Help Save Music Therapy

Keep music therapy in the NDIS

a child and adult making music together
Letter from AMTA requesting support from participants via the sharing of case studies.

30th November 2024 – Come back for updates as they come to hand.

Dear Parents, Carers and Other Stakeholders,

Since day one of the NDIS, Music Therapy has been a funded therapeutic support. Prior to that, music therapy was accessible via the Helping Children with Autism funding scheme.

From 1st February, 2025, the National Disability Insurance Agency intends to restrict access to music therapy as follows:

  • Participants will be able to access music therapy through two different ways through their community participation budget, not their Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living (therapy supports) budget (as is currently the case)
  • At a group rate of $193.99 an hour when delivered to a minimum of 4 participants by a registered provider.
  • At a 1 to 1 rate of $67.56 an hour when delivered by a registered provider. This is not financially viable.

No-one in the music therapy community was consulted about this decision. Neither the NDIA nor the Department of Social Services has provided a clear reason for the decision except to say that:

“The allowable NDIS list includes ‘evidence-based therapy to help participants improve or maintain their functional capacity in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions, functioning (including psychosocial functioning) and community living. This includes an assessment by health professionals for support planning and review as required’. Therapy (for example psychology or occupational therapy) is paid at a higher rate than many other activities funded through the NDIS.

We understand that the evidence base in relation to art and music therapy is continuing to be developed, as it relates to disability-related support. In recognition of this the NDIA is referring art and music therapy to be assessed by the NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee (NDIS EAC).”

The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) is releasing regular updates here.

We are working around the clock to request Minister Shorten’s support to have this decision overturned by the NDIA. Our director, Monica Zidar, is also the president of the AMTA and will be travelling to meet with Minister Shorten, later this week to request his support to have music therapy held to the same standards and review processes as other allied health professions, like speech pathology and occupational therapy. The AMTA is asking for parity with its allied health colleagues.

There is currently NO INTERRUPTION to music therapy services. You will be advised immediately, if this changes. 

In the meantime, we need your help.

If music therapy has benefitted you or someone you care for, please consider doing any or all the following:

  1. Contact your local Member of Parliament (Federal) via phone and/or email. We suggest contacting the MP for the area in which you live, as they are elected to represent your interests. You can find out who your local MP is here: https://www.aph.gov.au/senators_and_members/members

When calling/emailing, we suggest:

  • Voicing your concern about the decision and asking that it be reversed.
  • The phone will be answered by one of the Minister’s staff – specifically ask that they tell the Minister about your concerns.
  • Outline how music therapy has benefitted you or someone you care for (particularly how music therapy has been helpful in ways that other therapies have not).
  • Outline how your life or the life of someone you care for would be different if it wasn’t for music therapy.
  • Ask for your name and contact information to be recorded, so you can be contacted with any updates.
  • Ask for an appointment to speak to your local MP in person about this issue.
  • Please be respectful and polite. This is how we will gain the most traction.

Follow this link for some general guidance about contacting an MP’s office (the

information is in relation to marine conservation but the principles are the same):

https://www.marineconservation.org.au/tips-calling-member-parliament/.

  1. Contact the Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten via phone on (03) 9326 1300 or email bill.shorten.mp@aph.gov.au
  2. Contact the Shadow Minister for the NDIS, Michael Sukkar via phone on 03 9874 1711 or email his Advisor, Vincent at michael.sukkar.mp@aph.gov.au.
  3. Ask Mr Sukkar’s office if his office is a) aware of the decision, b) what his office is doing to lobby the government to pause/reverse the decision and c) if his office has any advice on steps you can take.
  4. Use the Complaints form on the Department of Social Services website to make a complaint.
  5. Use the Contact Form on the NDIS Commission website to make a complaint about the decision. 
  6. Sign the Change.Org petition.
  7. Share the above information on your social media accounts, forward this email to your database and inform your networks.

We acknowledge that this is a challenging time for registered music therapists, AMTA members, NDIS participants who benefit from music therapy and their families or carers. We will continue to update you on our actions and more information as it comes to light. 

Monica Zidar

BA(Music), GDipMusThy

Principal Registered Music Therapist and Director of QPAH

President of the Australian Music Therapy Association