THE NEWCASTLE MUSIC & ART THERAPY TEAM
Our Team
Susan Ashley-Brown (she/her)
Director & Registered Music Therapist
Susan Ashley-Brown is the Director of Newcastle Music & Art Therapy and is a Registered Music Therapist with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA). She has worked in many settings for over 20 years including paediatrics, aged care, mental health, disability and early intervention and brings extensive experience to her work.
Susan loves working with a wide range of people and the variety this brings, with no two music therapy sessions looking or sounding the same. Working with people across the lifespan and finding ways for music to make a difference in their lives is challenging, but also, the most rewarding part of her work.
Her experience and impact through her work was acknowledged in 2022, when Susan won the Music Therapist of the Year award at the Australian Allied Health Awards.
After graduating from the University of Technology, Sydney and becoming a Registered Music Therapist in 1999, Susan was the first Music Therapist to be employed by the John Hunter Children’s Hospital in the Paediatric Oncology Department, a position funded by Redkite (formerly Malcolm Sargent Foundation). During her time there, Susan was able to expand the position to include the other general wards. She also worked at the purpose built Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre based in Penrith, which was an invaluable opportunity to work alongside other Music Therapists.
For many years, Susan has been conducting the Sing & Grow program in the Hunter, an early intervention program focusing on family interactions and child development. She is also regularly engaged by the Family Action Centre, Newcastle University, to run workshops and provide Music Therapy for families attending SNUG camps.
Susan has been an active member of the AMTA, the peak body for Music Therapy in Australia, serving as Chair of Education and on the National Council. She has overseen a number of Validations of the Music Therapy training programs at the University of Melbourne, Western Sydney University and previously the University of Queensland and the University of Technology, Sydney.
Susan has a passion for Music Therapy and loves to talk about it. She has presented at conferences and facilitated many workshops for various groups, always providing relevant and current research and practice information to support the presentation.
She has developed Newcastle Music & Art Therapy so that more Music & Art Therapy can be offered to more people, and more lives can be changed through music.
Katishe Grudnoff (she/her)
Registered Art Therapist
Katishe Grudnoff is a professionally registered Art Therapist with the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA), graduating the Master of Art Therapy at Western Sydney University. Katishe has been practicing for almost twenty years and is the only ANZACATA Registered Supervisor in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle area (the “gold standard” for supervisors).
Katishe provides supervision for our Art Therapy team, as well as external supervision for Arts Therapists around Australia via Zoom. She brings experience from both the mental health and disability sectors, having worked in a huge variety of settings including hospitals on mental health inpatient and outpatient teams, schools, domestic violence teams, aged care and dementia units, and managing therapeutic day programs supporting people with disabilities.
Katishe is passionate about trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice. She has an autistic son and comes from a neurodiverse family. Her lived experience deeply informs her work. Katishe’s approach is warm, patient, and down to earth. Her years of practicing have made her keenly observant, good at tuning in to people’s needs and connecting with people from all walks of life. She loves a good challenge, can bring calm in chaos, and is not easily shocked! She aims to provide a consistent, sensory-friendly, creative and non-judgemental space where people can be gently supported to feel safe, unmask and be genuinely accepted for who they are. She loves supporting people to feel comfortable, to express themselves and tell their stories through engaging and fun experiences. She is passionate about using art as a tool for communication and connection, encouraging people to reach their identified goals and live their best lives (whatever that may look like).
At home, Katishe has an art room where she loves to experiment and make mess, creating ceramic sculpture and mixed media painting and inks. She regularly has exhibitions (including Sculptures at Scratchley’s) and has won awards for her work.
Joey McNamara (he/him)
Registered Music Therapist
Joey is a dedicated music therapist with several years of experience working with individuals with autism, disabilities, and mental health challenges, as well as supporting their families.
After completing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Newcastle’s Conservatorium, majoring in Performance, Joey obtained his Master of Music Therapy from the University of Melbourne in 2020. He became a Registered Music Therapist with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) in 2021.
Joey was initially drawn to the practice of music therapy after fostering a beautiful musical relationship with his young Autistic family member. After further research and personal experiences, he realised how beneficial music can be for every person across our whole lifespan.
Passionate about maximising the wellbeing of young people and their families, Joey is focused on building capacity and empowering through creative expression, learning new skills and strategies to navigate life.
Joey values collaborative music making groups that provide children with access to a range of music making experiences. He has a strong focus on fostering a lifelong love of all music and music making, while also building cognitive, social and emotional capacity in children. He hopes to provide support to the people who need it most, through his musical and therapeutic presence.
He uses a compassionate approach to facilitate emotional expression, enhance communication, and promote overall well-being in his clients through the power of music. Skilled in creating individualised therapy plans, Joey is committed to empowering his clients with creative and therapeutic interventions. He is also passionate about working with individuals and families across a whole lifespan and has experience in therapeutic settings such as the disability sector, special schools, mental health, hospitals and aged care, where he has successfully supported individuals in achieving their personal and therapeutic goals.
