Music Within

21/11/2025

✨ Last week we had the absolute pleasure of delivering a Key Word Sign workshop for Cumberland City Council! ✨

It was wonderful to see an organisation so committed to empowering their staff with practical, inclusive communication skills. By upskilling their team, they’re strengthening their capacity to support the children, families, and communities they work with every day. 💛🤟

Thank you to the amazing participants for your enthusiasm, energy, and willingness to learn — what a fantastic group!

18/11/2025

🙌 Our Accredited Key Word Sign Online Basic Workshop is happening this Sunday, and we still have a couple places available! We’d love for you to join us!

05/11/2025

🎵✨ Join us for a full-day online Key Word Sign (KWS) Basic Workshop! ✨🎵

🗓 Sunday 23rd November 2025
🕘 9:00am – 4:00pm (AEST) | 💻 Online via Zoom

This interactive and practical workshop will support you to:
✅ Learn a core vocabulary of Key Word Signs for everyday communication
✅ Understand how Key Word Sign and gesture work together
✅ Explore how signing can support speech, language, and connection
✅ Engage in fun “Sing & Sign” activities that bring learning to life

Perfect for parents, carers, educators, disability support workers, and allied health professionals who want to strengthen communication and inclusion skills.

💡 Workshop includes the Getting Started with Key Word Sign booklet + Certificate of Completion.
💰 $350 per person + booking fee
📅 RSVP by 14th November 2025 (limited spots available!)
👉 Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DGSXB

Facilitated by Robyn Fernandez-Baca – Dual-qualified Speech Pathologist & Registered Music Therapist at Music Within 🎶

07/09/2025

✨ Key Word Sign Basic Workshop – Crows Nest, Sydney ✨

We are so excited to be running a face-to-face Key Word Sign (KWS) Basic Workshop in Crows Nest, Sydney NSW! 🌟

📅 Date: Wednesday 8th October 2025�
🕘 Time: 9am – 4pm�
📍 Location: 1/39 Hume Street, Crows Nest NSW�
💲 Cost: $350�
📌 RSVP by 26th September 2025 (limited spots available)

This workshop is perfect for parents, carers, educators, support workers, and therapists who want to learn how to use Key Word Sign to support communication.

👉 Book now to secure your spot: www.trybooking.com/DFIST
Can’t wait to see you there! 💙

19/05/2025

Trust the process!

In music therapy, connection and trust is prioritized. When our participants feel comfortable to be themselves, often our therapy spaces become a little noisy and chaotic! While this may appear on the outside as just a bit of fun, this is actually when the real work starts: maintaining therapeutic trust, upholding neurodiversity affirming principles as well as working towards supporting participants in achieving their goals.

Also, who said therapy needed to be boring?

04/12/2024

Comments from our Petition ❤️

Let’s listen to those with lived experience and listen to the voices who witness the impact of Music Therapy for their loved ones.

With over 3000 comments here are just a few comments. This is so powerful and every voice should be heard!! Reading through the comments leaves me speechless. We will continue to fight for Music Therapy for the 8000 families who will be affected by this.

Please continue to Share your voices, and continue to share our petition [link in bio].

Thank you for your support and attention to this ❤️

03/12/2024

Today, we honor the strength, resilience, and contributions of people with disabilities on International Day of People with Disabilities. I would like to also highlight the critical need for accessible supports like music therapy, which provides connection, communication, and empowerment for thousands of families. Recent challenges with the inclusion of music therapy under the NDIS impact the lives of over 8,000 families. It’s essential that we continue advocating for choice and control in the supports people need, ensuring they are tailored to every individual’s unique goals and circumstances. Together, let’s build a more inclusive future where every voice is heard, valued, and supported. 💜🎵 Why Music Therapy?�Because it’s so much more than music—it’s a pathway to growth, confidence, and meaningful achievements.Thank you to everyone advocating for inclusion and equity for people with disabilities. Let’s continue to raise awareness and drive positive change! 💪bio)

29/11/2024

🚨 We ask that Minister Shorten reverse his decision. Music Therapy is an EVIDENCE BASED ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSION 🚨

