This practice-based presentation explores the continually evolving music therapy journey with “Leo” (pseudonym), a 16-year-old participant under the NDIS scheme, living in supervised accommodation with support from a multidisciplinary allied health team. Leo lives with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, severe expressive and receptive language disorder, and a history of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Referred to music therapy to support wellbeing and engagement, Leo initially presented with aggressive behaviours and minimal participation across services.
Early sessions involved significant distress, including physical aggression directed at the therapist. Through consistency, relational attunement, and musical responsiveness, Leo gradually began to co-regulate within sessions. Music became a safe and familiar space where he could engage on his terms—clapping, singing, and initiating interactions. A pivotal moment emerged during a Christmas session, where Leo eagerly completed song lyrics, surprising and delighting his support team.
In early 2025, funding reductions required a shift from weekly to fortnightly sessions. In response, a new model of care was jointly initiated by the RMT and Service Coordinator to ensure continued development and shared responsibility for Leo’s care. This led to the creation of a shared digital resource folder with playlists, session songs, and therapeutic rationales in accessible language. Support workers were able to engage Leo musically between sessions, embedding music therapy-informed strategies into daily routines. Rather than limiting progress, this shift sparked a more collaborative, sustainable, and empowering model of care.
This presentation highlights how a potentially restrictive change became an opportunity for innovation and deeper team engagement. The resource continues to evolve with team input, reflecting an ongoing, responsive model of care. Leo’s story illustrates how music therapy can promote co-regulation, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and uncover relational potential—creating shared rhythms of safety, joy, and connection across systems of care.