Joey is skilled in using music production software and song writing techniques, which he integrates into his therapy sessions to help clients explore their creativity, express their emotions, and develop new skills. By combining technology with therapeutic practices, he provides a dynamic and engaging environment that fosters growth and healing.
Miriam Saines (she/her/they/them)
Registered Art Therapist
Miriam is a professionally registered Art Therapist with the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA), graduating the Master of Art Therapy at the Western Sydney University in 2012.
Miriam is a late diagnosed autistic and ADHD art therapist who has neurodivergent children and family members. She is passionate about working with neurodivergent clients and clients with disabilities of all ages and backgrounds. She works from a strengths based, neurodiversity affirming framework and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, both lived and professional, to her work.
Miriam also has extensive experience working in the mental health field with a wide range of client groups. She is an accomplished group art therapist who has worked within inpatient and outpatient hospital settings and has facilitated community-based self-care groups for parents and carers. She has also worked in school settings, running groups for children with disabilities and groups for children who have experienced trauma.
Miriam’s intention is for her clients to feel safe to be themselves and to unmask in art therapy if they choose to; to stim as much as they need to; to have their sensory needs and support needs met; to experience being valued and accepted for who they are; to creatively express themselves in their own unique way without judgement.
Miriam’s current passion interests are autistic and ADHD culture, learning to soft craft (felting, embroidery, crochet etc.), watching funny dog videos, listening to Jax Anderson on repeat and reading queer romance novels with all the happy endings (dopamine for the win!).
Saiya Deehan (she/her)
Registered Music Therapist
Saiya Deehan graduated with Masters in Music Therapy from the University of Melbourne in December 2022. She also holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours), majoring in Voice and Composition, from Newcastle Conservatorium of Music (University of Newcastle).
Saiya is a passionate singer and is a section leader of the Newcastle Chamber Choir, who won two gold medals at the 2024 World Choir Games in New Zealand.
Phoebe Teal-Spicer (she/her)
Registered Art Therapist
Rachel Hamilton (she/her)
Registered Music Therapist
Rachel Hamilton has been a registered music therapist with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) for over 20 years, working in Sydney and Newcastle with a variety of population groups.
Rachel has worked with children in hospital and in special education centres, with clients with disabilities and adults with dementia. In each of these areas, she has seen how effective music can be in complementing medical, educational and allied health treatment plans. Family members and support people often play a valuable role in her music therapy sessions.
As well as working as a music therapist, Rachel also enjoys sharing her love of music through playing in traditional jazz bands, teaching the piano and accompanying singers and instrumentalists.
Kate Pui Shan Leung (she/her)
Registered Music Therapist
Kate Pui Shan Leung graduated her Master of Creative Music Therapy from Western Sydney University in 2019. She is a passionate Music Therapist with a well-rounded skill set, who incorporates a client-centred and resource-oriented approach to her Music Therapy practice, based on positive psychology.
Kate is a ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Grade 8 Classical Piano player with more than 10 years piano teaching experience. She is fluent in oral and written English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Natalie Holland (she/her)
Admin and Marketing
Coming to Newcastle Music & Art Therapy from a media background, Natalie is a bit of a jack of all trades. A Communications graduate, she has worked as a radio producer, a television playout coordinator, a childcare worker, a social media guru and a podcast editor.
Natalie takes on our administration tasks on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as running our Facebook page and website. She is currently studying Auslan, and continues to educate herself in child safety and disability services. Neurodivergent herself, Natalie is passionate about disability, LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous issues, and aims to create a space that is inclusive, neurodiverse-affirming and accessible for all clients.
Silvana Grujic (she/her)
Admin
With over 20 years of experience in customer service and organizational roles, Silvana is deeply committed to delivering exceptional service and making a positive impact on everyone she encounters. Her background in allied health within the workers’ compensation sector has allowed her to not only be a supportive voice for those in need but also to help individuals successfully return to work and health following physical or psychological injuries.
In more recent years, Silvana has shifted her focus to serve smaller mental health companies, where she has had the privilege of supporting both teams and clients through various administrative and business tasks.
As an administrator at Newcastle Music and Art Therapy, Silvana takes pride in efficiently managing tasks to a create seamless experience for our clients, ensuring they receive the support they need with warmth and professionalism. Working closely with NDIS clients has deepened her understanding of how disabilities impact daily life, fuelling her commitment to making a positive impact by providing tailored support. This efficiency not only enhances client satisfaction, but also contributes to the overall success of our therapeutic programs.
Outside of work, family is Silvana’s top priority. As a mother of two, her life is wonderfully busy, filled with bushwalks, shared meals, and quality time together. She also has a deep love for photography, art, and design, and seizes every opportunity to learn and grow in these creative pursuits.
Our Mission
Putting it simply – to change lives through music and art!
We aim to provide accessible music therapy and art therapy for people of all ages and abilities.
We love to talk about music therapy and art therapy and share our knowledge. We are advocates for the benefits of music therapy and art therapy and endeavour to educate the community about the benefits of 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.
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