Queensland Children’s Hospital music therapy team. Back (L – R): Maggie James, Angela Delaney, Karen Elliott and Jeanette Kennelly Front (L – R): Daisy Nussey, Erin Munn.
The Queensland Children's Hospital and the Children's Hospital Foundation are this week making some noise to celebrate 30 years of music therapy for sick and injured Queensland kids.
Music therapy involves the use of age-appropriate musical activities to engage patients, aid their rehabilitation and recovery, and help them reach their full potential while in the hospital environment.
Thanks to the support of the Children's Hospital Foundation, the former Royal Children’s Hospital established the state's first paediatric music therapy service in 1993 - offering just 4 hours of music therapy a week provided by two university students.
Since then, the program has grown to become one of the largest in Australia, and last year alone the music therapy team at the Queensland Children's Hospital provided more than 1800 sessions to almost 750 patients.
Children’s Health Queensland acting Chief Executive Dominic Tait said the music therapy service was an invaluable and very special part of the person-centred care provided in the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
“Being in hospital can be an intimidating experience for anyone, but is especially so for children. Music, however, has the power to help children face their fears, distract them from their illness and injury for a while, reduce anxiety about treatments and procedures and improve their wellbeing - we see this every day in the Queensland Children’s Hospital.”
“The amazing work of our music therapy team is often the highlight of a hospital stay for many patients and their families.”
Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO, Lyndsey Rice said: “We are so proud of the part we have played in the care and rehabilitation of countless Queensland children through our support of music therapy across the past 30 years,” she added.