E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

Wheeler, Barbara: WMFT Proceedings of the Education Symposium
Models of Music Therapy Courses in Australia and New Zealand
Denise Erdonmez Grocke, PhD, MT-BC, FAMI
University of Melbourne, Australia
The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) developed
Guidelines for Establishing Music Therapy Training Programs in 1977. These
Guidelines identified five key areas that were to be included in approved
programs: Music studies; Psychology studies: Medical conditions: Music
Therapy theory and Clinical Practice. The Guidelines also required that
lecturers in music therapy programs had at least two years experience as an
accredited music therapist. From 1978-1990 the only course in music
therapy in Australia was offered at the University of Melbourne. However in
the past 10 years three new courses have been established.
In 1996, AMTA revised the Education Guidelines, and the content
areas of the education programs are now expanded and expressed in
competencies. AMTA is responsible for the approval of courses, and for reaccreditation
through a process of Validation each 5 years. Graduates of
courses approved by AMTA apply for Registration with the National
Registration and Education Board.
There are two types of education structures within Australian
Universities which lead to accreditation (entry to the profession). These
are:
The undergraduate degree (4 years duration)
Graduate Diploma (or Post Graduate Diploma) courses (over 2 years),
for those with a qualification at tertiary (University) level
Master’s and PhD programs are research degrees in Australia. A brief
summary of each of the four courses approved by AMTA follow.
University of Melbourne (1978)
4-year undergraduate degree, specialising in music therapy (B.Mus)
2 year Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy (Grad. Dip. MT)
Graduate Diploma in Guided Imagery and Music - advanced level training in
GIM
Master’s by research; PhD by research.
Content of music therapy courses, includes: Music core subjects (which are
pre-requisites for the Grad Dip); Music Therapy theory and practice; Music
Therapy Methods; Psychology; Human Development; Music Psychology; Music
in Medicine;
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