ABOUT NEWCASTLE MUSIC & ART THERAPY
Our Team
Changing lives through music and art!
We aim to provide accessible music therapy programs and art therapy programs for people of all ages and abilities.
We love to talk about music therapy and art therapy and share our knowledge. We are advocators for the benefits of music therapy and art therapy, and endeavor to educate the community about music therapy and art therapy.
To bring joy into people’s lives, to create meaningful connections between people and to help people know their worth and reach their potential – through music and art.
Our Clinic
What is Music Therapy?
It is a research-based practice and profession by a university-trained professional who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc.
Registered music therapists (RMT) draw on an extensive body of research and are bound by a code of ethics that informs their practice.”
What is Art Therapy?
As defined by the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA), “practitioners calling themselves art therapists have been trained to work therapeutically using the visual arts, including drawing, painting, and sculpture.”
Registered arts therapists must complete a minimum two years Masters degree, complete a minimum of 750 hours of supervised clinical placement, hold a professional membership with ANZACATA, and complete continuing professional development and work under a code of ethics.
Art therapy is a nonverbal creative therapy. Some goal areas that art therapy can address are increasing emotion regulation skills, improving social skills, expressing difficult feelings non-verbally, increasing self-awareness and improving communication skills.
NDIS
Music therapy and art therapy are covered under the NDIS and Newcastle Music & Art Therapy is a registered NDIS provider with existing NDIS clients, who tell us they greatly benefit from the support they receive through music therapy and art therapy.
Your planner may not know that music therapy and art therapy are listed under the NDIS. In some cases, planners have told clients that music therapy and art therapy are not covered by the NDIS but that’s not correct, and it’s important to point out that music therapy and art therapy are a part of the NDIS.
Music therapy and art therapy can be claimed under “Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living” for NDIS participants. Music therapy uses line item “15_615_0128_1_3 Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training – Music Therapist”, and art therapy uses line item “15_610_0128_1_3 Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training – Art Therapist”. NDIS participants under the age of 7 use line item “15_005_0118_1_3 Capacity Building For Early Childhood Interventions – Other Professional” to claim for both music therapy and art therapy.
We are more than happy to liaise with your NDIS planner to clarify any issues that may arise and outline how music therapy and art therapy can help you meet your goals.
About Newcastle Music & Art Therapy
Newcastle Music & Art Therapy started as a mobile service almost twenty years ago when Susan started to take on private clients in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area. Originally as InSync Music Therapy, Susan grew her client base and took on programs such as Sing And Grow (for parents and toddlers) and SNUG (a respite camp for the families of children with rare disorders). As the business grew, clients were increasingly asking for a space where they could express themselves freely. Susan also felt the need to bring more music therapists together where their collective skills and gifts could benefit her clients.
Our services expanded to include art therapy when Registered Art Therapist Katishe Grudnoff joined Susan’s practice. Due to high demand for both music therapy and art therapy services, the Newcastle Music & Art Therapy clinic added three extra therapy rooms during the 2020/2021 summer break. Our team has now expanded to include five music therapists and four art therapists!
How Can Music Therapy and Art Therapy Help?
Music therapy and art therapy can help with the following conditions:
- Autism
- Dementia
- Disability
- Child Development
- Mental Health
- Communication
- Wellness
At Newcastle Music & Art Therapy, we’re all about creating a space where everyone feels welcome and valued. We are a neuroaffirming practice, proudly support people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ folks, and Indigenous peoples.
It’s important to us that everyone feels included, heard and seen. We’re here to break down barriers, celebrate our differences, and make sure everyone can be themselves and shine.
Newcastle Music & Art Therapy operates on Awabakal country. We acknowledge the Awabakal people as the traditional custodians of the Warners Bay region and pay our respects to Awabakal elders past and present.
We are committed to a positive future for the Aboriginal community.
Get In Touch
Our Address
16/363 Hillsborough Road
Warners Bay NSW 2282