Services - Music Therapy
- Clinical Programs
- Paediatric Music Therapy Clinical Training Program
- Internship
- The internship for January-June 2011 is now open.
- The internship for July-December 2011 is now open.
- Music In Health Program
- Staff Consultation
- Seminar & Lectures
Services are focused on several wards (see Clinical Programs below). Staff from other departments may refer infants or children of any age for Music Therapy, and they will be placed on the list for service as time permits. The service is family-centred, and therefore may involve all members of the family as appropriate. The children and/or families might be referred when they are anxious, depressed, in pain, immobile, angry, withdrawn, isolated or long-term patients. While the majority of clients are in-patients, some children are seen in out-patient clinics.
Referrals maybe made by staff via the IBA computer system, e-mail, telephone or referral form.
Parents should ask their bedside nurse or care manager about making a referral.
Please be aware that the Music Therapy Unit does have waiting lists, and may not be able to provide immediate service.
Clinical Programs
Adolescent Program
Clinician: Meagan Hunt [meagan.hunt@rch.org.au]
The adolescent ward at Royal Children’s Hospital acknowledges the unique needs of young people at this developmental stage. Music therapy has become an integral part of the care provided for young people while they are inpatients. The music therapist works with the young people in groups settings or individually, focusing on providing psychological support and opportunities for expression through playing music, listening to music, composing songs, analysing lyrics and assisted discussion.
The most common techniques used to engage young people in Music Therapy are listening and playing familiar songs, composing original songs and jamming. Song writing has become an integral part of the adolescent program as it is an age appropriate activity. Adolescents understand the popular culture of song writing and in a music therapy context utilise its therapeutic qualities to express their evolving identity in relation not only to their developmental stage but also the illness or trauma that has brought them into hospital. Group jamming is a perfect way to get several young people together and engage in normalised peer interaction while having some fun.
The adolescent music therapy program has been fortunate to receive state of the art equipment from Allans music including a computer with music software, electric guitars and an electric drum kit. This allows the young people to record their own music or songs that they have composed while in hospital. Recording the young people’s songs has also become an integral part of the program that accompanies the song writing component
Children’s Cancer Centre
In-patient
Out-patient
Lumbar Puncture/Bone Marrow Aspirate Clinic
Clinicians: Beth Dun (in-patient & lumbar puncture clinic) [beth.dun@rch.org.au ] and (Clinician: To Be Appointed ) (school age & adolescent inpatients, lumbar puncture clinic)
The journey for the child with cancer can take several years from diagnosis to resolution. Music therapy provides the unique service of accompanying the child for the entire journey. Music therapy interventions are aimed at diminishing anxiety while encouraging active engagement with a patient's environment. Engagement enables children to develop positive, active coping strategies to manage their anxiety and stress. Music can alter stressful characteristics of the hospital environment and help divert the patient’s attention away from a source of distress. A child's mood can shift to a more positive state as they begin to experience success and mastery in their environment. Engagement in music helps children maximise the positive experience they share with families, other children and staff. This has important implications in helping children cope with stressful treatments and long-term side-effects. The experience of creating music together has been a source of comfort and support for many families during hospitalisation.
The PICs band is coordinated and supported by PICS music therapists who know the participants and understand the issues and complexities of the cancer experience. Children and young people who live with cancer often find it hard to relate to their peers post diagnosis. Being a member of a band is a powerful opportunity to be a part of a positive peer group where they can excel, and somewhere that celebrates their talents and achievements. It also provides a safe place to rehearse social skills that may have been eroded during hospitalisation, as well as somewhere to talk about common experiences.The PICs band is coordinated and supported by PICS music therapists who know the participants and understand the issues and complexities of the cancer experience. Children and young people who live with cancer often find it hard to relate to their peers post diagnosis. Being a member of a band is a powerful opportunity to be a part of a positive peer group where they can excel, and somewhere that celebrates their talents and achievements. It also provides a safe place to rehearse social skills that may have been eroded during hospitalisation, as well as somewhere to talk about common experiences.
Neonate and Infant Program
Clinician: Helen Shoemark [helen.shoemark@rch.org.au ]
The Neonate and Infant Program gives priority services to infants under the age of 12 months and their families with a focus on the Neonatal Unit. We know that hospitalisation does not support normal infant development (Malloch et al in press), and therefore we provide formal intervention to encourage development. At birth, infants are “wired” for the sound of their mother’s voice as part of their survival mechanism (Graven, 2008) and therefore the use of singing and music is full of potential.
Music therapy is a service which promotes healthy positive development within the hospital experience. Two main modalities are used:
- Making music together— Infant-directed singing is an experience in which parent and infant are uniquely attuned to each other, promoting healthy attachment. The act of singing encourages mothers or fathers to breathe more deeply, and to become focused on their baby as a baby rather than a patient.
