsula Mental Health Service in Victoria, working
within inpatient and community mental health settings. Jen is Mental Health Representative for the Industry
Engagement Committee for the AMTA. She completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2016 on the role of
group singing in mental health recovery and works now within the music therapy team at the University of
Melbourne as the student coordinator of breadth subjects Music Psychology and Music and Health. As well as
continuing research and clinical work as an RMT in this area, Jen has also recently begun working as an Eating
Disorders Clinician within the Body Image Eating Disorders Treatment and Recovery Service (BETRS) at St. Vincent’s
Hospital.
Linda Blyth
Linda Blyth is a Registered Music Therapist and Occupational Therapist with 32 years clinical experience working
across the lifespan in diverse community based government, non-government and private settings, with
specialisation in recent years with children, young people and adults with sensory modulation, attachment trauma
and co-morbid mental health issues and their families. Based in regional city of Bunbury in WA for 20 years, Linda
has worked in government adult community mental health and CAMHS teams, Disability Services Commission, in
private practice with contracts in aged-palliative care and paediatrics. She currently works in two part-time positions:
as an OT in a children’s services agency supporting foster families with children in out of home care; and as a Senior
OT and RMT in an allied health private practice with clients ranging in age from 2 yrs through to 92 years.
Talitha Evans
My name is Talitha Evans and I am an RMT who graduated from a Bachelor of Music and then my Masters of CMT in
2010 at WSU. Since then I have developed a music therapy program in the Salvation Army which is located across
multiple locations providing opportunity for access to music therapy for a free or discounted rate, for those who
other wise wouldn’t be able to afford it. I have also worked in a large variety of facilities and with a vast variety of
client population groups, and am currently working at Redbank House, which is a child and adolescent mental health
hospital in Westmead. As well as work, I am happily married and a mum to my beautiful little girl, Elsie. I am
passionate about music therapy and excited to have the opportunity to talk to you.

This Q&A panel will begin an important discussion around the future of music therapy work in mental
health care. Where do music therapists fit in hospital and community mental health contexts? What kind
of jobs do we have in these areas? Where do we fit within contemporary recovery-oriented practice?
What are the challenges of working within this setting and how can we minimise these? What additional
training is helpful for working in this setting? A range of perspectives from experienced RMTs working
within child, adolescent and adult mental health contexts around Australia will be offered. Questions and
contributions to discussion are encouraged.

                                              31
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