Music Therapy

Music is a familiar part of many children's lives. Music therapy uses structured music experiences within a professional therapeutic relationship to support individual goals.

For some children, music can provide an engaging way to practise communication, social interaction, attention, movement or participation.

Music therapy is not simply a music lesson. The therapist selects and adapts activities according to the child's needs and goals.

Depending on the child and the therapist's professional scope, goals may include:

Goals should be individualised rather than assuming music therapy is suitable for every child.

Families may explore music therapy when a child enjoys music and may engage particularly well through rhythm, singing, instruments or structured musical interaction.

It may be considered alongside other supports for children with developmental differences, disability, communication needs or participation challenges.

A music therapist may use:

Activities are adapted to the child's age, interests, abilities and therapeutic goals.

The Australian Government's current Thriving Kids information focuses on a range of family and targeted supports, with specific allied health services varying by location. Music therapy is not listed on the current national family-support page as one of the named core examples of targeted allied health, so families should not assume it is included in every Thriving Kids pathway.

It may nevertheless be a service offered by individual providers as part of broader child-development support.

A referral can include:

Explain:

Families can ask potential providers how music therapy differs from music education and what therapeutic goals they can address.

Music therapy can be a useful complementary service for some children, particularly when music-based interaction helps engagement, communication, participation or social connection. However, families should not assume that music therapy is included in every Thriving Kids pathway. Current Victorian government information describes a broad range of allied health and other supports but does not state that music therapy is universally available through Thriving Kids.

Clearly distinguish music therapy from music education and describe professional qualifications, age groups, therapeutic goals, individual or group sessions, service locations and referral arrangements.