Central Queensland Music Therapy

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Gladstone, QLD
Central Queensland Music Therapy

Using music as a tool to help you improve your health and wellbeing, change and develop your neuro-pathways, and achieve your goals

31/08/2026

The Gladstone Library recently welcomed one of our Registered Music Therapists, Eliza, to include music in their StoryTime program, alongside the usual stories, rhymes and movement.

StoryTime is part of the Queensland Government’s “First 5 Forever” initiative – an early literacy program which aims to provide strong foundations for children’s language and literacy development, as well as connecting families to information, resources and support.

Eliza will be joining the program twice more this year, with the next session being Father’s Day themed, this Thursday!

DATE: Thursday 3rd September 2026
TIME: 10:30 to 11.30am
LOCATION: Gladstone City Library, 39 Goondoon Street, Gladstone
WHAT TO EXPECT: Music, stories, and a craft activity to take home to Dad

27/08/2026

On the 19th of August, the NDIS Bill passed Parliament. This is going to show in the coming months, as cuts to the NDIS, which may affect your funding and therapist availability.

It can feel scary now as we enter a period of unknown before change. Although you may feel isolated, we at CQ Music Therapy, and the greater disability community, are all in this together – you are not alone!

Please remember that together, the disability community of Australia was able to rally and advocate fiercely for our rights these last few months. So much so that the Bill added some inclusions:
• An appeals pathway for large-scale cuts imposed by the Minister.
• A clearer definition of parental responsibility, recognising disability supports are different from ordinary parenting responsibilities.
• Whistleblower protections for people who report fraud within the NDIS.
• Stronger protections around debts raised against participants by the NDIA.
• Expanded rights to request re-assessment from the NDIA.

For now, everything is the same, and so we shall continue as we have been doing; offering supportive programs for all who come to our door. If you have any questions or concerns, we are always happy to answer them as the best we can, and will continue to provide updates when we have further information.

19/08/2026

Music is a powerful tool for understanding, processing, expressing, and regulating our emotions
🎵🤣😭😴😡😌🫣

Music therapists are trained to support their participants, using music to help them understand and work through their emotions, as well as teaching them how to use music to do this independently.

Can you think of a time that you used music to help you feel better? Maybe you chose a song to cry to when you needed to let your feelings out. Or you might have a go-to “pump me up” song that you play when you get ready in the morning or drive to school or work! 🚗

We would love to hear your favourite songs for different emotions and occasions - let us know in the comments! 👇🏼

13/08/2026

Read on for the latest updates about music therapy in the NDIS 🎼🩺

As per the latest Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL), effective 1 July 2026, there were no changes to the hourly rate for music therapy. Support worker and psychology rates increased, while dietetics and exercise physiology were reduced this year.

The main update from the PAPL is that all allied health and support services now require separate line items/codes on invoices. This includes differentiating between direct (face-to-face) sessions, telehealth, cancellations, non-face-to-face services, travel, and NDIA-requested reports. These administrative requirements will not affect participants’ sessions, but are reflected in our updated service agreements and invoices.

For more detailed and frequent updates about the NDIS and other music therapy news, sign up for our monthly newsletter (link in comments).

07/08/2026

We are pleased to be hosting a placement student here at CQ Music Therapy this semester! Read an introduction from Mel below, and say hi if you see her around 👋🎨

“Hello, I’m Mel. I’m an Art Therapy Student, completing my final semester of my Master of Mental Health Art Therapy at the University of Queensland. This is my fourth placement, where I continue to grow my skills and experience in mental health and therapeutic settings.

“My journey into art therapy has been shaped by a lifelong love of creativity, teaching, and supporting others. I hold a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Fine Arts) and a Master of Teaching, with nearly 24 years of teaching experience. As a teacher, I saw how powerful creativity can be in building confidence, connection, and emotional wellbeing.

“My therapeutic work will combine:
• my experience as an educator
• a caring, person-centred approach
• a safe, warm, and non-judgemental space

“During a uni lecture this semester, we were asked to choose a flower that represented our final placement journey. I chose a sunflower for the warmth, positivity, and support I have experienced with Jess and Eliza already. I feel encouraged and confident as I continue to grow personally and professionally in this final stage of my learning journey, alongside such inspiring therapists.”

17/07/2026

Term 3 is here! We hope you enjoyed the school holidays and aren’t too tired as you settle back into a regular routine this week 🤩

Our holiday highlight was Nhulundu’s Pop-up Playgroup! One of our registered music therapists, Eliza, set up a space as part of the event, where children and families got to explore some exciting instruments, make music together, and enjoy socialising and playing with new friends 👫🪇

We love facilitating connections through music, especially with our local community. And it doesn’t get much better than doing this work outside in the sunshine ☀️

30/06/2026

An obstacle course in Music Therapy? But where are the instruments?! 🎸🎹🪇🪗🪘

Music therapy is not always music-based. Sometimes our participants need sensory input, in various forms, to feel regulated in order to engage at all. Music therapists are trained to support their participants’ sensory needs, using music and other resources!

Other participants might feel nervous to come into the session room! So for this particular session, we set up an obstacle course as a fun and motivating way to get started.

And of course, Jess had to test out the “funness” first 🏃🏻‍♀️🪜⭕️

The participant gave it the tick of approval and came right into their session, eager to try out instruments and sing along in familiar songs, working on their communication and social skills!

Maybe next time we will create a new obstacle course together! If we do, we’ll be sure to share more pictures 😁

09/06/2026

🔦 Instrument Spotlight: Xylophone and Glockenspiel 🎶

Do you know the difference between the xylophone and the glockenspiel?

While both instruments are played in much the same way, a xylophone is made with wooden bars while a glockenspiel has metal bars!

Both come in a range of sizes - some are small enough to fit in a tote bag (perfect for mobile music therapy sessions) and some are as long as a piano (these ones need a special stand on wheels just so that they can be moved around).

Playing the xylophone or glockenspiel is great for fine and gross motor skills, such as hand dexterity to grip the mallets, and bilateral coordination to play the intended notes, especially when using both hands at once!

These instruments can also be used in call-and-repeat activities, to work on memory or social skills, as well as for improvisation and self-expression through music.

28/05/2026

The life of a mobile music therapist… who also has sessions in clinic! 🚗💨

Who needs a gym membership when you have to load yourself up like a pack horse for work, and you’re always on the move?! 😂

But it’s always worth the effort so that all of our participants have the same access and opportunities, regardless of whether they come to see us in the office, or whether we travel to their homes, schools or community centres for their sessions! 🎸🪘🪗🪇🥁🪈

21/05/2026

As Registered Music Therapists, we see how music can make a difference in our participants’ lives every week. But did you know there’s actual science behind HOW and WHY music works?

Music is the only thing that engages both sides of the brain at once, and is a powerful tool for creating and strengthening neuro-pathways, which we need in order to:
• learn and remember new things
• recognise and understand our emotions
• understand language and social cues, and to communicate with others
• coordinate our hands, feet and muscles to move our bodies in the way that we want
• take in the world around us using our senses

How wonderful that something as enjoyable as music can also be beneficial across so many other areas of our lives!

Address

3/111 Toolooa Street
Gladstone, QLD
4680

Telephone

+61493294405

Website

https://cqmusictherapy.com.au/

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