Committee
Natalie Jack (Chairperson)
Karen Bolger (Vice Chairperson)
Eleanor McNab (Secretary)
Jo Rimmer (Treasurer)
Kristy Biber (General Member – Job Register)
Amy Howden (General Member)
Karina Charczuk (General Member – Tutti/Work Experience)
Priscilla Pek (Student Representative)
Contact
email:amta_vic@hotmail.com
phone: 03 9517 1775
post: P.O. Box 365 Chelsea 3196
Upcoming Events
Click on the link below to find all the details of this year’s Vic Branch AGM. Held on Thursday 10th November at the Fitzroy Bowls club. 6pm start and bare foot bowls to follow!
RSVP is essential for catering purposes by 1st November.
Tune Up series
Workshop - Professional Resilience for Music Therapists - facilitated by Michelle Bihary of The Delta Centre
Ever wondered how to avoid burn out and make the most out of a long and happy career as a music therapist? This workshop will help guide you in the right direction. Michelle is an expert on resilience, mentoring, leadership and emotional intelligence.
The third of the Tune Up! workshop series will be on the 18th August once again at the Bowls Club. Cost is $30 per person. Join us for a bistro dinner at the Bowls Club from 6pm onwards. Daily changing menu, prices start at $10 and always include a vegetarian option. Come along for fun, networking and learn how to look after yourself and prolong your career in music therapy.
Fitzroy Bowls Club, 578 Brunswick St, Fitzroy North
(located next to Edinburgh Gardens, parking available on St Georges Rd and surrounding streets, Tram 112 runs right outside)
This time Michelle will be speaking about Emotional Intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence, a new area of psychological research, describes the ability to perceive and manage the emotions of one’s self, others, and groups. Well developed skills in Emotional Intelligence (EI) are essential for successful leadership, and positive and productive relationships with colleagues and clients. It also greatly assists with burnout prevention.
Research now shows an inverse relationship between emotional intelligence and professional burnout, whichgives us an even stronger impetus to develop ourselves in this way. Unlike intellectual intelligence, emotional intelligence can be improved through enhanced self awareness and a commitment to develop specific skills.
This workshop provides detailed knowledge and practical skills in the application of EI to workplace contexts. It explores ways to enhance ones own emotional intelligence, and can be easily applied to therapeutic work. It will focus on ways of enhancing the emotional intelligence of ones self and ones colleagues. This workshop has been tailored to meet the needs of health professionals who are seeking to develop their emotional intelligence skills at all levels of experience.
RSVP to amta_vic@hotmail.com or 9517 1775 to confirm your place. RMTs will be eligible for CPD points for AMTA registration
Vic Branch News
Free Workshop! Article Writing Skills
Provided by Vic Branch and facilitated by Dr Katrina McFerran.
Wednesday 26th October. Arrive at 6:30 for a 7pm start to finish by 8:30.
Held at Melbourne University in the Ken Bruscia Room (upstairs) at 151 Barry St.
Writing about your work can be a very rewarding experience. It gives you the opportunity to share some of your best therapeutic moments with your peers and opens up interesting discussions with colleagues. Preparing a clinical scenario for publication does take some effort, since it needs to be explained in context of the literature, which may have changed since you last had time to thoroughly research current knowledge. The Australian Journal of Music Therapy is increasingly interested in articles that describe music therapy practice in this country and the ways that it is related to, and informed by, international theories and models.
Dr Katrina McFerran will lead a workshop on refining your article writing skills covering topics such as clarifying your idea, making an argument and searching the literature. The importance of mentors will also be discussed, as well as understanding the review process.
Don’t miss this fantastic (and free!) Professional Development opportunity and the chance to catch up with other music therapists.
Vic Branch is on Facebook!
Just a reminder to all you tech-savvy RMTs, that Vic Branch now has a Facebook page. Please ‘like’ us on facebook to have access to updates, links, info and resources about music therapy around the world. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/AMTA-Vic-Branch/138485946161984 to check out our page
Job Register
The AMTA Vic Branch Job Register is emailed to all Victorian RMTs. For interstate RMTs wishing to view current jobs, contact us at amta_vic@hotmail.com.
Work Experience and Observation
Work experience placements
The purpose of work experience placements is for high school students to gain an introduction and exposure to Music Therapy and the settings in which it may be used, in order to decide if they wish to pursue a career in the field.
Placements are generally for the duration of a week (with the possibility of visiting more than one facility).
Observation placements
The purpose of observation placements is for students or members of the public who are considering applying to study Music Therapy to gain a broad understanding of the profession and the settings in which it may be used.
The lengths of the placements are negotiable (generally a day or two) and at the supervisor’s discretion.
The process
When a student sends an email seeking a work experience placement, they are provided with three documents: a letter outlining the placement process, the database of work experience supervisors, and a placement request form to send on to the RMT they select from the database.
When someone sends an email seeking an observation placement, they are provided with the database of observation supervisors. (This service is also provided by the University of Melbourne).
Benefits of supervising
The benefits of supervising work experience and observation students include gaining a better insight into your own practice through explaining it to others, sharing the joy of music therapy with interested parties, increasing public understanding of music therapy, and helping to expand our profession!
Contact us!
Email Karina at vic.work.exp@hotmail.com if you are interested in being on the database of work experience and/or observation supervisors. If you hear of anyone seeking a placement in music therapy, please refer them to the same address.
Special Interest Groups
The Victorian Branch Special Interest Groups are currently being restructured to better meet the needs of Victorian RMTs. SIGs have provided ”professional support” to RMTs for many years through:
1) The opportunity for RMTs to get together in a relaxed and informal arrangement
2) opportunity to network and “pick each others brains”
3) opportunity to debrief
4) to learn more
5) to share resources
More information soon about professional support!