Keep Music Therapy as an NDIS funded THERAPEUTIC Support!
The issue
Our Goal and Focus:
- Have NDIA understand that Music Therapy IS an evidence-based practice that provides therapeutic, functional outcomes for people with disability.
- To Keep Music Therapy as an NDIS funded therapeutic Support just like any other Allied Health discipline
As Registered Music Therapists, we witness daily the profound impact music therapy has on the lives of NDIS participants. This therapy provides essential, evidence-based support to thousands across Australia, enhancing physical, psychological, cognitive, communication, and social well-being. However, Music Therapy may be excluded from being an NDIS THERAPEUTIC funded support — a change that will prevent many from accessing this crucial support.
The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) found out about the government’s proposed decision to remove music therapy as a therapeutic support under the NDIS through an unauthorised leak. Following the leak and the Association’s engagement with the government, the former Minister for the NDIS announced an independent review led by Dr Stephen Duckett, with recommendations now expected by the extended deadline of April 17th.
Update 25th March 2025:I’m reaching out to you to remobilise and further bolster our advocacy efforts. This includes calling the Parliament offices of several key Federal MPs during this week (25 – 27 March) to draw their attention to the current review that’s being undertaken by Dr Stephen Duckett and the detrimental impact on participants and their families if music therapy was removed as therapeutic support from the NDIS.
This is also an opportunity to share your personal experiences — whether as a participant, family member, therapist, or supporter — about the positive impact music therapy has had on you or someone you care about.
Whilst we will continue our advocacy well into the election period, this is the final Parliament sitting week before the election is called to contact the numbers below and have your voices heard. You may also wish to share these numbers with friends and families who wish to advocate for music therapy – the louder our voices, the better!
Key messaging
- My name is [name] and I’m a [registered music therapist/participant/carer located] in [location]
I wanted to raise my ongoing concerns following the government’s proposed decision to remove music therapy as a therapeutic support under the NDIS. The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) found out about this decision last year through an unauthorised leak. - Following the leak and the Association’s engagement with the government, the former Minister for the NDIS announced an independent review led by Dr Stephen Duckett, with recommendations now expected by the extended deadline of April 17th.
- Several members of the AMTA, family members and participants have made submissions to the review, highlighting the evidence, benefits and experience of music therapy, as a vital therapeutic support.
- Whilst we await the outcomes of the review, I wanted to bring to your attention the negative impact that removal of music therapy from therapeutic supports will have on participants and families across the country [share your experience]
Please contact the numbers below:
- Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Anthony Albanese MP: (02) 6277 7700
- Office of the Opposition Lead, Hon. Peter Dutton MP: (02) 6277 4022
- Minister for the NDIS, Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP: (02) 6277 7560
- Shadow Minister for the NDIS, Hon. Michael Sukkar: (02) 6277 4227
Please read the most recent official Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) statement: last update 14th March
---
Important Info:
The NDIA has claimed that music therapy lacks sufficient evidence-based research in accordance to Section 10. However, please know that music therapy has a strong foundation of evidence supporting its clinical practice and to reach functional outcomes. Please see The Disability Evidence Summary that have been given to parliament. Music Therapy from a registered Music Therapist is completely different to a music "class" or music "tuition". We are working tirelessly to advocate for music therapy, have the public understand what we do and present the substantial research and evidence behind it.
Music therapy is part of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), recognised as a vital Allied Health service by a wide network of professionals who see its unique ability to foster meaningful growth and connection. Across Australia, countless NDIS participants have greatly benefited from the help of Music Therapy as an individualised, person-centred service. Almost all participants can only afford to access Music Therapy through their NDIS funding
This decision put forward would not only deprive NDIS participants of an invaluable, evidence-based therapy but also jeopardise the livelihoods of countless Registered Music Therapists (RMT) dedicated to serving this community. RMTs must complete postgraduate qualifications such as a Masters in Music Therapy in order to become an RMT. As RMTs we MUST complete yearly professional development requirements to ensure we are constantly up to date with best practice.
RMT employees MUST be paid in accordance to the Health Professionals Award (similar to a Speech Pathologist). The Social/Community Participation rate is not only unsustainable but also deeply disrespectful for our profession. It’s crucial to highlight that this category is NOT Music Therapy and is therefore not governed by the AMTA Standards of Practice or ethical guidelines—because it is NOT Music Therapy. Allowing this distinction to blur risks undermining our profession, opening the door for individuals to call themselves 'music therapists' simply because they 'do music' with participants.
