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Music Therapy Staff

• Beth Dun Senior Music Theapist
• Helen Shoemark PhD RMT
• Janeen Mackenzie BMus RMT AMusA
• Meagan Hunt BMus RMT

Beth Dun MMus BMus RMT AMusA

Senior Music Therapist, Team leader Music Therapy Unit
Coordinator — Music Therapy Clinical Placement Program
Clinician, Children’s Cancer Centre

Biographical Sketch

Beth Dun completed her Bachelor of Music (1988) and her Masters  Degree (1999) at the University of Melbourne. Early in her career she worked in special education with children with multiple disabilities and in nursing homes with older adults suffering from dementia. In 1991 Beth Dun was the first music therapist to be employed in a paediatric hospital in Australia. She was the inaugural music therapist at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 1991 and is now the Team Leader of the Music Therapy Unit at RCH. She has accepted invitations to present on her work at international conferences here and in Europe and has written book chapters and articles on music therapy in paediatric oncology. Beth has lectured in the University of Melbourne's Music Therapy course since 1992.

Beth has held the professional positions of Chair of Ethics and Vice-President of the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. and was a member of the Review panel for the Australian Journal of Music Therapy.

Clinical Interests

As a clinician, Beth has worked across all areas of the hospital including children’s cancer centre, neurosciences, rehabilitation, burns, orthopaedics, cardiology, day surgery, liver transplants, thoracic and renal. Her current clinical focus is in the Children’s Cancer Centre.  Beth co-ordinates the Paediatric Music Therapy Clinical Training Program.

Selected Presentations & Publications

Presentations

• Cumulative journeys of therapist and dyad: 'Bricolage' in music therapy with paediatric oncology, 11th World Congress of Music Therapy, Brisbane, 2005.
• Without a quaver: Music to allay anxiety before surgery. Day Surgery Special Interest Group and Victorian Paediatric Nursing Professional Development Seminar, 2004.
• Music Therapy in Oncology. Children with Cancer Short Course for Nurses, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, 2004.
• Music Therapy in  Paediatrics. Geelong Regional Teachers Continuing Professional Development, 2004.
• Music Therapy for Hospitalised Children. Lecture for Childcare Workers, Swinburne University, 2002.
• Supervision: An impossible task or a new beginning? A proposed model of practice for clinicians. National Conference of the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc., Brisbane, August 2000.
• Creativity and Communication: aspects of music therapy in a children's hospital. Music Therapy: Children with cancer Conference, University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany, June 1999.
• Music therapy in children with severe traumatic brain injury (with Dr Jeffrey Rosenfeld, Director of Neurosurgery, Royal Children's Hospital). International Society for MusicMedicine Symposium, University of Melbourne, July 1998.
• Music therapy with children with severe traumatic brain injury. AWCH Conference Melbourne, October 1998.

Contact Information

Mailing address:

Music Therapy,
Royal Children's Hospital,
Flemington Road
Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia

 

Telephone:	+61-(0)3-9345 5421
Fax:	+61-(0)3-9345 5090
Email:	beth.dun@rch.org.au

 

 

 

 

 

   

Helen Shoemark PhD RMT

Clinician, Neonate & Infant Program
Co-ordinator, Clinical Research Program
Co-ordinator, Music in Health Program

Biographical Sketch

Helen Shoemark completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne (1981) and her Master Degree at the University of Kansas, USA  (1985) and PhD at the National Music Therapy Research Unit, University of Melbourne (2007).  Prior to commencing at RCH in 1995, she worked with children with profound multiple disabilities, sensory impairments and autism.  She worked in special education settings, early intervention agencies, and private practice.  Helen was also Tutor in Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne from 1990 to 1993.

Helen has presented at national and international conferences over many years, and is published in refereed journals and international texts.

Helen has been the recipient of several grants for music therapy program and community based early intervention programs.  She has also been the recipient of an Australia Council grant, Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for Young Australians, and a Pied Piper travel grant from within the hospital.

Helen is a past President of the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc., and past Chair of the Continuing Professional Development Committee, National Registration and Education Board, and Publications committee. She is a reviewer for the Australian Journal of Music Therapy,  has convened two national conferences for AMTA Inc., and was responsible for sponsorship and marketing for the 11^th World Congress of Music Therapy.

Clinical Interests

After many years working in special education and family-centred, early intervention, Helen’s clinical work is focused on supporting the infant within the family during hospitalisation.  In direct work with infants, Helen is focused on the infant’s self and interactive regulation processes.  Helen’s main medium is contingent singing.  She also programs recorded music to be used as a supportive strategy by families and nurses.  Her clinical program has been a model for programs in Australia and the United States.

Research Interests

Music Therapy for vulnerable infants study

Helen collaborated with a team of researchers from RCH, MCRI, Mercy Hospital for Women and the MARCS Auditory Laboratories from the University of Western Sydney.  They are now writing up results for the ‘Music Therapy for Vulnerable Infants’ study.   This project funded by a Linkage Grant from the Australian Research Council examined the impact and qualities of a music therapy protocol for infants hospitalised over a long period of time.

