The Australian Journal of Music Therapy
The Australian Journal of Music Therapy (AJMT) is the flagship publication of the Australian Music Therapy Association and strives to foster scholarly activity in music therapy as well as promote understanding and application of its techniques and interventions. AJMT publishes articles that cover research and theory, clinical practice and foundational topics alike; papers submitted for publication are evaluated based on quality and contribution to existing knowledge; approximately 30% are accepted for publication each year.
The journal strives to promote music therapy excellence through empirical and rigorous reports on clinical advances, as well as by encouraging diversity and cross-cultural understanding. As an international peer-reviewed publication, it welcomes contributions from Australia and beyond in the Asia-Pacific Rim.
AJMT emphasizes the integration of theory and practice to provide a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of scholarly work. They publish the best and most innovative research in all aspects of music therapy, such as quantitative, qualitative, historical, philosophical, theoretical work; case studies; as well as case studies.
Achieving desired outcomes requires having rapport with patients and staff. In a hospitalised setting, this initial session can often be the easiest time to establish rapport with a patient due to instruments in the room and immediate access to music. This enables therapists to form an immediate connection with their patient and build trusting relationships that will last throughout subsequent sessions (Weber, 1999).
Conversely, when home-based patients were introduced to music therapy via telephone, they were much less likely to accept a session. This may be because patients don’t have time to contextualize and understand what music therapy entails – thus their fear of potential harm (Hogan & Cockayne, 2003).
Hospitalised and domiciliary patients’ music therapy sessions differ considerably due to the fact that those in the hospital tend to be further along in their disease process and remain there longer than domiciliary patients do. As a result, patients in the hospital tend to receive longer treatments than their counterparts at home.
This is due to the fact that they are in a facility which can meet their needs and offer them services like nursing care, medical attention, social support and recreational activities. Furthermore, other patients in similar situations provide them with similar support systems which helps address those needs more efficiently.
Another factor affecting music therapy delivery in hospitals is family involvement. While in a domiciliary setting, family members may visit patients briefly for emotional and physical support, hospital-based involvement may be more limited – leading to feelings of isolation for both patients and their families.