Many clinics and businesses will face closure due to changes, leading to widespread job losses within the allied health field. This affects not only therapists and their families but also restricts access to music therapy services all across Australia.
Further Information sources:
Music Therapy IS therapy! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZQp9bUSK2PQ
Video Description: The government has decided that, from February 2025, NDIS participants will no longer be able to access music therapy as a ‘therapeutic support’. The reason? The government claims that “there is not enough evidence that music therapy will be ... effective and beneficial to participants” (NDIS website FAQs). Instead, the government proposes to fund music therapy through NDIS participants’ community participation budget. This budget promotes access to activities, not therapies. Under this change, music therapists will receive less than a third of the rate paid to other allied health professionals in the NDIS. It is unreasonable to think that qualified Registered Music Therapists can continue to provide the same therapeutic service for a third of the cost. Music therapy is supported by strong evidence and delivers significant functional outcomes with participants. Without funding for music therapy as a therapeutic support, most participants will lose access to music therapy, leaving them without essential support.
Share this video and join the fight to keep music therapy funded as an NDIS therapeutic support!
---
UPDATE 8/1/2025
Thank you so much to the nearly 60k people who have supported this petition!
After meeting with NDIS Minister Bill Shorten in December, the Australian Music Therapy Association has acknowledged the appointment of Dr Stephen Duckett AM who will be reviewing the evidence case and pricing under the NDIS, with findings delivered by March 2025. Read the AMTA's response here.
No changes will be made to the way music therapy and art therapy until the review is complete.
While we hold our breath and hope for positive outcomes from this review, it remains important to keep the pressure on the decision makers, writing to MPs, continuing to share the petition and raise awareness about the importance of keeping music therapy as an NDIS funded therapeutic support!
Check out this incredible video featuring artists from all over Australia voicing their support of music therapy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol9L3usIOQA
UPDATE 29/11/2024:
A huge thank you to each and every one of our 42K+ supporters — your voices are making a difference! 🙌
Exciting news: The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) has secured a meeting with Minister Bill Shorten next Friday 🤞
AMTA President Monica Zidar states:
"We urge Minister Bill Shorten to reverse the unfair and unfounded decision to remove music therapy as a therapy support, which will devastatingly affect over 8,000 families across the country."
We want to reiterate:
🎵 Music Therapy is an EVIDENCE-BASED discipline with proven effectiveness in supporting: Cognition, Communication, Social interaction, Mobility & coordination, Behaviour & self-regulation. Please see Disability Evidence Summary
🎵 Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) design and deliver goal-oriented, individualised therapy that achieves functional outcomes.
🎵 RMTs deserve the same respect, standards, and review processes as our colleagues in speech pathology and occupational therapy.
📢 What You Can Do:
Please continue to share this petition and spread the word. Together, we stand united to ensure that NDIS participants retain equal access to therapeutic services like Music Therapy!
---
UPDATE 26/11/24:
Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared our petition—your support has been incredible! We've already gained 15,000 signatures in just 24 hours, showing how VITAL music therapy is for NDIS participants and their families.
With the proposed changes from 1 February 2025, this will mean the Music Therapy industry will not be sustainable and won't be able to provide the music needed support to participants who greatly need it.
We MUST continue to act. This decision not only impacts NDIS participants but also threatens the livelihoods of our Registered Music Therapists across Australia.
What You Can Do:
Join the Calling Campaign:
📞 Call Minister Bill Shorten’s office tomorrow, Wednesday 27 November, 9 am–12 pm AEDT, to share your concerns.
Ask to reverse the decision and maintain music therapy funding at the current full rate.
Share your music therapy stories and ask for your name to be recorded.
Ask that your concerns be passed on to the Minister and your name and contact details be taken down and recorded. This is so they have a record of the volume of calls.
Continue to share the Petition: Help us reach even more people—every signature makes a difference.
Your voice is crucial in showing the impact music therapy has on lives across Australia. Let’s keep pushing to make sure we’re heard!
Thank you for standing with us. 💙
---
UPDATE 25/11:
The NDIS have officially released their statement. This means on the 2nd Feb our participants won't be able to access Music Therapy (and Art Therapy) as part of therapeutic supports. It's not all over. We must keep fighting!
--
We, the undersigned, stand together in urging decision-makers to keep music therapy as a funded NDIS support. Let’s work to protect this life-changing therapy for those who need it most. Please join us—sign this petition today to save music therapy for NDIS participants.
