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The annual Music Beat Symposium is an opportunity for Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) across Brisbane to gather, share, collaborate, and be together with the Music Beat Australia team for a day of information sharing, networking, laughing, eating, and engaging musically.
The symposium is also open to members of the Music Beat Australia community, from parents, carers, and family members to clients and students.
The symposium is organised by Music Beat Australia, led by Founder and Managing Director Dr Vicky Abad and convened by Catherine Vesic, RMT.
Vicky has achieved international recognition for her clinical work and research in the area of music therapy parent-child intervention and the impact of music early learning on family health and well-being.
Under her leadership, Music Beat Australia is proud to be supporting the professional development of RMTs, as part of our ethos of ‘developing every day’ to match the needs of the families and communities we work with.
WHEN
Saturday 2nd December 2023
WHERE
Music Beat Australia HQ, (NEB Church)
25 Chapel Street Nundah
TIME
Saturday: 09:00 – 17:30
COST
$130 for Symposium
THEME: MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
| 09:00 - 09:15 | WELCOME AND ADDRESS |
| 09:15 - 10:15 | Keynote: Ash Rowbottom from Kindred Music Therapy |
| 10:15 - 11:00 | Guitar glitter - Riza Partoredjo from Music Beat Early Learning Programs |
| 11:00 - 11:15 | MORNING TEA BREAK |
| 11:15 -11:45 | Management - paper or discussion of choice - Vicky Abad / Tara Cronin / Kate Fletcher-Becroft |
| 11:50 - 12:30 | What Now? Building the practice of evolving - Katja Enoka from Music Beat Therapy Services |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | LUNCH |
| 13:30 - 14:30 | Pathological Demand Avoidance Disorder - Kristy Sanderson |
| 14:30 - 15:00 | Managing chronic illness and mental health - Anna Kirkman from Music Beat Therapy Services |
| 15:00 - 15:30 | Teaching and mental health - Kelsey Passlow from Music Beat Lesson & Therapy Services |
| 15:30 - 15:45 | AFTERNOON TEA |
| 15:45 - 16:45 | Art therapy workshop - Jane O'Sullivan from The University of Queensland |
| 16:45 - 17:15 | Movement activity - Georgia Renee from Bloom & Flow Music Therapy |
| 17:15 - 17:30 | CLOSING |
Symposium convenor
For all symposium queries please contact our Symposium Convenor Catherine Vesic
Ash Rowbottom (BPsychSc., BSocSc. (Psych.) (Hons)., MMusTh.) is a Registered Music Therapist and Director of Kindred Music Therapy, a mobile private practice offering trauma-informed services which operates across Meanjin/Brisbane.
Ash is Chairperson for the AMTA (Qld Branch) and also offers clinical supervision for RMTs in the areas of business development, marketing, ethics and organisation.
Working in mental health as an RMT can bring some of the most valued and rewarding experiences in our careers. It can also be nerve-wracking and uncertain at times! We may wish to assist our clients and participants in the most inclusive way possible but find ourselves questioning all of our actions long after the session has ended. We may also aspire for more confidence and conviction in our personal approaches to mental health music therapy. How can we navigate this?
During this hour together we will consider ways to challenge stigma not just in our sessions, but in our everyday lives. We will reflect on inclusive mental health practices, and skill-building for music therapists. We will also consider the role of the trauma-informed approach to music therapy which informs not only my work as a music therapist, but also how I have specifically designed the structure of my private practice. I look forward to collaborating with you at the Symposium.
Riza Partoredjo is a passionate educator and musician who loves sharing the power of music with everyone in the community, from newborn babies, to great grandparents and everyone in between.
In her workshop, Riza will explore the following questions:
How does flow and mindfulness relate to well-being in our Music Early Learning Programs (MELPs)?
What skills help guitar-playing group facilitators (especially the glittery ones) create that magical sense of “being in the zone” for their participants, as well as for themselves?
Bring your guitar and be prepared to explore some ideas, tricks and thinking routines that might bring out your own inner “guitar glitter”.
Managing change and expectations in music therapy: “The Music Beat Way.”
The past year has seen Music Beat Therapy Services set up and move into a purpose-appointed clinic, transition 150 clients and establish new services both in clinic, in home and in the community.
While change is never easy, it is one of the only constants in life. This presentation will reflect on how we managed these changes while keeping both our clients/customers and our staff front of mind.
Initiatives and learnings will be shared on ways to manage rising costs in a fiscally tightening business world, ensure staff wellbeing in a services output environment, and bring the magic that is making music to people while remaining true to ourselves.
