This panel aims to bring together music therapists with experience in public mental health services across Australia to discuss the current state of music therapy recognition across jurisdictions. The panel will also suggest opportunities for growth and define clinical competencies relevant to music therapists working in mental health, as well as considering how the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) can support clinicians and music therapy students to advocate within public mental health services. Despite the AMTA Workforce Analysis Report 2023 identifying mental health as the third largest area of practice for music therapists, and public health systems being the third largest funder of music therapy services after the NDIS and self-funded clients, anecdotal evidence suggests that music therapists in this setting face job insecurity, limited opportunities for career progression, reduced access to training, poor understanding of their discipline from management and less favourable conditions than their allied health colleagues.
While there is evidence that music therapy can be an effective treatment modality for people experiencing mental health challenges (Ghetti et al, 2022; Tang et al, 2020; Geretsegger et al, 2017; Aalbers et al, 2017), industry awareness about music therapy and the professional practice of music therapists remains low. As the AMTA engages with government through measures such as the Scope of Practice Review, it is important for music therapists working in mental health to identify professional competencies expected as part of the mental health workforce and demonstrate how music therapists can meet those expectations now and into the future.
Music therapists are well-placed to support the transition in our mental health system towards recovery-focused care. Collaboration across jurisdictions can strengthen our efforts to increase diversity, inclusion and creativity across all levels of the mental health workforce.