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The Music Beat Australia Symposium is an opportunity for Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) to gather, share, collaborate, and be together with the Music Beat Australia team for a jam-packed day of information sharing, networking, connecting, and engaging with thought provoking and new ideas of working as RMTs.
This symposium brings registered music therapists together to connect with emerging ideas in practice, collaborate with peers across diverse settings, and create new understandings that enrich professional work. Through shared dialogue, exploration, and creative exchange, participants are invited to strengthen relationships, expand perspectives, and shape the future of music therapy practice together.
Our keynote speaker for the symposium is Anita Connell PhD – who will be sharing insights that invite music therapists to explore partnership, work within capacity-building and preventative care models, and expand ecological ways of working.
These events are organised by Music Beat Australia, led by Founder and Managing Director Dr Vicky Abad, and convened by Katja Enoka, RMT and Clinical Quality Innovation Manager.
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 7th February 2026
WHERE
North East Baptist Church Auditorium
25 Chapel Street Nundah
TIME
Friday: 08:30 – 17:30 (AEST)
CDP Points: 9
COST
$155 (inc GST)
Saturday 7th February 2026
| 08:30 - 08:45 | Sign in |
| 08:45 - 09:00 | Welcome and warm up |
| 09:00 - 10:00 | KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Dr Anita Connell Music Therapy in Emerging Models of Care |
| 10:05 - 10:30 | MORNING TEA BREAK |
| 10:35 - 11:05 | Presentation: Music Therapy in Mental Health |
| 11:10 - 11:40 | Presentation: Music Therapy in Medicine |
| 11:45-12:15 | Presentation: Music Therapy in Aged Care |
| 12:20 - 12:50 | Collaborative panel |
| 12:55 - 14:10 | LUNCH/NETWORKING |
| 14:15 - 15:00 | Panel Discussion: The use of self-disclosure as a tool for building therapeutic alliance |
| 15:00 - 15:45 | Debate: AI Should Play a Role in Music Therapy |
| 15:45- 16:00 | AFTERNOON TEA |
| 16:00 - 17:30 | Workshop: The Art of Not Knowing: Improvised Music and Art as a Generator of New Worlds |
| 17:30 | CLOSING |
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.
Symposium convenor
For all symposium queries please contact our Symposium Convenor Katja Enoka
Music Therapy in Emerging Models of Care
This keynote offers a reflective look at music therapy within emerging models of care. Drawing on her business, consultancy, and practice experience, Anita will share insights that invite music therapists to explore partnership, work within capacity-building and preventative care models, and expand ecological ways of working.
Anita is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Registered Music Therapist, and founder of Tuned In Connections. With research expertise in parent–child wellbeing, preventative care, and arts-for-health, her work focuses on evaluating music therapy and family- and person-centred approaches across education, health, and community settings, with an emphasis on translating research into sustainable practice.
This presentation will explore how connection, collaboration, and creativity support mental health and wellbeing across clinical and community contexts.
Stacey Dowling, RMT
Stacey is an RMT working in Meanjin(Brisbane) who has always had a passion for supporting individuals with their mental health and wellbeing.
She has been working at Belmont Private Hospital since 2021 where she works across both the music therapy and art therapy programs, and she volunteers as a member of the copy editing team of the AJMT.
Outside of work she loves distance running and keeping busy with her young family.
This presentation will offer insights into how medical systems interface with social prescribing, community services, and creative health.
Kelsey Passlow, RMT
Kelsey is a Registered Music Therapist with experience in adolescent mental health, secure mental health rehabilitation, and most recently the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Kelsey has worked across paediatric acute care and paediatric palliative care, supporting children and their families through hospitalisation, life-limiting illness, and end-of-life care.
Her practice is grounded in connection and guided by a person-centred, recovery-oriented, and humanistic approach.
Chantelle Fulton, RMT
Chantelle is a registered music therapist with experience working in a variety of settings with people across the lifespan.
For nearly 20 years, she has specialised in aged care, working with individuals and groups in both residential and community settings. Chantelle currently works at a residential aged care facility in a position she created.
Anita Connell, PhD, Stacey Dowling, Kelsey Passlow, Chantelle Fulton
The panel will collaborate to discuss ways RMTs can connect, learn from each other, and create new models of practice to support holistic health and wellbeing within different systems. The audience will be invited to ask questions and engage in open discussion to draw connections across the four presenters and their experiences.
Kate Fletcher-Becroft, RMT & NMT, Anna Kirkman, RMT, Chare Walton, RMT
This panel aims to explore how, when, and why self-disclosure can be used therapeutically in music therapy practice to support the development of a strong therapeutic alliance. The discussion will balance theoretical perspectives, clinical ethics, and practical examples.
Kate Fletcher-Becroft (Music Beat Australia) has clinical experience working with people diagnosed with disabilities, neurologic differences (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder) and brain injury.
Kate has experiences in the disability field spanning most of her life, as her younger sister has Down syndrome.
She is passionate about working collaboratively with each client/group and their family and support networks to ensure they are reaching both clinical and personal goals.
Anna Kirkman (Music Beat Australia) is is an RMT who works in disability, paediatric palliative care, and supports parent-child bonding in early childhood through community-based music programs.
Anna is passionate about exploring and celebrating how each of her clients communicate: regardless of how that looks, sounds, or is perceived by others.
Charé Walton is a Registered Music Therapist with 12 years’ experience supporting people as they move towards improved health, resilience and wellbeing.
Guided by a deep respect and curiosity for each individual’s story, she offers a space where music becomes a powerful tool for expression, connection and growth.
This team debate will explore the pros and cons of AI use in music therapy and whether AI will accelerate or hinder therapeutic gains and processes.
Lucia Phelan
Navigating new and old territories amongst frequent change can create stress, fatigue and burnout. How do RMTs cope with not knowing what the future holds? Can RMTs find the answers within themselves? Where should RMTs look next?
This afternoon workshop draws on our strengths as music therapists and invites us to create collaboratively to explore themes of resilience, playfulness and flexibility.
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.
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.
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