News From Australia

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Anja Tait, BMus, RMT
Regional Liaison for
Australia/New Zealand
Contact: australianewzealand@wfmt.info[/caption]

Hi all,

See below some recent highlights for music therapy in our region. This month's focus is on Australia. In February I look forward to writing about current research, education, practice and events in New Zealand. For more information see the following websites:

Australian Music Therapy Association www.austmta.org.au

Music Therapy New Zealand http://www.musictherapy.org.nz

Research

Dr. Felicity Baker, School of Music, was awarded $70 000 from the University of Queensland Foundation Research Excellence Awards, for her project investigating how music therapy might help, husbands, wives and partners who care for a partner with dementia, by providing opportunities for the sharing of memories associated with certain songs.

Dr. Helen Shoemark was conferred with her doctorate on Monday 31st March at the Faculty of Music University of Melbourne. Helen's study investigated the markers of interplay between the music therapist and the medically fragile new-born infant. Seven markers were identified through analysis of the empirical data by video micro-analysis. The findings make a seminal contribution to music therapy clinical practice with hospitalised newborn infants.

Events

The Music and Wellbeing symposium will focus on how science can help us to understand the cultural and biological basis of how music participation impacts on community life. Join with Australian and International theorists – Jon Hawkes (Community Music Victoria) and Brynjulf Stige (www.voices.no). University of Melbourne, 10-12 February 2009. http://www.mccp.unimelb.edu.au/music-and-wellbeing

Making Music Being Well

This is a joint initiative of the Australian Music Therapy Association and the Music Council of Australia, coordinated by Catherine Threlfall, RMT. Making Music Being Well is an annual event all about celebrating the links between making music and feeling good! The 2008 events involved music therapists and other health professionals; community and professional musicians; teachers, pre-school, family and day care workers; aged care professionals, music store owners, community volunteers, disability service staff, workplace choirs and bands. Together these people created an opportunity to raise awareness about the links between music making and wellbeing.http://www.makingmusicbeingwell.org.au/content/view/35/6

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