These learning can be adapted to suit other businesses small and large, and individuals whether they work for themselves or are employed by a small or large organisation.
Katja Enoka is a Registered Music Therapist and is Clinical Quality Innovation Manager for Music Beat Therapy Services. She has experience working in dementia care, disability, and mental health.
Her presentation will ask the question ‘Now what?’ Building the practice of evolving.
Evolving language and models has been a major focus within the disability and mental health space over the last few years.
Whilst we have all worked to change our lens, how do we build a sustainable practice that continually evolves with increasing knowledge of others in our society?
Join Katja for a reflection on where we have been, where we are now and what the future might look like, as well as considerations in taking collaborative work into reporting and advocating.
Kristy Sanderson is a parent of two neurodivergent children and is passionate about learning about neurodivergence from adults with lived experience.
Kristy is especially committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) which is unique subset of Autism.
Kristy has completed a Masters in Community Development, a Graduate Certificate in Education on Strategies and Practices for Autism, and is currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
Kristy has over 15 years’ experience working with people in crisis in Cambodia through her organisation Voice. In line with Kristy’s philosophies, Voice’s motto is “First, we listen”.
Anna Kirkman is a Registered Music Therapist with Music Beat Therapy Services.
She is passionate about music’s role in facilitating learning and the potential to develop language and literacy skills in early childhood and primary school.
Anna will be drawing from her own life experiences to speak to you about the impact of chronic illness on mental-health, work performance and work-life balance.
Kelsey Passlow is Lessons Team Leader for Music Beat Lessons + Tuition and a Registered Music Therapist with Music Beat Therapy Services.
In her presentation, she will be delving into the concept of mental health support within an instrumental teaching context.
She will explore the importance of using music as self-care for teachers, how to set boundaries with the people we work with (parents, colleagues and students alike) as well as teaching our students how to be kind to themselves, practicing and what self-care through music can look like for them.
Jane O’Sullivan – DIP. T; B. ED; M.A (Expressive therapies) Cambridge USA; Life member NETA; AthR originally trained as a music and drama teacher working at Somerville House.
Jane retrained as an Expressive Therapist completing her MA in Boston, USA and upon her return worked in the Child and Youth Mental Health Service at the Mater Children’s Hospital Brisbane for 13 years, working with young people and their families.
In 2004, Jane co-founded the art therapy strand in the Master in Mental Health Program in the School of Medicine University of QLD. Jane has continued her involvement as a lecturer and in 2012 coordinated the program for 10 years. She now supervises students completing their research courses in the prorgam.
Jane has recently co-authored papers in the Australian Journal of Creative Art therapies JoCAT online, October 2022 and the International journal The Arts in Psychotherapy, June 2023.
Jane has a keen interest in group programs and has worked with various client populations within her private practice including adult oncology, parents living with mental illness, adults at risk of homelessness and children from refugee backgrounds.
She recently finished working at a school in Logan QLD within a trauma informed practice facilitating individual therapy, group and class programs and is currently the wellbeing officer at the Samford Valley Steiner school.
Georgia Renee Pitts is a Registered Music Therapist, Singer-Songwriter, Performer and lover of all things natural health, dance, expression and movement.
Newly based in Brisbane, Georgia spent 2022 travelling the east coast in her Campervan and continues to on her life-long journey of discovering what sets her soul on fire. Georgia integrates dance, music and movement as a form of self-expression and connection to her mind, body and spirit.
Her Embodied Dance workshop will encompass self-expression and connection while we individually and collectively embark on a journey guided by a carefully curated playlist. Georgia will leave space for free movement and exploration as well as offer some guidance to help you feel more grounded in your body, drop out of your mind, more connected to your inner wisdom and feel open to move freely.
So kick off your shoes, close your eyes, turn off your phone, listen to, and feel the music.
About the venue
North East Baptist (NEB) Church, Nundah
25 Chapel Street, Nundah (corner of Bage and Chapel Streets)
The Music Beat Symposium and RAMSR Training day will be held at the North East Bapist (NEB) Church, Nundah.
The keynote presentation will be held via Zoom.
There is some onsite parking with limited street parking available due to venue’s proximity to the popular Nundah Village precinct.
Public transport or ride sharing to get to the venue is recommended (especially on Friday).
Nundah train station is located within easy walking distance of the venue.
The Music Beat Kids Annual Pass for 2025 is now available Looking for a great Christmas present? Look no further – we will have your
Music Beat End of Year Concert Performances We are thrilled to announce that the Music Beat Therapy Services and Music Beat Lessons + Tuition end