Music therapy

  • ​​Music therapy is a research-based allied health discipline in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and well-being. Music therapists incorporate a range of active and receptive music-making methods within and through a therapeutic relationship to address individual patient and family goals. Common music therapy goals include pain management, rehabilitation, reducing effects of trauma and stress, developmental outcomes, emotional expression, self-worth and self-esteem building, and supporting positive engagement with the clinical environment. Music therapists provide support to patients and families at all stages of life, from neonates through to childhood, young adults, adults, to palliative care.

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    Workforce characteristics for NSW Health music therapy workforce in 2040

    20
    Headcount

    21.8
    Work hours per week

    3.4%
    Aboriginal workforce target

    ​​Demand is expected to grow 1.6% (low demand scenario) to 1.9% (high demand scenario).

    Reasonable career opportunities

    ​​Workforce modelling indicates the need to  grow the NSW music therapy workforce by around 0.2 to 0.3 new professionals per annum to meet community need in 2040 across both demand scenarios.

    Projected FTE growth for NSW Health music therapy workforce to 2040

    20212022202320242025202620272028202920302031203220332034203520362037203820392040
    High Demand8.0293338.0293338.1818918.3373478.4957568.6571768.8216628.9892739.160079.3341119.5114599.6921779.87632810.0639810.2551910.4500410.6485910.8509211.0570811.26717
    Status Quo8.0293338.0293339.0266679.0266679.0266678.3466678.3466678.2666678.048.0293338.0293338.0293338.0293338.0293338.0293338.0293338.0293338.0293338.0293338.029333
    Low Demand8.0293338.0293338.1578038.2883288.4209418.5556768.6925678.8316488.9729549.1165219.2623869.4105849.5611539.7141329.86955810.0274710.1879110.3509210.5165310.6848

    Workforce characteristics for NSW Health music therapy workforce in 2021

    13
    Headcount

    21.8
    Work hours per week

    44.3
    Years average age

    69.2%
    Female

    13.3%
    Aged 60+

    0%
    Aboriginal

    Metropolitan Sydney

    12
    Headcount

    21.4
    Work hours per week

    42.2
    Years average age

    6.7%
    Aged 60+

    Non-Metropolitan Sydney

    1
    Headcount

    NA
    Work hours per week

    NA
    Years average age

    NA%
    Aged 60+

    Music therapy junior entrant positions into NSW Health

    Year20172018
    201920202021
    Graduates01232

    Workforce distribution for NSW Health music therapy workforce in 2021

    The geographic distribution of the public workforce by local health district/network, by facility and per 100,000 population.

Legends

Per local health district

0 1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 100+

Per 100,000 population

0 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Per facility

0 1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 100+

Other networks

  • Sydney Children's Hospitals: 1 to 5 | 0 to 1 per 100,000
  • Enable NSW: 0 | 0 per 100,000
  • Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health: 0 | 0 per 100,000
  • Workforce considerations

    • Externally (charity) funded positions and temporary funding initiatives impacts on workforce stability, service delivery and workforce movement.
    • Data available does not include unmet need and may not capture all specialty areas/clinics in which music therapists work.
    • Population demographics and increasing complex health and social needs which includes people with histories of psycho-social distress or trauma and people with disability may increase demand for the music therapy workforce.
    • Ensuring sustainable training pipelines, graduates, and workforce reflect the future workforce requirements of the community.
    • Clinical educators and student placements are an option for developing the workforce and establishing the need for music therapy in service delivery.

    Notes

    • Data included is limited to the workforce employed under the relevant health professional award.
    • Specialty health networks are not displayed geographically in the workforce distribution maps.
    • LHD/SHN may engage in sessional arrangements in selected circumstances.
    • Workforce that cannot be aligned to a physical location have been attributed to a pre-determined facility within each LHD/N. This may impact on Headcount shown at these facilities within the distribution map. 
    • NSW Health does not make any representations or warranties whether expressed or implied with respect to the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in the fact sheet.
Current as at: Monday 29 May 2023