Accredited Courses
The National Education Board currently accredits courses at four universities. To be qualified as a Registered Music Therapist (RMT), students must complete one of the accredited courses listed below. All details of entrance criteria, course content and fees are available directly from those institutions. Also see registration details.
In addition to the Masters by Coursework, research Masters and PhD degrees are offered at the University of Melbourne, the University of Queensland, and the University of Western Sydney for Registered Music Therapists wishing to undertake clinical research.
The University of Melbourne, in conjunction with The Music and Imagery Association of Australia Inc, also offers advanced level training for Registered Music Therapists in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music .
Accreditation of Music Therapy Courses
Accreditation of courses by the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. provides assurance to Registered Music Therapists, employers, recipients of music therapy and the wider community that appropriate standards of training and education are implemented to produce high quality entry-level practitioners in the field of music therapy. Any graduate of an accredited music therapy course can apply for Registration with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. The Accreditation document articulates requirements for:
* The development of courses seeking accreditation with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. through the National Education Committee.
* The reporting and endorsement of major changes to accredited courses.
* Each accredited music therapy course will be reviewed each five years to validate Accreditation.
The validation procedure is outlined in the document “Validation of music therapy courses”. Accreditation is provided to new courses for a two-year provisional period. At the end of the first two years, the validation process will be undertaken and Accreditation either confirmed or removed. The course will be validated every five years after the initial Validation of Accreditation. Accreditation is given to a music therapy course when the requirements stated in this Accreditation document and the Competencies document, are met. Minor changes to a course of study should be reported and major changes should be submitted to the National Education Committee for endorsement. Further information on endorsement of changes can be found at the end of this document.
Validation of Music Therapy Courses
Validation is a procedure by which music therapy courses accredited with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. indicate how they meet each of the requirements outlined in the accreditation agreement through:
A. a review by the National Education Committee of a written submission from the course
B. site visit by a validation committee
Both the written submission and the site visit must receive the approval of the National Education Committee and the Validation Committee in order for validation to be approved.
The purpose of this process is to endorse and protect the highest possible standards in music therapy education and training that lead to Registration as a music therapist. Courses which do not meet the Accreditation standard required on Validation will have Accreditation withdrawn.
Courses in music therapy that are accredited with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. will undergo a process of validation of accreditation once every five years. New courses will be validated at the end of the first two years of provisional accreditation and then a further five years from that time.
In the case of significant changes being made to courses in the years between Validation of Accreditation, each course is required to receive endorsement from the National Education Committee. This procedure is outlined in the Accreditation document.
Universities considering the establishment of an accredited music therapy course are invited to contact the National Education Committee and refer to the above links to the Accreditation and Validation documents.
There are currently four music therapy training programs accredited with AMTA Inc:
Faculty of Music
University of Melbourne
Victoria. 3010
Undergraduate course enquiries: (03)8344.5256
Graduate course enquiries: (03) 8344.4337website: http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au
Course information:
http://www.unimelb.edu.au/HB/facs/MUSIC-S11700.html#S11708
http://www.music.unimelb.edu.au/courses/pgrad/index.html
Felicity Baker
f.baker1@mailbox.uq.edu.au
Co-ordinator, Music Therapy Programme
The University of Queensland
Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
Telephone: +61-7-3365-3740
Fax: +61-7-3365-4488
Masters Degree in Music Therapy
Faculty of Education
Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy is being replaced by Master of Arts in Music Therapy starting in 2007.
Co-ordinator: Dr Rosemary Faire, RMT
For course information and application forms: Faculty of Education Inquiries Office (02) 9514 5619
For further information: Dr Faire (02) 9514 5254 or Rosemary.Faire@uts.edu.au
Alan Lem (Course coordinator)
Locked Bag 1797
Penrith South DC
NSW 1797
Phone (02) 4736 0240
E mail: Alan Lem
Masters Degree in Creative Music Therapy*
The course is largely conducted at the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre on the UWS campus.
*Master of Creative Music Therapy at UWS offers four practical subjects, Music Therapy Skills 1, Creative Music Therapy Practicum 1, Music Therapy Skills 2 and Creative Music Therapy Practicum 2 for Registered Music Therapists who hold a Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy and who wish to refine their skills in clinical improvisation, leading to a Master’s degree in Creative Music Therapy. This program is offered over a two-year period.
Overseas Music Therapists
Qualified Music Therapists who have trained overseas and wish to work in Australia should contact the National Registration Committee at least 12 months prior to arriving. There are currently no reciprocal registration rights between AMTA Inc and other professional music therapy associations.