📷 Text: "Music therapy belongs in the NDIS". A child and adult use an keyboard together
63,071
The issue
Our Goal and Focus:
- Have NDIA understand that Music Therapy IS an evidence-based practice that provides therapeutic, functional outcomes for people with disability.
- To Keep Music Therapy as an NDIS funded therapeutic Support just like any other Allied Health discipline
As Registered Music Therapists, we witness daily the profound impact music therapy has on the lives of NDIS participants. This therapy provides essential, evidence-based support to thousands across Australia, enhancing physical, psychological, cognitive, communication, and social well-being. However, Music Therapy may be excluded from being an NDIS THERAPEUTIC funded support — a change that will prevent many from accessing this crucial support.
The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) found out about the government’s proposed decision to remove music therapy as a therapeutic support under the NDIS through an unauthorised leak. Following the leak and the Association’s engagement with the government, the former Minister for the NDIS announced an independent review led by Dr Stephen Duckett, with recommendations now expected by the extended deadline of April 17th.
Update 25th March 2025:I’m reaching out to you to remobilise and further bolster our advocacy efforts. This includes calling the Parliament offices of several key Federal MPs during this week (25 – 27 March) to draw their attention to the current review that’s being undertaken by Dr Stephen Duckett and the detrimental impact on participants and their families if music therapy was removed as therapeutic support from the NDIS.
This is also an opportunity to share your personal experiences — whether as a participant, family member, therapist, or supporter — about the positive impact music therapy has had on you or someone you care about.
Whilst we will continue our advocacy well into the election period, this is the final Parliament sitting week before the election is called to contact the numbers below and have your voices heard. You may also wish to share these numbers with friends and families who wish to advocate for music therapy – the louder our voices, the better!
Key messaging
- My name is [name] and I’m a [registered music therapist/participant/carer located] in [location]
I wanted to raise my ongoing concerns following the government’s proposed decision to remove music therapy as a therapeutic support under the NDIS. The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) found out about this decision last year through an unauthorised leak. - Following the leak and the Association’s engagement with the government, the former Minister for the NDIS announced an independent review led by Dr Stephen Duckett, with recommendations now expected by the extended deadline of April 17th.
- Several members of the AMTA, family members and participants have made submissions to the review, highlighting the evidence, benefits and experience of music therapy, as a vital therapeutic support.
- Whilst we await the outcomes of the review, I wanted to bring to your attention the negative impact that removal of music therapy from therapeutic supports will have on participants and families across the country [share your experience]
Please contact the numbers below:
- Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Anthony Albanese MP: (02) 6277 7700
- Office of the Opposition Lead, Hon. Peter Dutton MP: (02) 6277 4022
- Minister for the NDIS, Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP: (02) 6277 7560
- Shadow Minister for the NDIS, Hon. Michael Sukkar: (02) 6277 4227
Please read the most recent official Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) statement: last update 14th March
---
Important Info:
The NDIA has claimed that music therapy lacks sufficient evidence-based research in accordance to Section 10. However, please know that music therapy has a strong foundation of evidence supporting its clinical practice and to reach functional outcomes. Please see The Disability Evidence Summary that have been given to parliament. Music Therapy from a registered Music Therapist is completely different to a music "class" or music "tuition". We are working tirelessly to advocate for music therapy, have the public understand what we do and present the substantial research and evidence behind it.
Music therapy is part of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), recognised as a vital Allied Health service by a wide network of professionals who see its unique ability to foster meaningful growth and connection. Across Australia, countless NDIS participants have greatly benefited from the help of Music Therapy as an individualised, person-centred service. Almost all participants can only afford to access Music Therapy through their NDIS funding
This decision put forward would not only deprive NDIS participants of an invaluable, evidence-based therapy but also jeopardise the livelihoods of countless Registered Music Therapists (RMT) dedicated to serving this community. RMTs must complete postgraduate qualifications such as a Masters in Music Therapy in order to become an RMT. As RMTs we MUST complete yearly professional development requirements to ensure we are constantly up to date with best practice.
RMT employees MUST be paid in accordance to the Health Professionals Award (similar to a Speech Pathologist). The Social/Community Participation rate is not only unsustainable but also deeply disrespectful for our profession. It’s crucial to highlight that this category is NOT Music Therapy and is therefore not governed by the AMTA Standards of Practice or ethical guidelines—because it is NOT Music Therapy. Allowing this distinction to blur risks undermining our profession, opening the door for individuals to call themselves 'music therapists' simply because they 'do music' with participants.
Many clinics and businesses will face closure due to changes, leading to widespread job losses within the allied health field. This affects not only therapists and their families but also restricts access to music therapy services all across Australia.
