This presentation will share the personal experience and underpinning theoretical knowledge and skills of a service coordinator and developmental educator working in the clinical space of a music and speech therapy clinic in Adelaide (Creative Therapy Adelaide, CTA). The presentation will draw upon theoretical training and skills used for interacting with prospective participants, their families and other professionals in the field to match them with a music therapist, creating a safe environment to exchange personal and vulnerable information and keep the relationship open and healthy over the course of their time engaging in therapy.

Working with a majority of NDIS participants at CTA means there is a diverse range of people who access therapy services at our clinic.
Participants who seek music therapy all have different life experience and stories, has their disability been from birth or acquired/ diagnosed later in life, some have a strong support system in place to advocate with and on behalf of them, others have little resources available and others self advocate and feel empowered to do this. As each person has different experiences, support needs and life story it does make this first contact interview and phase a creative task.

With Developmental Education being primarily a South Australian based profession and degree, this presentation may be of great insight to the music therapists in the room into the underpinning concepts that inform a developmental educators processes and practice such as case management processes and the bio-psychococial model. This presentation will offer resources for therapists in the room and further information to up-skill in this area of knowledge. The presentation will also draw upon the knowledge and skills that music therapy has given to the presenter and how this therapy seems to impact the participants and family members.