MELP Summer Holiday Music Groups
MELP Holiday Programs just for you! BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND – we are so excited to announce that Miss Anna will host “Special Edition Summer
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The Music Beat Australia Workshop and Symposium is an opportunity for Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) to gather, share, collaborate, and be together with the Music Beat Australia team for two days of information sharing, networking, connecting, and engaging with thought provoking and new ideas of working as RMTs.
This year, we are excited to host two additional events prior to the symposium: a workshop run by Oliver O’Reilly, and the second edition of our new Collaborative Business Evening series.
Our keynote speaker for the symposium is Katrina McFerran – who will be sharing insights and developments in receptive music therapy techniques.
These events are organised by Music Beat Australia, led by Founder and Managing Director Dr Vicky Abad, and convened by Katja Enoka, 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
Friday 21 February 2025
WHERE
North East Baptist Church Auditorium
25 Chapel Street Nundah
PRESENTER
Oliver O’Reilly
TOPIC
TIME
Friday: 13:00 – 17:00
CDP Points: 4
COST
$150 (inc GST)
TOPIC: Diversifying Practice
WHEN
Friday 21 February 2025
WHERE
North East Baptist Church Auditorium
25 Chapel Street Nundah
TIME
Friday: 17:30 – 19:00
CDP Points: 1.5
COST
FREE
WHEN
Saturday 22 February 2025
WHERE
North East Baptist Church Auditorium
25 Chapel Street Nundah
TIME
Friday: 08:30 – 17:00
CDP Points: 5.5
COST
$150 (inc GST)
Register and attend all events for the cost of: $220.00 (total of 11 CPD points)
Friday 21st February
| 13:00 - 17:00 | Malleably Musical - Oliver O'Reilly |
| 17:30 - 19:00 | Collaborative Business Evening #2 Topic: Diversifying Practice |
Saturday 22nd February
| 08:30 - 08:45 | Sign in |
| 08:45 - 09:00 | Welcome and warm up |
| 09:00 - 10:00 | KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Katrina McFerran |
| 10:05 - 10:30 | MORNING TEA BREAK |
| 10:35 - 11:25 | Panel 1 - Creative sessions |
| 11:30 - 12:15 | Panel 2 - Trauma work |
| 12:20 - 13:05 | Panel 3 - Multidisciplinary work |
| 13:05 - 14:15 | LUNCH/NETWORKING |
| 14:20 - 14:50 | Session 1 - Behaviour Support Plans |
| 14:55 - 15:25 | Session 2 - Gestalt Language Processing |
| 15:30 - 15:40 | AFTERNOON TEA |
| 15:45 - 17:00 | Experiential Session |
| 17:00 - 17:15 | CLOSING |
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.
Symposium convenor
For all symposium queries please contact our Symposium Convenor Katja Enoka
Title: Malleably Musical
“Malleably Musical” is a professional development program for registered music therapists.
It was initially designed to support music therapists with a background in recital-based classical music adapt their extensive musical skills from their primary instrument to the flexible and responsive guitar skills required to facilitate interactive music therapy.
The program builds musical autonomy through ensemble skills and is well suited to anyone who wants to step beyond the manuscript and connect with other musicians in the moment.
This workshop will go through four foundational pillars of learning, and will include 6 months of access to online resources.
Oli O’Reilly is a multi-instrumentalist, Registered Music Therapist, and educator.
As a music therapist, Oli has worked across the lifespan in acute, sub-acute and community settings in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors for over 15 years.
He has worked in many different clinical areas including oncology, palliative care, aged care, physical and intellectual disabilities, mental health and education.
In his PhD at Western Sydney University, Oli investigated how music therapists develop ensemble skills and generalise instrumental skills from the primary instrument to flexible and responsive applications of the guitar.
Title: Choosing the right songs in therapy
Music therapists are constantly choosing the songs to use in therapy, but there has been very little discussion of how we make those decisions. Drawing on research about pleasure-inducing tracks, meaningful songs, and preferred songs, Kat will suggest new considerations that might enhance our existing skills.
Kat completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2001 and has worked as a researcher and lecturer in Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne since 2004.
