How do I become a Registered Music Therapist?

A Music Therapist is a person who is an Active “Registered Music Therapist” with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA). All of our Music Therapists at Newcastle Music Therapy fall into this category.

There are two routes to becoming a Registered Music Therapist:

Successfully complete an AMTA accredited tertiary course within Australia and then apply for registration with AMTA.
OR
Apply for registration based on an equivalent qualification, from overseas.

Currently the AMTA accredited tertiary courses are:

The University of Melbourne – Master of Music Therapy by coursework or Master of Music Therapy by blended learning
OR
Western Sydney University – Master of Creative Music Therapy

To enter the Masters courses, students usually need to complete a Bachelor of Music. Other university degrees are accepted if the student’s musical ability is high enough.

Once you have completed your Masters training, you need to register with AMTA.

Under the support category “Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living”, the NDIA specifies that music therapy supports can only be delivered by a person who is an Active “Registered Music Therapist” with the Australian Music Therapy Association (see NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2022-23, p91-92). 

More information:

Australian Music Therapy Association
How to Become an Registered Music Therapist
AMTA Registration

The University of Melbourne
Master of Music Therapy

Western Sydney University
Master of Creative Music Therapy

How do I become a Registered Art Therapist?

An Art Therapist is a person who is a Professional Member with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA). All of our Art Therapists at Newcastle Music Therapy fall into this category.

To become a Registered Art Therapist, you must complete a two-year Master degree which includes 750 hours of supervised clinical placement and has been approved by a government qualification authority (Australian Quality Framework AQF level 9).

Master degrees awarded in other countries can be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Once you have completed your training, you need to be registered with The Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA). ANZACATA offers tier membership for other approved training courses at AQF level 6 and above. 

Under the support category “Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living”, the NDIA specifies that art therapy supports can only be delivered by a person who is a Professional Member with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (see NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2022-23, p91-92). 

More information:

Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association
About ANZACATA 
ANZACATA approved degrees 
Join ANZACATA