- Recorded Music— The music therapist works with the family to create a small library of recorded music. The music is introduced over several days by the parents, to build a solid psychological association between the music and their loving care. Then the music may be used to support the infant in transition to sleep, post-procedure or in unsettled times.
The Music therapy for vulnerable infants study provided us with data to clearly explain the value of singing. Results from a neurobehavioral assessment of the infants suggested that music therapy helps infants to cope with hospitalisation. Infants who did not receive the therapy deteriorated on scales of irritability and crying, while infants who did receive the therapy demonstrated much greater resilience on these measures.
Neurosciences Program
Clinician: Janeen Bower [janeen.bower@rch.org.au ]
Music therapy in the Children’s Neuroscience Centre provides services to babies, children and adolescents with disorders, illness and/or injuries of the brain and nerves. The program serves patients in the Children’s Neuroscience Centre and the Intensive Care Unit with priority given to long term patients. Music therapy provides a unique opportunity to address the often complex and multiple needs of children with neurologic conditions.
Music therapy for children with neurologic conditions is based on knowledge of the brain’s processing of music and the influence of music on non-musical functions, including motor, cognitive, sensory and emotional. Assessment for service considers the individual patient, including; health status, age, musical preferences, family and hospital environment.
Rehabilitation Service
Clinician: Janeen Bower [janeen.bower@rch.org.au ]
Rehabilitation is often a challenging time for children. As part of the multi-disciplinary team, music therapy aims to improve the functional abilities of children and young people following major illness, injury or procedure. As a familiar medium, music may give meaning and increase motivation for repetitive rehabilitation tasks. Music therapy treatments for rehabilitation patients vary greatly according to the child and may address speech and language or motor rehabilitation as well as the social and emotional aspect of recovery. Children are encouraged to become actively involved in their Music Therapy program, both in the planning and implementation.
Paediatric Music Therapy Clinical Training Program
The Royal Children’s Hospital Music Therapy Unit has provided clinical training placements to individual University of Melbourne music therapy students since 1991. In 2005 external funding was provided for a broader paediatric music therapy clinical training program to be developed and the program now offers concurrent student placements for music therapy students undertaking an accredited course of music therapy. The Unit also accepts graduates from accredited overseas courses for a six month internship.
Music therapy students provide additional music therapy services supervised by the clinical supervisor. The clinical supervisor is responsible for placing students appropriately within the hospital, direct observation of student work, supervision, debriefing, and co-ordination of supporting activities. Projects are undertaken by the students examining the effectiveness of the music therapy program.
The Music Therapy Unit’s team of experienced clinicians offers the students specialisation in their clinical domains.
Internship
Recognition of internship
The team's clinical training and internship program at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne is accepted by the Australian Music Therapy Association. Internationally, we have agreements with:
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The University of Missouri, Kansas City
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The University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
NB. If you trained at a program other than the above, you are responsible for ensuring that the internship will be supported by your University or professional accreditation program. Please speak to your professor or local accreditation board about pursuing an international internship.
Insurance
Interns are covered for a minimal amount under the hospital’s insurance. It is not a requirement of the hospital normally with exception of senior medical staff who are strongly encouraged to have their own insurance.
Focus of internship
The clinical specialisation of the internship is neonatology under the direction of supervisor Dr Helen Shoemark. This means that the majority of the clinical caseload will be with neonates and infants. However, the intern will also provide clinical services to children and adolescents on other wards at the discretion of the supervisor.
For the full internship program, please click [HERE] PDF 130kb
The closing date for the internship is very early to accommodate the timeline for an international student visa application.
The closing date for the January-June 2011 internship is June 30, 2010.
For the application form, please click [HERE] PDF 40kb
For further information, please contact Coordinator of Clinical Training Beth Dun, after reading all materials presented on this webpage.
Music in Health Program
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Music in Health program was an initiative of the Music Therapy Unit. With a five year history of providing occasional Music Health projects, the priority of the current Music in Health program is to provide safe and enjoyable experiences of music for everyone involved (recipients and performers alike).
The program currently runs on a model of twice yearly modules of performances. In 2010, the mid year 'Making Music Being Well' week and the ‘Christmas Carolling Season’ will bring around 23 performing groups and more than 100 musicians (including choral groups and choirs) into the hospital. All the musicians volunteered their time.
Making Music Being Well is an initiative of the Australian Music Therapy Association. The idea behind Making Music Being Well is to help get more people thinking about the therapeutic and recreational benefits of being musically active. The message is: sing or play a musical instrument. It’s good for you! http://www.makingmusicbeingwell.org.au/
Staff Consultation
On request, music therapists advise other members about the application of music in their area. They work with staff to prepare suitable auditory stimulation for areas such as the ward, treatment rooms, bathrooms, and play-rooms.
Seminars & Lectures
The music therapists present lectures, seminars and talks to professional and community groups. If you are interested in having a music therapist speak to your group please contact our department on 9345 5421. In some instances a fee is charged for this service.