From Feb 1, 2025, Music Therapy will only be funded if:


1️⃣ It’s a stated support in a participant’s plan (only 1–2% of current MT clients currently have this).
2️⃣ It’s funded under Social and Community Participation, at a reduced rate for “classes” or “enjoyment” (as Bill Shorten states) by a NDIS registered provider

⚠️ This is NOT Music Therapy!
* Music Therapy is an evidence-based allied health profession, led by Registered Music Therapists (RMTs).
* RMTs achieve functional outcomes in areas like communication, motor skills, and cognition, using research-backed approaches. It looks like “fun” and “enjoyment” but there is so much more to it!

💔 This decision:
❌ Undermines participant choice and control.
❌ Excludes most participants from accessing vital therapy.
❌ Risks driving qualified therapists out of the field.

💪 What Can You Do?
✔️ Sign & Share Our Petition (Link in bio).
✔️ Speak Up: Email Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au or contact your MP.
Music Therapy is more than just “fun” and “doing music”. Let’s protect this essential service for NDIS participants!

25/11/2024

🚨 Please Sign our Petition🚨: Music Therapy Funding at Risk

As of December 2nd, music therapy will be excluded from NDIS funding, leaving countless NDIS participants without this vital support. This not only impacts the well-being of those who rely on music therapy, but it also threatens jobs for music therapists and the future of our clinics.

I’ve started a petition to advocate for music therapy to remain a funded service under NDIS, and we need your signatures to make a difference. The deadline is fast approaching, so please take a moment to add your voice today.

👉 Sign the petition here: https://chng.it/4dbghJGgNK
Let’s ensure NDIS participants don’t lose access to this life-changing therapy.

Time is running out—every signature counts! Please share this with your networks.

Save Music Therapy: Keep It Funded Under NDIS

25/11/2024

🚨 NDIS funding for music therapy to be removed 🚨

At Music Within, we’re deeply concerned about the recent news that music therapy will no longer be an NDIS-funded therapeutic support, effective December 2nd. This decision will have a devastating impact on the lives of many individuals with disabilities, including so many of our clients.

We have witnessed firsthand how music therapy empowers and transforms lives. Music isn’t just a tool for therapy; it’s a bridge to communication, emotional regulation, and social connection. For many, it’s a life-changing therapy that nurtures their well-being in ways other therapies cannot.

💙 Why It Matters: Music therapy is an evidence-based practice that supports participants’ physical, emotional, and mental health. It gives people a chance to express themselves authentically and grow in their independence. Removing funding for MT would limit choice and control for NDIS participants, depriving them of a powerful and necessary support.

❗️What You Can Do: I urge you to speak up and advocate for music therapy to remain funded under the NDIS. Contact the NDIA or your local MP to ensure that this vital service is not lost. Let’s ensure that our clients continue to have access to the life-changing benefits of music therapy.

Every voice counts. Let’s come together and protect this incredible resource for the future of those who rely on it.

https://www.austmta.org.au/news-item/17772/ndis-funding-for-music-therapy-to-be-removed

28/10/2024

Back in September, Robyn and Olivia presented at the conference on the importance of building neurodiversity affirming therapeutic relationships in music therapy practice.

Given we had to present in a pechakucha format (20 slides for 20 seconds), we figured a rap was a good way to get across a lot of information in a short period of time!

We're a little out of practice since the conference but we've edited together a recording of our presentation in hopes of reaching music therapists and other allied health professionals who may want to learn more about neurodiversity affirming practice.

The closed captions are a bit dodgy unfortunately - if anyone would like the lyrics, please get in touch!

31/08/2024

We are so excited to be presenting twice at this years Australian Music Therapy Association 🎶. Be sure to come to our presentation on Friday 6th Sep titled:
1️⃣“Essential insights: supporting and empowering gestalt language processors in music therapy”
And on Saturday for an exciting Pecha Kucha:
2️⃣ “prioritising Neurodiversity affirming relationships: an accessible guide to interoception and co-regulation” ⭐️