Australian Music Therapy Association

AMTA is proud to launch AMTA2026 National Symposium: Music Therapy in Motion, this November in Brisbane.

- Connect with leaders in the profession.
- Learn from registered music therapists delivering innovation across Australia today.
- Build momentum with your professional community.

Registered music therapists and music therapy students are invited to celebrate a profession that’s active, evolving and making a difference. Through practical presentations, discussion and real-world examples, you'll explore contemporary practice, discover emerging opportunities and leave with fresh ideas, renewed confidence and practical insights you can apply in your own work.

Don’t miss this chance to explore new clinical ideas and inspiration, strengthen professional connections and reflect with colleagues. The symposium is your chance to celebrate the profession as it is today while exploring where we can go next.

When: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Where: Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Brisbane + online
Who: registered music therapists and music therapy students
Registration: open now from the AMTA website
🔗https://www.austmta.org.au/eventdetails/39827/amta2026-symposium

The symposium will conclude with a cross-sector panel exploring how we can continue to build on the strengths of our profession and create positive change together. Speaker announcements and registration details coming soon!

We're also pleased to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sing&Grow as part of this special event. Play Matters Australia

📷 Text-based asset that says "Music therapy in motion: national symposium. 12 November 2026. Qld Museum Kurilpa". The background is red, and at the top are stylised curves that indicate movement and momentum.

Imagine a young patient in hospital who has trouble finding words at the right time... and then he sings. Share the moment when Xavier - offered the right amount of time, space and support from his deeply skilled registered music therapist Jo Rimmer RMT - sings along to the alphabet song. Here's what Jo told the wonderful team at Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne:

“For Xavier, he wasn’t able to verbalise on cue. So if you said to him, ‘Say “p”,’ he wasn’t able to do that.

“But if you gave him that lead-up, that predictability, with the rhythmic structure, he could.”

It’s a powerful, moving moment – and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to share it. AMTA sends enormous thanks to Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Xavier and his family, and Jo Rimmer RMT for permission to share.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ntOgDkwOQBA

Xavier and Jo Rimmer RMT at Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Imagine a young patient in hospital who has trouble finding words a...

This year's Census marks a milestone for registered music therapists.

For the first time, registered music therapists across Australia will have the opportunity to write 'Music Therapist' as their occupation in the Australian Census.

AMTA worked with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to clarify the new Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OCSA). The new occupation code for 'Music therapist: 261933' will:

- enable collection of high-quality data about our profession
- inform and shape educational pathways
- support workforce planning
- inform skilled migration programs.

We look forward to Census night on 11 August!

📷 A mock-up of one question in the Australian Census paper, asking "In the main job held last week, what was the person's occupation?" In the answer section, the occupation listed is "Music Therapist". Below the mock-up is a pencil and a notepad open to a page headed "Census night".

Music Therapy Matters #5 has landed! Our quarterly newsletter is full of good news, including the remarkable moment when Xavier, who couldn't talk, sang.

Catch up on advocacy news, a wrap on World Music Therapy Week, and Australian registered music therapists honoured at the World Congress of Music Therapy.

https://mailchi.mp/016e6fbcf9f8/music-therapy-matters-edition4-9316761?e=[UNIQID]

Connect with music therapy in 2026 The music therapy profession in Australia has always held a strong place in the global community. That was really on show this month at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Bologna, Italy! Many Australian registered music therapists were delegates and presenters - and several were honoured with aw...

Advocacy update: AMTA welcomed the opportunity to have our say on the forthcoming changes to the legislation that supports the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

In the association's submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the NDIS Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026, we acknowledged the need for a sustainable and effective NDIS and that the proposed changes are the most significant to be proposed in the history of the NDIS.

We also expressed our concerns around evidence and oversight, pricing and accessibility, and more. We supported calls to allow more time to understand the overall impact and undertake meaningful consultation.

AMTA continues to engage in consultations on the NDIS and Thriving Kids. To learn more about our advocacy, visit the AMTA website
https://www.austmta.org.au/advocacy/music-therapy-advocacy/

www.austmta.org.au

We’ve published a news article all about AMTA’s recent First Sounds: Rhythm, Breath, Lullaby training, as well as an update on music therapy practice in neonatal intensive care units in Australian hospitals.

While a major part of the training was for registered music therapists who wish to work with newborn babies, the first day was designed for health professionals from all areas, not just music therapists.

It was a pleasure to strengthen connections between professional communities and, hopefully, inspire even more hospitals to integrate music therapy programs into their systems of care.

Read the article: https://www.austmta.org.au/news-item/24081/amta-hosts-internationally-recognised-nicu-music-therapy-training

📷 Dr Andrew Rosetti, with his guitar, sits with a mother and her baby in a hospital ward.

Congratulations to the Australian registered music therapists honoured in this year's awards ceremony at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Bologna, Italy.

🎼King Man Chung RMT - Advocate of Music Therapy Award
🪇 Dr Emma O'Brien OAM RMT - Crisis Response Award
🎤 Dr Katrina McFerran RMT and Prof. Denise Grocke AO RMT - Outstanding Publication Award
🎶Anuudari Enkhnasan RMT: Outstanding Student Award (represented on stage by Dr Alison Short RMT of MusicTherapy@Western at Western Sydney University)

Australians made up a large contingent at the event, with many AMTA members making presentations and connecting with the global music therapy community. Congratulations all round.

World Federation of Music Therapy |

Like all health professionals, registered music therapists work to a set of professional standards that guide our practice.

AMTA's Professional Standards for Music Therapy help ensure anyone who engages a registered music therapist receives care that's safe, ethical and of the highest quality.

🖼️ Download the poster:https://www.austmta.org.au/public/151/files/Poster_professional%20standards.pdf

Learn more about regulatory standards for registered music therapists:🔗 https://www.austmta.org.au/about/about-amta/regulatory-standards/

Contact AMTA to check someone is a qualified and registered music therapist.
🌐https://www.austmta.org.au/contact/contact-amta/