Helen extracted unique data for a qualitative inquiry which asked, "What are the markers of interplay between the music therapist and medically fragile newborn infant?"  She completed this research for a PhD, awarded in 2008.  The thesis is available as a PDF from The University of Melbourne E-Repository.

Selected Presentations & Publications

Publications

• Shoemark, Helen & Dearn, Trish (in press, 2008).  Keeping the family at the centre of family-centred music therapy with hospitalised infants. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 19.
• Shoemark, Helen (in press, 2008). Mapping progress within an individual music therapy session with full-term hospitalized infants. Music Therapy Perspectives.
• Shoemark, H., Malloch, S., Newnham, C., Paul, C., Prior, M., rn ec, R. & Coward, S. (2007).   An investigation of intersubjectivity: Music therapy and hospitalised infants [Abstract]. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 43 (Suppl.1), A135.
• Shoemark, Helen (2007).  Live singing as an intervention for the hospitalised newborn. In F. Thomson-Salo & C. Paul (Eds.), The baby as subject : New directions in Infant-Parent therapy from the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (2^nd ed.),   (pp. 43-53). Melbourne: Stonnington Press.
• Shoemark, H. (2007) Music in health: Guidelines for musicians in hospitals. Royal Children’s Hospital & the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Outreach Program.
• Shoemark, Helen (2006). Infant-directed singing as a vehicle for regulation rehearsal in the medically fragile full-term infant. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 17, 54-63.
• (in press).  Music therapy and the hospitalised newborn infant.  Medical music therapy in the hospital setting.  AMTA Medical Monograph: Best practices in Music Therapy.  Washington DC: American Music Therapy Association.
• Shoemark, Helen (2004). Family-centred music therapy for infants with complex medical and surgical needs.   In M. Nocker (Ed).  Music therapy for premature and newborn infants. (141-157).  Gilsum, NH: Barcelona.  Publisher. [translation of text in German].
• Calabro, L., Wolfe, R. & Shoemark, Helen (2003).  The effects of recorded sedative music on the physiology and behaviour of premature infants with a respiratory disorder.  Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 14, 3-19.
• Shoemark, Helen (2000). The use of music therapy in treating infants with complex bowel complaints.  In J. Loewy (Ed.). Music Therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. (pp.101 - 107).  New York: Satchnote Press.

Presentations

• Ruth Bright Award for Excellence in Conference Presentation. Sweet melodies: Combining the talents and knowledge of music therapy and elite musicianship. Paper presented to the 33^rd National Conference of the Australian Music Therapy Association, Melbourne, 2007.
• Contingent singing as a successful intervention for medically fragile full-term infants.  Research paper, 8^th American Music Therapy Conference, Kansas City, 2006
• An investigation of intersubjectivity: Music therapy and hospitalised infants. Poster, 8^th American Music Therapy Conference, Kansas City, 2006
• Investigating a music therapy intervention for medically fragile newborns: The art of intersubjectivity. with, Stephen Malloch, Carol Newnham, Rudi Crncec, Campbell Paul, Magot Prior, 10^th Infant Mental Health World Congress, Paris, 2006
• Infant-directed singing as a vehicle for regulation rehearsal in the medically fragile full-term infant.  Keynote presentation, 11^th World Congress of Music Therapy, Brisbane, 2005
• Music to their Ears.  Plenary presentation to the Modern Midwives Conference, Melbourne, March 2005.
• A framework for the therapist’s decisions within music therapy sessions with pre-verbal clients. 30^th National Conference of the Australian Music Therapy Association, Melbourne, October, 2004.
• Infant-directed singing as a therapeutic intervention for the long-term hospitalized newborn patient. 9^th Infant Mental Halth World Congress, Melbourne, January 2004.
• Let's start at the very beginning: Early intervention for the chronically infant. 29^th National Conference of the Australian Music Therapy Association, Brisbane, July, 2003.
• The research project as a reflection of the team: The Music Therapy for Vulnerable Infants Study, 28^th national conference of the Australian Music Therapy Association, Sydney, October, 2002.
• The application of music of music in a children’s hospital.   [with Jacinta Calabro, Monash Medical Centre] International Conference of Music Perception and Cognition 7, Sydney, July 2002.
• The music within parents. Keynote presentation , Tresillian Centre Conference, Sydney 2001.
• Music as a strategy for mothers and infant, half day workshop, Tresillian Centre, Sydney 2000.

Contact Information

Mailing address:

Music Therapy,
Royal Children's Hospital,
Flemington Road
Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia

 

Telephone:	+61-(0)3-9345 4127
Fax:	+61-(0)3-9345 5090
Email:	helen.shoemark@rch.org.au

 

 

 

 

 

   

Janeen Mackenzie BMus RMT AMusA

Clinician, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Recorded Music Library

Biographical sketch

Janeen Mackenzie completed her Bachelor's degree at the University of Melbourne in 2002.  Between 2002 and 2005, she initiated and implemented a comprehensive clinical program at Towergrange and Bellview Residential Aged Care Services, addressing the needs of residents with a variety of diagnosis including dementia, psychiatric illness and stroke.  Janeen enjoys the full spectrum of music therapy, and in 2003 she joined the innovative Uniting Care’s Music Together program which provides inclusive, music and movement programs to encourage parent/child attachment, foster early childhood development and increase social support networks for families with pre-school aged children.  Janeen is currently Co-ordinator of Music Together.  Janeen is originally an organist gaining the prestigious Associate of Music (AMsuA) at the age of 16.   Janeen joined the RCH team in 2004.  She now specialises in working with children and young people who have and acquired brain injury.  She is also currently the Vice-Chair of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Music Therapy Association.