She is currently Co-Director of CAMTRU and Chair of the CATRU Advisory Board, as well as Editor-in-Chief of the open-access journal, Voices: A world forum for music therapy.
Kat’s music therapy interests have been focused on young people, and she has conducted a range of projects funded by the Australian Research Council, primarily focused in schools.
Kat is committed to collaboration and mutually empowering relationships as a researcher, therapist, teacher, supervisor and in her everyday life.
She is author of the book ‘Music, Music Therapy and Adolescents’ and co-author, with Dr Daphne Rickson, of ‘Building Music Cultures in the Schools’. She has published more than 80 refereed journal articles and been invited to present locally and internationally about music, music therapy and young people.
Most recently, Katrina co-authored with Dr Carol Barber Lotter “The Psychology of Music Listening for Health and Wellbeing Professionals”.
Learn from three experienced Registered Music Therapists on how they run music therapy sessions in diverse and creative ways to provide their participants with the means to reach their goals.
Each presenter will bring their unique perspective and knowledge to inspire the audience to engage in reflecting on their own practice and how they can adopt different strategies to diversify their work.
Kate Fletcher-Becroft (Music Beat Australia) is a Registered Music Therapist and Neurologic Music Therapist, as well as the Clinical Services Manager at Music Beat Therapy Services. She is passionate about holistic and client-based therapy and working within clients’ family and support networks. Her experience includes family centred community music groups, developmental groups in disability organisations, individual music therapy programs, and music therapy programs in special schools. The clinical populations she currently works with include people diagnosed with disabilities, neurologic differences (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder) and brain injury.
Tom Hockey (Music Beat Australia) is a Registered Music Therapist and Assistive Solutions Team Leader at Music Beat Therapy Services.
Tom is passionate about exploring the ways in which music technology and adaptive equipment can support people to engage in meaningful music-making, regardless of their capacity.
Tom’s work with adults in the areas of disability and mental health has inspired the development of the Music Beat Studio, an accessible music production space that has been tailored to a range of diverse needs, giving clients the tools to take the lead in creating and recording their own music.
Katerini Manolatos, is a Registered Music therapist with over 20 years experience in private practice. She has worked in regional Queensland for many years, in diverse settings and with various communities. With a background in classical voice, vocal coaching and performing she intertwines all her skills to develop concerts, training and creative connections in the community. She is enjoying being back in Brisbane, continuing to work as a music therapist in private practice via Telehealth and face to face in the community. She is also enjoying reconnecting with her Greek culture and community.
The panel presenters will discuss their experience and knowledge in incorporating trauma-informed approaches into their practice – providing the audience with considerations of expanding their own approaches to better understand and support the mental health and wellbeing of their music therapy participants.
Kelsey Passlow (Music Beat Australia) is a Registered Music Therapist. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2017, and a Master of Music Therapy in 2022 from the University of Melbourne. Prior to becoming a Registered Music Therapist, Kelsey worked as a music therapy allied health assistant predominantly in early childhood and family-based music therapy.
Currently, Kelsey works across the life span in various areas of disability within one-on-one music therapy sessions, as well as in child and adolescent mental health in a specialised day program with Queensland Health.
Claire Stephensen is a Registered Music Therapist and somatic therapist working in the Samford Valley at a multidisciplinary medical and allied health clinic.
Having worked as a therapist for over 15 years, Claire enjoys working across the realms of chronic pain, complex health, trauma, attachment disruption and sexuality.
Passionate about decolonising the world of health, Claire critically examines the way broader systems and culture perpetuate harm and oppression – especially those who hold marginalised identities.
Erin Skinner is a Registered Music Therapist and Expressive Therapist at KidsXpress, working and playing on Darug land, Sydney.
She is passionate about working alongside children and families in the mental health space, and using music, play and creativity to share stories and invite healing.
The multidisciplinary panel will discuss their experience of working within multidisciplinary teams, along with the benefits, challenges, and considerations to provide the audience with insight into collaborating with other health specialists to better support their music therapy participants.
Tara Cronin (Music Beat Australia) is a Registered Music Therapist and Neurologic Music Therapist, as well as the Practice Manager at Music Beat Therapy Services. Tara’s music therapy training has been predominantly based on a client and family-centred approach.
