Music Therapy

Northern Health’s Music Therapy Service is run by a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) and is available to palliative care patients. Working closely with your medical and nursing team, your music therapist will create a tailored program to support your individual needs and wishes, focusing on your comfort and wellbeing, and supporting you and your family in end-of-life-care.

You will be seen by a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) who is university-trained, and registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc.

Your Music Therapist will talk to you about how music can support you whilst you are in hospital – for example, music can be used to help with pain management, and support mood and wellbeing. It can also promote rest and relaxation, and provide opportunities for patients and families to share special times together.

Your Music Therapist may engage you in a range of therapeutic interventions to support your goals. These may include listening to music, music relaxation, singing, playing and creating music, and music & imagery. Your therapist may use live and/or recorded music with you. You may like to write or record a piece of music for a family member, or create a playlist to help you sleep – whatever your goals are, your music therapist can help you work towards them.

Your Music Therapist is available to listen and support you as you navigate palliative care and what this means for you. · Your Music Therapist can provide music resources for you to use independently.

What to expect from the service?

The Music Therapist may engage patients and families in a range of therapeutic interventions to support patient goals.

These may include:

  • Music listening
  • Music relaxation
  • Singing
  • Playing, creating and/or recording music
  • Music & imagery

The music therapist may use live and/or recorded music and can support patients and families to write and/or record music or create activity-specific playlists. The Music Therapist is available to listen, counsel and support patients and families as they navigate palliative care.

For Health Professionals

Music therapy is an evidence-based allied health profession provided by a Registered Music Therapist (RMT). It is the intentional and therapeutic use of music to support people to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing.

RMTs are university-trained, and registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association.

At Northern Health, music therapy is available to patients and families in palliative care, and may be used to support:

  • Symptom management
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Procedures
  • Rest & relaxation
  • Comfort
  • Communication
  • Emotional expression
  • Identity
  • Quality of life

The RMT works closely with the medical, nursing and allied health teams to develop a tailored program for each person that supports their needs and preferences, and focuses on comfort and wellbeing. Music therapy can be utilised with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, in all conscious states, and from diagnosis to end-of-life-care, into bereavement.

How to refer to music therapy

Referrals should be forwarded directly to the Music Therapist via email or TEAMS, and must include:

  • Patient name
  • UR number
  • DOB
  • Location/ward
  • Reason for referral

Location

Northern Hospital Epping

Contact us

Resources

Australian Music Therapy Association
World Federation of Music Therapy

Last edit: 26/03/2026

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