NDIS Controversy: The Professionalism of Music Therapy and Creative Arts Therapy
(The article is translated to English with aid of ChatGPT. This article was written originally in Chinese for online magazine Sameway, published at their special edition https://www.sameway.com.au/每週話題/ndis風波：-音樂治療及創意藝術治療的專業性/ )
Background
At the end of November 2024, the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) decided, without consulting the industry or participants, to remove funding for music therapy and art therapy under the NDIS Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living category. This decision was implemented within a week, sparking significant backlash from the industry, participants, families, and the wider community.
The industry strongly protested, with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) president leading a team of professionals and affected families to Canberra to advocate for a meeting with NDIS Minister Bill Shorten before the parliamentary recess. As a result, the NDIA announced a delay in implementation until February 1, 2025. After discussions with Minister Shorten, the government established an independent inquiry into the role of music therapy and art therapy within the NDIS. Until the inquiry concludes—expected around March 2025—the current funding model and pricing for these therapies will remain unchanged.
This article provides an overview of the professionalism of music therapy and art therapy, as well as the profound impact of the proposed changes, helping readers gain a deeper understanding of the situation.
Professionalism of Music Therapy and Art Therapy
Music therapy and art therapy are fundamentally different from general music or art classes. Professional therapy involves multiple stages, including case assessment, treatment planning, implementation, documentation, continuous evaluation, and reporting. If necessary, the process also includes therapy termination/discharge. Throughout treatment, therapists maintain close communication with various stakeholders, such as parents and other allied health professionals, to ensure that therapy goals and methods remain appropriate. Music therapy and art therapy are not casual singing, dancing, or drawing sessions; but they are structured professional services tailored to individual therapeutic goals.
Music Therapy
In Australia, the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) is the only recognized professional body for music therapists. To practice as a registered music therapist, one must graduate from an accredited two-year master's program, currently offered only at the University of Melbourne and Western Sydney University.
A minimum of 640 hours of clinical training is required before a therapist can register with AMTA.
After graduation, therapists must complete a supervised provisional period before obtaining full registration.
Early-career therapists with a bachelor's degree (from past training programs) and a small number of internationally trained music therapists also practice in Australia, but all registered music therapists must adhere to AMTA’s professional standards, which include:
Competency requirements
Annual professional development obligations
Adherence to ethical codes
Art Therapy
Art therapy is a broader field that includes drama therapy and dance therapy. There are multiple universities offering training programs, each with different registration bodies.
One of the primary registration organizations in Australia is the Australia, New Zealand & Asia Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA), which has a tiered membership system. It has to be noted that:
Only graduates from recognized master’s programs can apply for Professional Membership, the only membership level accepted by the NDIS for therapy claims.
The two-year master's degree must include 750 hours of supervised clinical training.
General Membership, which some courses offer after a few months or a year of study, does not qualify practitioners to bill NDIS for therapy services.
Even after registration as a professional member, art therapists must continue supervised practice based on their caseload to maintain professional standards.
Scientific Evidence Supporting These Therapies
Both music therapy and art therapy are supported by substantial scientific evidence. Numerous Australian and international studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving functional outcomes.
For example:
AMTA’s 2024 Disability Evidence Summary highlights research showing music therapy supports cognitive, motor, self-regulation, and communication skills.
A 2024 systematic review by Shi et al. in Frontiers in Psychology found that music therapy positively impacts language and social skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
A 2024 systematic review in the International Journal of Art Therapy revealed that art therapy enhances motor function and control by reorganizing neural networks, benefiting individuals with disabilities.
Thus, the NDIS claim that these therapies lack evidence for functional outcomes is incorrect. Music and art therapists undergo extensive professional training, and organizations like AMTA and ANZACATA are highly regulated professional associations. AMTA is also a member of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) and the National Alliance for Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP).
Far-Reaching Impacts of the NDIS Changes
The removal of funding for music and art therapy will have major consequences for people with disabilities, therapists, allied health services, and society as a whole.
Impact on Participants
Some may argue that participants can pay for therapy out of pocket. However, professional therapy is costly due to:
Registration fees
Insurance costs
Ongoing professional supervision and training
Clinic rental and administrative expenses
And other necessary costs to provide quality therapy services
Many people with disabilities and their families cannot afford therapy without government support.
For many individuals, music and art therapy provide crucial non-verbal support, especially for those with severe disabilities. Losing access to these therapies means losing a key opportunity for functional development and social connection.
For example:
One participant, a non-verbal autistic child, has been receiving music therapy for eight years. Through non-verbal music-based interactions, she has developed communication skills and self-expression. Music therapy has worked alongside her speech therapist, using her motivation for music to encourage communication with assistive technology. If music therapy is removed, this child will lose her only meaningful way to connect with others.
For Chinese-speaking families in Australia, these changes could force bilingual therapists (from China, Taiwan, etc.) to leave because the collapse of the industry would prevent them from meeting visa requirements. Bilingual therapists provide essential cultural and language support for families, allowing for better therapy engagement and understanding. If these professionals leave, Chinese-speaking families with disabilities will become even more isolated.
Impact on Allied Health and Society
The NDIS was designed to provide choice and control, shifting disability support from a medical model to a social model that integrates therapy into the community. However, removing funding for these therapies will force community-based therapists out of work, which is not only a major setback for disability support but also a social regression.
Although NDIS aims to cut costs, music therapy accounts for only 0.04% of total NDIS expenditure, and art therapy only 0.03%. On the other hand, these therapies reduce long-term disability-related costs such as:
Early intervention helps develop functional abilities, reducing future therapy expenses.
Participants with mental health issues who receive therapy may require fewer hospitalizations, saving substantial healthcare costs.
In some regions, waiting times for speech and occupational therapy can exceed a year. Music and art therapy provide vital interim support.
Some unqualified service providers have falsely claimed therapy support funding. However, this is an NDIS regulatory issue, not a reflection of the professionalism of registered therapists, nor it should be the responsibility for the profession to deal with.
Conclusion
Minister Bill Shorten has suggested that, after February 1, registered NDIS therapists can only charge $67 per hour for one-on-one sessions or $193 for group sessions of at least four participants. However, professional therapy is not a generic community activity—it is individualized, goal-driven, and clinically structured. Not all participants can engage in group therapy due to their specific needs, highlighting why therapy is distinct from recreational programs.
While the NDIS budget is substantial, cost-cutting should target unqualified providers and system loopholes, not eliminate proven therapies that effectively support people with disabilities.
References:
Shi Z, Wang S, Chen M, Hu A, Long Q, Lee Y. The effect of music therapy on language communication and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychol. 2024 May 7;15:1336421. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1336421. PMID: 38774719; PMCID: PMC11106491.
Shaylin Whitney Vogel, Kayla Leigh Mullins and Saravana Kuma (2024) Art therapy for children and adolescents with autism: a systematic review. International Journal of Art Therapy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17454832.2024.2343373
McFerran, K (2024). https://www.cawri.com.au/posts/music-therapy-and-the-ndis#