Further Information sources:
Music Therapy IS therapy! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZQp9bUSK2PQ
Video Description: The government has decided that, from February 2025, NDIS participants will no longer be able to access music therapy as a ‘therapeutic support’. The reason? The government claims that “there is not enough evidence that music therapy will be ... effective and beneficial to participants” (NDIS website FAQs). Instead, the government proposes to fund music therapy through NDIS participants’ community participation budget. This budget promotes access to activities, not therapies. Under this change, music therapists will receive less than a third of the rate paid to other allied health professionals in the NDIS. It is unreasonable to think that qualified Registered Music Therapists can continue to provide the same therapeutic service for a third of the cost. Music therapy is supported by strong evidence and delivers significant functional outcomes with participants. Without funding for music therapy as a therapeutic support, most participants will lose access to music therapy, leaving them without essential support.
Share this video and join the fight to keep music therapy funded as an NDIS therapeutic support!
---
UPDATE 8/1/2025
Thank you so much to the nearly 60k people who have supported this petition!
After meeting with NDIS Minister Bill Shorten in December, the Australian Music Therapy Association has acknowledged the appointment of Dr Stephen Duckett AM who will be reviewing the evidence case and pricing under the NDIS, with findings delivered by March 2025. Read the AMTA's response here.
No changes will be made to the way music therapy and art therapy until the review is complete.
While we hold our breath and hope for positive outcomes from this review, it remains important to keep the pressure on the decision makers, writing to MPs, continuing to share the petition and raise awareness about the importance of keeping music therapy as an NDIS funded therapeutic support!
Check out this incredible video featuring artists from all over Australia voicing their support of music therapy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol9L3usIOQA
UPDATE 29/11/2024:
A huge thank you to each and every one of our 42K+ supporters — your voices are making a difference! 🙌
Exciting news: The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) has secured a meeting with Minister Bill Shorten next Friday 🤞
AMTA President Monica Zidar states:
"We urge Minister Bill Shorten to reverse the unfair and unfounded decision to remove music therapy as a therapy support, which will devastatingly affect over 8,000 families across the country."
We want to reiterate:
🎵 Music Therapy is an EVIDENCE-BASED discipline with proven effectiveness in supporting: Cognition, Communication, Social interaction, Mobility & coordination, Behaviour & self-regulation. Please see Disability Evidence Summary
🎵 Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) design and deliver goal-oriented, individualised therapy that achieves functional outcomes.
🎵 RMTs deserve the same respect, standards, and review processes as our colleagues in speech pathology and occupational therapy.
📢 What You Can Do:
Please continue to share this petition and spread the word. Together, we stand united to ensure that NDIS participants retain equal access to therapeutic services like Music Therapy!
---
UPDATE 26/11/24:
Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared our petition—your support has been incredible! We've already gained 15,000 signatures in just 24 hours, showing how VITAL music therapy is for NDIS participants and their families.
With the proposed changes from 1 February 2025, this will mean the Music Therapy industry will not be sustainable and won't be able to provide the music needed support to participants who greatly need it.
We MUST continue to act. This decision not only impacts NDIS participants but also threatens the livelihoods of our Registered Music Therapists across Australia.
What You Can Do:
Join the Calling Campaign:
📞 Call Minister Bill Shorten’s office tomorrow, Wednesday 27 November, 9 am–12 pm AEDT, to share your concerns.
Ask to reverse the decision and maintain music therapy funding at the current full rate.
Share your music therapy stories and ask for your name to be recorded.
Ask that your concerns be passed on to the Minister and your name and contact details be taken down and recorded. This is so they have a record of the volume of calls.
Continue to share the Petition: Help us reach even more people—every signature makes a difference.
Your voice is crucial in showing the impact music therapy has on lives across Australia. Let’s keep pushing to make sure we’re heard!
Thank you for standing with us. 💙
---
UPDATE 25/11:
The NDIS have officially released their statement. This means on the 2nd Feb our participants won't be able to access Music Therapy (and Art Therapy) as part of therapeutic supports. It's not all over. We must keep fighting!
--
We, the undersigned, stand together in urging decision-makers to keep music therapy as a funded NDIS support. Let’s work to protect this life-changing therapy for those who need it most. Please join us—sign this petition today to save music therapy for NDIS participants.
📷 Text: "Music therapy belongs in the NDIS". A child and adult use an keyboard together
63,071
The Decision Makers
Supporter voices
Petition created on 25 November 2024