As we reflect on 50 years of AMTA's role in shaping music therapy within Australia's healthcare landscape, it is timely to reflect on our individual contributions to the growth, development and expansion of music therapy within our own clinical work, as well as to examine the challenges and barriers for the advancement of music therapy in palliative care.

The music therapist role at Dove, the specialist palliative care unit at Caloundra Hospital, is currently the only permanent music therapy position within all of Queensland Health. Originally created in 2016 as a contract role supported by local philanthropic funding, the music therapist position was converted in 2024 to a permanent position after years of dedicated advocacy by this author.

Whilst there is ample evidence supporting the efficacy and importance of music therapy in palliative care, there remains little progress in establishing and expanding music therapy in adult palliative care settings across Queensland.

This presentation aims to reflect on the presenter's journey in a large hospital and health service of developing and pioneering music therapy in adult palliative care; orchestrating relationships with various stakeholders; advocating for permanency and pioneering innovative programs to create a respected high-quality music therapy program.

This presentation also aims to explore barriers and challenges of working as a sole clinician in a medical model that focuses on budget constraints and patient flow whilst also celebrating the incredible role of music therapy in end-of-life care and highlighting exciting opportunities for growth and innovative practice in areas of legacy work and the inclusion of music therapy for people accessing voluntary assisted dying (VAD).