Clinical interests

Janeen's current clinical interests include the use of live music to stimulate arousal responses in patients in altered states of consciousness and the use of music to encourage concentration, increased attention to task and more positive participation during rehabilitation. 

Research interests

Currently in preparation.

Selected publications and presentations

Publications

• Mackenzie, J. & Hamlett, K (2005).  The Music Together Program: Addressing the Needs of "Well" Families with Young Children. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 16, 43-59.

Presentations

• A collaboration of paediatric music therapy and speech pathology in neuro-rehbilitation.  33rd Annual Conference of the Australian Music Theapy Association, Melbourne, 2007.
• Addressing the needs of ‘well’ families with young children through music therapy [with Karen Hamlett, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem]. 30^th Annual Conference of the Australian Music Therapy Association, Melbourne, October 2004.

Contact information

Mailing address:

Music Therapy,
Royal Children's Hospital,
Flemington Road
Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia

 

Telephone:	+61-(0)3-9345 4126
Fax:	+61-(0)3-9345 5090
Email:	janeen.mackenzie@rch.org.au

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Meagan Hunt BMus RMT

Clinician, Adolescent Unit

Biographical sketch

Meagan Hunt graduated from the University of Queensland in 1998 and for her first three years created and developed music therapy programs for the three Flemming Health Care Services Nursing homes in Brisbane. She then embarked on overseas adventures during which she worked as a music therapist in Dublin in two long term care facilities for adults who had become disabled due to an acquired brain injury or a neurological condition. She was also involved in developing a new network between Irish Music Therapists. After Dublin, Meagan travelled to Romania to lead a volunteer project to implement a therapeutic music program in a home for young people with disabilities resulting from severe deprivation and trauma. While conducting and implementing group and individual programs Meagan taught the staff ways to use music therapeutically so that they could continue the work after the project ended.

On her return to Australia in 2003, Meagan settled in Melbourne and has since had experience working in the paediatrics unit at the Monash Medical Centre and in adult rehabilitation.  Meagan assisted in developing the music therapy unit at Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health.  Most recently Meagan successfully completed her research Masters Degree at the University of Melbourne in 2006.  She investigated the use of group music therapy to develop a sense of belonging in young refugees.  Meagan now specialises in working with adolescents who have chronic illnesses as well as emotional, behavioural and mental health issues.  She works at RCH three days a week and spends two days working as a music therapist at the Austin Hospital School, Mental Health Services.

Clinical interests

Meagan has several clinical interests, which include:

• Music therapy with young people in hospital.
• Music therapy and young people with emotional, behavioural and mental health issues.
• Music therapy and young refugees.

Research interests

• Music Therapy and Action Research.
• Music Therapy and Young refugees.
• Music Therapy and Eating Disorders.

Selected publications and presentations

Publications

• McFerran, K. & Hunt, M. (2008). Learning from experience in action. Educational action research journal 16(1).
• Hunt, Meagan (2005). Action Research and Music Therapy: Group Music Therapy with Young Refugees in a School Community. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. Retrieved March 20, 2006, from http://www.voices.no/mainissues/mi40005000184.html

Presentations

• 2007 — ‘Finding Their Own Rhythm: The use of Bruscia’s Improvisational Assessment Profiles to analyse improvisations of young Sudanese refugees in group music therapy to develop a sense of belonging.’ Australian Music Therapy Association Conference, Melbourne.
• 2007 — ‘Re-discovering Their Voice:  Group Music Therapy and Song Writing with Adolescent Inpatients Suffering from Anorexia’ Australian Music Therapy Association Conference, Melbourne. 
• 2006 — ‘Adolescents and music: Exploring the dangers and potential. 17th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions.
• 2005  ‘Music Therapy and Action Research  Using group music therapy to empower young refugees to develop feelings of belonging in the school community. 11^th World Congress of Music Therapy, Brisbane.
• 2003 — ‘Using music as therapy for young people in with disabilities due to deprivation and trauma — A volunteer project in Romania.’ Australian Music Therapy Association Conference, Brisbane.
• 1999 — ‘The use of music therapy to reduce agitation in older adults with Dementia — a pilot study.’ Australian Music Therapy Association Conference, Sydney.

Contact information

Mailing address:

Music Therapy,
Royal Children's Hospital,
Flemington Road
Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia

 

Telephone:	+61-(0)3-9345 4127
Fax:	+61-(0)3-9345 5090
Email:	meagan.hunt@rch.org.au