Case studies: Music therapist: Maybelle Wei

Maybelle has a conjoint Bachelors of Arts and Music, majoring in anthropology and composition, from the University of Auckland and an MA Music Therapy from Anglia Ruskin University. She works as a registered music therapist for the South Australian Department of Communities and Social Inclusion.

Prior to my training, I had spent five years working with people with brain and spinal injuries at a rehabilitation centre, and work experience in other capacities (teacher, creative arts assistant, music facilitator, freelance musician) all involved the use of music in various modalities such as composing, arranging, recording, transcribing, improvising, teaching and performing.

As a musician, I understood the power of music and my personal relationship with this creative medium. Undertaking the two-year training programme at Anglia Ruskin University  was an enriching journey of discovering the potential of how music can be an agent of change, over time, between two people who meet in a room of instruments.

Upon qualifying, I decided to move to Australia to explore working opportunities there. I submitted an application with the Australia Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and was approved as a registered music therapist (RMT), which is the recognised title of a qualified Australian music therapist. Members of the AMTA receive regular updates about job vacancies, amongst professional development opportunities and general news, and it was through this professional network that I was successful in attaining a position in Adelaide. 

I am currently working as a registered music therapist for the South Australian Department of Communities and Social Inclusion. Music therapy is offered within Disability Services as a clinical service at the care facilities as well as in the community. The two adult client groups I work with are acquired brain injury and intellectual disability.

My role involves seeing through the set-up of music therapy casework from responding to referrals, liaising with service coordinators, undertaking assessments, to designing and implementing a music therapy programme based on the individual client’s needs. Time is allocated to write clinical notes and reports as well as personal process notes. Supervision with the senior music therapist is held weekly; this has been incredibly useful for thinking together about the progress of my work and reflecting on any presenting issues.

The challenges with working in such a specialised profession have to do with maintaining faith in what you do. Music therapy is a relatively small but ever-expanding field, and I have found that sometimes it can be difficult to convey the potential of music therapy to people who don’t know what it is or have preconceived ideas about how much or how little we can achieve.

Working as a music therapist comes with many questions and unknowns, and requires much patience and belief, but in this profession I have started on a lifelong journey where creative possibilities can come alive at any moment. I feel blessed to have a set of skills that can be used to serve and share with people in need of meaningful and positive experiences in their lives.

Students and graduates who would like to enter this career should take the initiative and be proactive in seeking out working opportunities in a diversity of areas where music therapy can be applied. The more experiences you expose yourself to, before, during and after training, the wider your scope and understanding will become of music, people and, most importantly, yourself.