She works within several frameworks but ultimately works from a person-centred, strength- based approach. Tara is passionate about holistic health, and working closely within clients’ family and support networks, especially since becoming a mum herself.
Tara has worked diversely across clinical populations, working with children and adults of all abilities and backgrounds. She has worked in various settings including acute paediatrics, early intervention, community, special education, aged care, and mental health.
Tim Minchin (RMT) works in medical, aged care and community settings across multiple roles for Queensland Health (GCUH), Alzheimer’s Queensland and his own mobile private practice.
Tim enjoys exploring the role of music therapy intervention within a multidisciplinary environment and has a special interest in palliative care.
Outside of work hours you’ll probably find him watching, playing, or talking about cricket.
Nerida Taylor (RMT) has spent over 10 years in her music therapy career working closely with individuals of all different ages and needs.
She has had the privilege of managing and supervising a multidisciplinary team and has gained a wealth of experience while working closely with other allied health professionals.
Nerida is passionate about working together as a team when supporting clients in meeting their goals. She is a mum to two incredibly creative and highly energetic boys who inspire her in her work everyday.
Learn from a previous Positive Behaviour Behaviour Support Practitioner in how to collaborate effectively to support music therapy participants to integrate and access music therapy tools in their day-to-day lives.
Catherine Vesic is a Meanjin-based RMT who has worked in many different settings, from music therapy providers to large-scale allied health providers.
The majority of her work has centred around the NDIS scheme, partnering with neurospicy individuals of all ages, families, educational institutions, and stakeholders.
Her passion and interest for collaborative practice led her to work as a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner and RMT, which resulted in viewing music therapy practice from a diversified lens.
Catherine is a loud advocate for RMTs thinking outside the realm of music therapy within the NDIS, and how to best position themselves as key stakeholders within a care team.
Increasing knowledge and research in Gestalt Language Processing/processors indicates the benefit of music therapy in building language and communication. Learn about what Gestalt Language Processing is, and the implications of developing new approaches to language acquisition.
Anna Kirkman (Music Beat Australia) is a Registered Music Therapist and the Community Music Services Manager at Music Beat Australia. While Anna is excited by all areas of music therapy, she is most passionate about early intervention, family-centred approaches, and supporting the vision impairment community. Anna has experience working in mainstream and special education settings, childcare centres, Early Childhood Development Programs, community, family and hospital settings. Anna believes that therapy should be tailored to each client and their individual needs, preferences, experiences, background and personality. She draws from her own lived experience with a rare chronic illness in her work as a music therapist and is a big advocate for the “Spoon Theory”.
“The only constant in life is change” (Heraclitus).
Landscapes within our music therapy profession continue to change and evolve and afford consistent learning, adjusting and integrating of new ideas, language and frameworks. This can be demanding and taxing and affords an incredible amount of continuous “real” self-care and reflective practice from us. We learn to adapt old coping strategies and find new ways to “bend so we won’t break”, whilst continuing to build our professional identity.
This experiential session will offer music therapists the opportunity to reflect on their own coping mechanisms and strategies in times of change through the use of group improvisation.
Lucia Phelan (Music Beat Australia) is a Registered Music Therapist, a Neurologic Music Therapist and Staff Mental Wellbeing and Fitness Team Leader at Music Beat Therapy Services.
Lucia graduated with an undergraduate, tertiary Music Therapy degree in 2007 in Germany, with a particular focus on psychodynamic music therapy.
She has experience working with individuals and groups in early intervention, disability, mental health, aged care, and neurorehabilitation. She is passionate about supporting individuals and their families in a holistic, culturally sensitive, and creative way to find balance and increased wellbeing in their lives.
About the venue
North East Baptist (NEB) Church, Nundah
25 Chapel Street, Nundah (corner of Bage and Chapel Streets)
The Music Beat Symposium will be held at the North East Bapist (NEB) Church, Nundah.
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.
MELP Holiday Programs just for you! BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND – we are so excited to announce that Miss Anna will host “Special Edition Summer
So many programs to choose from! Music Beat Therapy Services will be offering school holiday music therapy programs over the Christmas and New Year break.