Passing of Edith Hillman Boxill

We are saddened to hear of the passing of eminent American music therapist Edith Hillman Boxill on October 11th 2005.  
Edith Boxill was a pioneering force in music therapy, a thoughtful and articulate author and one of the founders of Music Therapists for Peace.  We particularly remember her seminal text Music therapy for the developmentally disabled (1984) in which she introduced us to the pivotal concept of the “continuum of awareness”.

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New Research Appointments for Pioneers

Associate Professor Denise Grocke has been appointed Associate Dean Research in 2006 in the Faculty of Music. 50% of her time will be involved in administration related to the research activities of the faculty such as  research grant funding, raising the faculty’s profile as a research school, facilitating research with collaborative partners and increasing publications.  This appointment recognises the ground-breaking work Denise has done in developing the National Music Therapy Research Unit at the University of Melbourne.
 
Dr. Clare O’Callaghan has been appointed a Research Fellow in the Faculty of Music.  Clare has for many years been a prolific author of publications in major international music therapy journals, and her appointment strengthens ties with Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute so that further research studies can be facilitated.

Best wishes to two of our pioneers on their new appointments!

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Melbourne University secures ARC funding for 3 year project

The Australian Research Council has contributed $70,000 towards a music therapy action research project in a Melbourne secondary school. A community music therapy model will be used to work with a group of bereaved young people in order to investigate ways of using music to foster resilience during adolescence. Dr Katrina McFerran will oversee the project from the University.

Tipping the Scales: Fostering a healthy adolescence through musical participation

Previous research suggests that active participation in structured leisure activities, such as music, can help teenagers to cope with adverse experiences. In contrast, lack of connection with peers through such activities can hinder coping. This is particularly relevant when considering bereaved adolescents because the unsuccessful management of a significant loss can trigger mental illness in the worst of circumstances. This project evaluates the benefits of a structured music therapy group intervention to foster resilience and enhance self-worth. Innovative strategies of musical data analysis will be used to supplement traditional measurements, providing multiple perspectives on the relationship between creativity and resilience.

A further research project, funded by the University of Melbourne, will be undertaken simultaneously to conceptually investigate the relationship between adolescents and music. A survey methodology will be utilised to clarify the influence of music on adolescents and ensure that this information is used effectively in the design and refinement of early intervention programs that foster coping and resilience during adolescence. It is hoped that this pilot project will lead to further ARC Linkage funding with the Centre for Adolescent Health in Melbourne.

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Opera Therapy featured in SBS Documentary

SBS THURSDAY NOV 10TH - 8:30 pm

STORYLINE AUSTRALIA - OPERA THERAPY

This film documents the therapeutic journey of four people who are living with cancer as they experience the transformative power of self-expression while creating an opera based on their personal stories, under the guidance of music therapist Emma O'Brien. The program examines the extraordinary effects of the whole opera therapy process to help these cancer patients heal emotionally. The filming of this documentary took place throughout the creative process, displaying the innovative composing methods used by Emma to tap into the participants' innate musicality and bring their stories to life as an opera. The film offers an extraordinary insight into the cancer patients' journey, including their treatment and the consequences of their disease. It highlights the vital role that music and self expression play in health.(Commissioned by SBS Independent, in English) CC.

For full details of the documentary, click here

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Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia appoints its first General Manager

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia recently announced the appointment of PETA WILLIAMS as its first General Manager. Peta is well known to many in the arts community as the Manager of the Music Board of the Australia Council, a position she held from 1997 until recently. Previously Peta was Program Manager and then Acting Principal Policy Officer with the NSW Ministry for the Arts.

Peta is also a registered music therapist.

The Chair of Nordoff-Robbins, Judith Rutherford said " I think we have scored a considerable coup in attracting Peta to this position: her background and experience in arts management and her wide knowledge of the national music community will provide us with an unique opportunity to enter the next stage of our development. Each day the benefits of music therapy are being more readily embraced by education and health professionals and the growing demand by the public for our service has led directly to this appointment."  

Nordoff- Rob bins Music Therapy Australia is a registered charity with international affiliations. It operates the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre at Kingswood NSW, where it provides clinical music therapy to the community of Penrith Valley and delivers a Masters course in creative music therapy jointly with the University of Western Sydney .

Peta takes up the position in September . For more information contact: nhampton@ozemail.com.au or visit www.nordoff-robbins@uws.edu.au

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New Editor for Australian Journal of Music Therapy

After four years at the helm of the Australian Journal of Music Therapy, Dr Clare O'Callaghan has stepped down from her position, vowing to AMTA Inc. members that "I'll be back!". We wish Dr O'Callaghan a very enjoyable break from her tireless commitment to AJMT and thank her for the developments she has made. During her editorship, Dr O'Callaghan worked hard not only to produce a high-quality journal, but also to make the journal accessible throughout the world by inclusion on databases. Thanks to her work, AJMT is currently abstracted and/or indexed in the Australian Medical Index, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Music Therapy World Journal Indexd and PsychINFO. She has also been ably assisted by Jane Edwards, Assistant Editor. Clare performed her role without much of the usual technical backup and material assistance that most editors have available, and the growth and development of the AJMT is a credit to her scholarly and professional approach to the work.

We now welcome Dr Felicity Baker as the new Editor of AJMT.

Dr Baker is head of music therapy training at The University of Queensland and has been practising and researching music therapy since 1992 and been serving as editorial board member for The Nordic Journal of Music Therapy since 2000. She is a past president of AMTA and is currently serving her second term on the National Education Committee. In 2004, she was awarded her PhD in music therapy from Aalborg University in the area of music therapy and neurorehabilitation. Her record of publications is impressive with refereed publications in music therapy and interdisciplinary journals. More recently, she has published a co-edited book together with Professor Tony Wigram titled Songwriting: methods, techniques and clinical applications for music therapy clinicians, educators, and students. 

