June 2010
Monash Children’s senior music
therapist Helen Efron with young patient Kevin Bui.
Getting better through music
Making Music Being Well raises
awareness of the benefits art and music can bring to quality of life through
creative expression.
At Monash Children’s, music therapists
work each day within an arts and health program to enable sick children to
experience music on the ward at the Monash Medical Centre Clayton.
‘Our music therapy program helps
children build self-esteem in hospital,’ said music therapist Elizabeth McLean.
‘It has a direct and positive
effect because it helps them develop confidence in group and social
situations.’
Southern Health arts and health
manager Rebecca Lovitt said the evidence for providing music therapy within
clinical care showed music acted as a key tool for improving patient wellbeing
and recovery.
‘This, together with positively adding to the physical environment of our hospitals, greatly influences the quality of care we provide—not to mention the children on the ward enjoy it,’ said Ms Lovitt.
