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Future of music therapy NDIS funding in doubt as review announced

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Alex De Boo, pictured with his dad Tim, has attended music therapy since he was a baby. (ABC Mildura Swan Hill: Sarah Buchecker)

In short:

The National Disability Insurance Agency has commissioned an independent review of NDIS funding for music and art therapy. 

Some participants are hopeful music therapy will remain affordable, but want their voices heard by the review.

What's next?

No changes are due to be made to music and art therapy NDIS funding until at least early next year.

Every Thursday, nine-year-old Alex De Boo attends a music therapy session in the regional Victorian city of Mildura.

His parents, Tim and Rosie De Boo, say it is his favourite part of the week.

"He becomes a completely different child and he is definitely engaged and ready for the day," Mr De Boo said.

Alex was born with a brain tumour that hindered his neurological and optic-nerve development.

At just seven weeks of age, Alex underwent his first brain surgery and began cycles of chemotherapy and drug trials, which are still continuing.

"One of the constants he has had right throughout this process is music, because even when he was unable to see, we could still communicate with him through music," Mr De Boo said.

Future of music therapy NDIS funding in doubt as review announced

Alex attends music therapy weekly. (ABC Mildura Swan Hill: Sarah Buchecker)

He said the sessions had helped improve Alex's motor, social and vocal skills, and in particular, had helped improve his breathing control and left-sided weakness.

"It has allowed us to really progress his development," Mr De Boo said.

"He was unable to hold a trombone six months [to] a year ago properly and we've done a lot of work getting that left hand to work."

Funding under review

The future of Alex's weekly sessions are now in limbo, as participants across the country await the result of an independent review into NDIS funding for music and art therapy.

The review, announced on December 13, will examine the effectiveness of art and music therapy, the qualifications and registration of music and art practitioners, and the the pricing of support.

It comes after the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) decided to move music and art therapy out of NDIS's Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living category, a change that would decrease funding from $193.99 per hour to $67.56 unless participants can show the therapies improve or maintain their "functional capacity". 

The NDIA said music and art therapy did "not meet the evidentiary standards required to be classified as a therapy under the definition of NDIS supports".

Mr De Boo said, under the changes, Alex would no longer be able to attend his one-on-one sessions as his funds would "significantly decrease".

"If we don't have that we feel that it will drastically set him back in his progress," he said.

Future of music therapy NDIS funding in doubt as review announced

Health economist Stephen Duckett will undertake the review. (ABC: Q+A)

The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) said the decision would "adversely impact people with disability who rely on music therapy to achieve their goals".

The independent review, which is expected to be completed by mid-March, will be led by health economist Dr Stephen Duckett.

NDIA said any changes would not come into force until the review was completed and the relevant findings considered.

Industry 'unsure and worried'

Sunraysia Arts and Learning, where Alex attends therapy, expects to lose all of its one-on-one music therapy clients if the changes go ahead as originally outlined.

Director and qualified music therapist Catherine Threlfall said her business stands to lose 60 per cent of its income.

"That is a significant loss to us and really threatens the future of music therapy in our community," she said.

Future of music therapy NDIS funding in doubt as review announced

Catherine Threlfall is worried about how her business will be affected. (ABC Mildura Swan Hill: Sarah Buchecker)

Ms Threlfall said while she was relieved the changes were paused as a result of the review, herself and clients still had concerns.

She hoped the review would seek input from a range of voices in cities and rural towns, as well as participants who couldn't always advocate for themselves.

"It is very important to include participant submissions … also the voices of participants who are non-verbal," Ms Threlfall said.

"A lot of the people who participate in music and art therapy are non-verbal or communicate in unconventional ways."

She wants music and art therapy to once again be recognised as an allied health profession.

"We have got participants for whom this is a real lifeline, people achieving real-life changes to their lives through the functional gains they make through music therapy."

NDIS minister Bill Shorten was contacted for comment.

Changes not cuts

Mr Shorten told ABC Radio on Dec 17 that the review aimed to change the price of therapy, not cut it.

"The agency formed the view that there wasn't a lot of evidence that the $193-an-hour therapy was delivering results, they made a decision that from February 1 it wouldn't be in people's plans going forward," he said.

"The review is going to report on the pricing arrangements for music and art therapy and it will review the evidence base about whether or not it is making a difference."

Future of music therapy NDIS funding in doubt as review announced

Bill Shorten said the NDIA would change funding for art and music therapy not cut it. (ABC Radio Hobart: Brooke Van Nooten)

Mr Shorten said participants who had music and art therapy specifically outlined in their plans would not be affected by the change.

But for many participants, like Alex, music therapy wasn't listed as a "stated support" in their plans.

"Unfortunately Alex's plan has not been updated for many years, and will be rolled over again next year," Ms De Boo said.

"This means that we have no possibly of getting it written into his plan as a stated support for at least the next 12 months."

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