We look forward to many more years of success for our journal under Dr Baker's guidance.

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Sing and Grow National Roll-out Launched in Style

The 1.7 million dollar national roll-out of the Sing and Grow project was launched in style at the World Congress of Music Therapy on Wednesday July 20, 2005, with programs due to start around the country in the following week. Queensland Governor, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce formally launched Sing & Grow’s national expansion. The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Minister for Vocational Training and Technical Education, Mr Gary Hardgrave, on behalf of the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, was also be in attendance.

Vicky Abad and Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce

Sing & Grow was established in July 2001 in partnership with Playgroup Queensland and is an early intervention program that targets families that may have additional or special needs. Sing & Grow National Director Ms Vicky Abad said Sing & Grow would expand to offer programs in all states and territories in Australia for the first time. “To date 841 children have participated in 63 programs in Queensland and northern New South Wales. With the national expansion more than 3,000 children will benefit from this program,” she said. “Sing & Grow uses music to strengthen parent-child and family relationships and improve child development by encouraging parents to interact with their children through musical play, and most importantly, develop skills that can be transferred into the home environment.

In response to the national expansion, RMTs have been recruited across Australia, with almost 30 RMTs involved in a day of intensive training prior to the World Congress. The program now includes 5 full-time positions, one half-time position and many contract session leaders. Staff were not only trained in the clinical skills required to lead Sing & Grow sessions, but also the extensive evaluation process that will see Sing & Grow collect independent, empirical evidence of its benefits over the next three years.

For more information contact Vicky Abad, vabad@playgroupqld.com.au

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Congratulations to Milpera State High School

UPDATE SEPT 2005 - Milpera State High School's HEAL program (Home of Expressive Arts Learning), comprising both music and arts therapies, was recently recognised with the 2005 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Inclusive Education and a total of $26,000 of prize money, after a four month judging process. The awards program aims to recognise, celebrate and reward excellent practice in state schools. Eight state winners were announced from an initial 183 entries.

Minister for Education and Arts, Mr Rob Welford,
HEAL team, Jane Griffin & Carolyn Jones

The HEAL Program at Milpera is an integrated creative arts therapy program that aims to enhance learning outcomes for the school’s most vulnerable students by supporting their coping skills, building on their developing language and literacy abilities and providing opportunities for success. Milpera is an intensive English language and settlement service for high school aged refugee and migrant students who have recently arrived in Australia . The students come from over 30 different countries, with 75% of students at the school being refugees and most of those having little or no previous educational experience. Many students have come from war-torn countries and some 30% have lost one or both parents. The normal difficulties experienced as a result migration and adolescence further compounds issues of trauma and grief. It is within this context that the HEAL program has established itself as an essential support service within the school.

The program currently employs both a registered music therapist and a creative arts therapist in part-time positions. Registered Music Therapist, Carolyn Jones, said that the program is innovative in terms of its multiethnic group work context, the school setting and the complexity of needs addressed. Using interventions such as song writing, song singing and instrumental improvisation, the music therapy program addresses a broad range of needs including issues of behaviour management, adjustment, peer relationships building across cultures, grief and loss, socialisation, self-esteem and literacy amongst others. The schools Arts Therapist, Jane Griffin uses class-based art experiences for relaxation and sand-play therapy as a form of counselling with students.

One of the strengths of the submission was the results of the research project conducted in 2004. The research was funded by the Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund and completed in collaboration with the University of Queensland . Chief Investigator, Dr Felicity Baker , found that short-term music therapy with adolescent refugees led to a significant reduction in aggression and hyperactivity in the classroom.

“Importantly, recognition during the Showcase Awards for Excellence has led to many people within Education Queensland becoming very familiar with the role and potential benefits of music therapy in schools” said Carolyn. “As more schools look to our program as a model, I’m am hopeful that we can work towards government funding for such programs.”

For more information about HEAL, contact Milpera State High School on 07 3379 5588, or Carolyn Jones by phone 0419 990 155 or email carolyn.jones@optusnet.com.au .

For more information about Showcase Awards for Excellence, see the website http://education.qld.gov.au/community/events/showcase/

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ORIGINAL ENTRY - The music therapy and creative arts program at Milpera State High School in Queensland is being recognised through a highly regarding education department awards scheme. The 2005 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Education recognises outstanding initiatives in Queensland public schools. Milpera has become a state finalist in the category Excellence in Inclusive Education, for their integrated creative arts therapy program, HEAL (Home of Expressive Arts Learning). Music Therapist, Carolyn Jones, said that " the music therapy program in particular is a strength of our submission in the awards scheme, due to the outcomes of a research project conducted at the school last year". The research project was funded by the Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund and completed in collaboration with the University of Queensland. The outcomes included a significant reduction in aggression and hyperactivity in the classroom. The 2005 Showcase Awards for Excellence conclude late August.

The HEAL program aims to enhance learning outcomes for newly-arrived refugee and migrant students, by supporting their psychological, emotional, developmental and social needs. The students come from over 30 different countries, with 75% of students at the school being refugees and some 25% having lost one or both parents. Most of the refugees have little or no previous educational experience. Through interventions such as song writing, song singing and instrumental improvisation, the music therapy program addresses issues of adjustment, peer relationship building across cultures, grief and loss, socialisation, self-esteem and literacy amongst others. The program currently employs both a registered music therapist and a creative arts therapist in part-time positions. For more information, contact Milpera State High School on 07 3379 5588 or email Carolyn Jones.

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Congratulations Kylie Morgan!

Kylie Morgan

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