Aged Care & Home Support (My Aged Care) – Music Therapy in Sydney
I provide music therapy for older adults and people living with dementia across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Many people in this age group receive support at home through My Aged Care, and would like to know whether music therapy can be included in their plan.
This page explains:
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how music therapy fits within My Aged Care
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how it can be funded through Home Care Packages or Support at Home
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what to say to your care manager
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options if you prefer to pay privately
Is music therapy recognised in aged care?
Yes. Music therapy is recognised in Australian aged care as an allied health and therapy service.
Within My Aged Care programs, music therapy can sit alongside supports such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology, when it is delivered by a Registered Music Therapist and linked to the person’s goals.
This means that, in many cases, it is reasonable to ask whether music therapy can be included as part of your home support.
Is music therapy recognised in aged care?
Most people living at home with dementia or other age-related conditions receive support through one of these pathways:
1. Support at Home program / Home Care Packages
If you have a Home Care Package (HCP) or are part of the newer Support at Home program, you will usually have:
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an approved budget for services, and
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a care manager or case manager who helps organise services with you.
Within these programs, music therapy may be included under allied health and therapy supports when:
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it is aligned with the person’s goals (e.g. cognitive abilities, mood, communication, social engagement, mobility, quality of life), and
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the provider agrees to engage a Registered Music Therapist as part of the care plan.
In practice, this often looks like:
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You or your family ask your care manager about including music therapy.
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The provider confirms that music therapy can be added to the plan and budget.
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The provider either:
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organises music therapy through an existing allied health provider, or
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engages an external Registered Music Therapist (such as myself).
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The hourly rate charged to your package is set by your aged-care provider, and may differ slightly from my own base rate because of care management and administration fees.
2. Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and other entry-level supports
Some older adults receive entry-level support (for example, domestic assistance, social support, allied health) through programs such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
In some regions, music therapy may be offered as part of community programs or allied health services funded through CHSP or similar programs.
If you are not sure which program you are on:
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ask your provider or care manager which My Aged Care program you are using, and
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ask whether there is any scope to access individual or small-group music therapy within that program.
3. Private music therapy
Some families choose to self-fund music therapy, either:
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while they are waiting for My Aged Care services to begin, or
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because they prefer to organise support directly.
In that case, you simply pay my private session fee (see the Music Therapy Fees page), and we arrange sessions directly.
How do I talk to my care manager about including music therapy?
You do not need to know all the technical details – a simple, clear request is usually best.
You might say something like:
“We would like to use part of our Home Care Package / Support at Home budget for individual music therapy with a Registered Music Therapist to support mood, memory, communication and quality of life.
Is music therapy something that can be included in our care plan, and can you help us organise this?”
You can also:
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mention that music therapy is an allied health service recognised in aged care
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explain why you think it would help (for example: limited social engagement, challenges in communicating, a need for more cognitive stimulation, improve mood, or wanting more meaningful activity at home)
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give my contact details to your care manager so we can speak directly if needed.
I am happy to provide a brief summary of how music therapy could support your family member, and a quote for my services, which your provider can consider.
How does this work with NDIS?
Some people with younger-onset dementia or long-term disability receive support through the NDIS, rather than My Aged Care.
If you or your family member has an NDIS plan:
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music therapy is usually funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living,
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I work with both self-managed and plan-managed participants.
For detailed information about NDIS and music therapy, please see the NDIS & Funding page.
Where I provide aged care music therapy
How to get started
If you are supporting an older adult or a person living with dementia and would like to explore music therapy:
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Get in touch
Call 0498 467 379 or use the contact form on this website. -
Brief phone conversation
We can discuss the person’s situation, current supports, whether they have My Aged Care funding (or NDIS), and what you are hoping music therapy can help with. -
Liaising with your provider
If you already have a Home Care Package or Support at Home funding, I can provide a quote and, with your consent, speak with your care manager about how sessions could be arranged. -
Plan an initial session
We then arrange an initial 60-minute session and decide together whether ongoing sessions feel helpful.
If you are unsure which program you are on, or whether music therapy is possible within your funding, you are still very welcome to contact me. We can work it out together.