The end of 2024 was not only a time to celebrate the achievements of the year but also for us a time of uncertainty and challenge created with a series of announcements around funding for the majority of the clinical work that is undertaken each week by our team. This led to a very strange end to the year, no one knew what their livelihood would look like in 2025, a nerve racking time for all!
This uncertainty has led me to a lot of reflection both as a business owner, as a registered music therapist and as a person who is passionate about her work, her business and her team. How do we move forward in uncertainty? Where do we even start to plan when we have to both continue as we were and plan for not having 98% of funding within a few months? How do I care for my team and my clients as the Director of this little business?
While our first response to challenge may be fear, anger, disappointment or grief and we should always acknowledge these important feelings, our next response is the one that can define who we are. These responses will vary according to the situation you find yourself in but we can learn from our responses and use this knowledge to develop great problem solving, perseverance, fresh and new ideas and resilience.
Some responses I have been able to do in this situation have become new adventures for us.
As a team our collective shock also propelled us into the world of advocacy, we felt passionately that our clients shouldn’t miss out, that our profession is valid and deserves its place alongside other allied health and after years of study and hard work we are great therapists who have a lot to offer. We were able to distribute a petition around the country about the work of music therapy and develop a series of social media posts based on research and evidence in our profession.
We were able to share more easily about music therapy because of the public outcry and that opened a lot of great conversations. We found ourselves now having opportunity to share and the words to say.
We discovered our passion and commitment to our profession is very deep.
As we brainstormed together as a team we also were able solidify our ideas and passion for our business.
And throughout this ongoing challenging time, I have also discovered a few thoughts and processes for facing any challenge in life.
Brainstorming and exploring new ideas in a time of challenge is always a good thing to do, it keeps one looking forward.
Taking time to plan a response or a direction is a good thing, one doesn’t have to have answers during a time when things are unsure.
Community is important, those around you can contribute in so many ways – as encouragers, supporters and as your biggest advocates.
Comparison to others or to how others are responding is not helpful, what really happens is it makes one feel inadequate, your response is a personal thing, understanding that everybody acts in different ways during a crisis, allows us to become open to new ideas or ways of doing things.
All these responses address varying needs for us as we grapple with the challenge that has been presented and perhaps the most important thing to remember for us all is that all our different responses are valid, but, if we stay in our initial response and don’t move forward then we won’t be able to go anywhere.
For me as I grapple with the where to of this new year and navigate the somewhat uncharted waters of unknown funding, new directions and developing areas of work that have only been dreams before, I am encouraged by the community around me that has shown up in support. The Australian Music Therapy Association, Registered Music Therapists here and overseas, the incredible team working together at Sounding Board Music Therapy, Friends who have walked with me for years, my family who always see the worst and best of my responses and our Sounding Board Music Therapy, clients, families and professional teams. My village is amazing!!
Megan
PS If you would like to sign our petition to keep Music Therapy as a Therapeutic Support in the NDIS you can do that here.
PPS IF you'd like to share your music therapy story with us just get in touch.
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