"Music can heal the wounds that medicine cannot touch"

THE HISTORY OF MUSIC THERAPY 

The art of healing through music dates back as far as the writings of Aristotle and Plato and - in some cultures, long before the 20th century which formally began after World War 1 and 2. 

The earliest references to music therapy is from an unsigned article in a Columbian Magazine in 1789. 

Through the 1800's Music Therapy grew - and by the 1940's key players emerged to create the development of Music Therapy as a organised clinical profession. 

Today, Music Therapy has the - 

• power to change

• the hope to build

• the courage to live and face challenges

THE VISION

Music Therapy has been widely accepted globally and our program will allow you to improve your health and development. 

Music creates positive physical and emotional responses. 

Rehabilitation through music promotes hope. When there is hope - there is a belief that life can improve by adopting the much needed skills learned over time. 

When music therapy provides hope - positive coping mechanisms build over time. 

THE GOALS

To instil a sense of security and address the challenges and obstacles which block growth. 

The Key Learning Goals & Responsibilities for developing a greater sense of self and - to build a new life through music therapy are - 

1. emotional skills

2. social skills

3. communication skills

4. identity skills

5. reducing pain skills

Dave Steele can be defined in many ways due to the way he has lived.I believe a person can be defined by their traits and with Dave - I believe it is his work ethic - the way he thinks, feels and his attention to detail. Multi skilled, multi talented and the guy who has your back -Dave is the kind of guy you want in your vibe tribe!

Dave worked for twenty one years protecting Australia in a Government role. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Battle Fatigue syndrome; anxiety; depression and - a marriage breakdown became the result from his experiences in the police force - but Dave will never be defined by that.

Dave has had multiple operations - nearly losing his right leg, this would be enough for someone to just quit life but not Dave.

March 25th 2022, Dave started a new chapter by enrolling in an outpatient adult trauma 16 week course. The course guided patients to self-evaluate and it was also on this day that Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died. This hit Dave hard. Dave has seen the band around the world about 20 times and he grieved terribly. It also woke him up!

The deep roots of music for Dave comes from his Great great grandfather William Henry Styles member of the Royal Fusiliers. Being a member of the Queens own - who was Queen Victoria's personal Royal Scotts Guard and music arranger. Just before WW1 William, his wife and seven children came to Australia and William became Dame Nellie Melba's music composer. 

Growing up with music from age 5 with piano gave Dave the heart beat he needed to create Music Therapy 4 Success - especially after he felt the effects from acoustic drumming to help reconnect the nerve pathways with his right leg. The drumming allowed right leg movement, coordination - and he felt a sense of satisfaction, he felt relief and now a purpose. It all fell into place.

Dave connected with Psychiatrist Professor Zach Steel (no relation), Music Therapist Benjamin Weblin together over a 12 month period - they have developed and received approval. Early May - the first in-patient course started in Richmond at St John of God. Outpatient course is currently under review.

Zac has held the St John of God Chair of Trauma and Mental Health since 2014. This role brings a partnership between Richmond and Burwood Hospital in NSW and the School of Psychiatry UNSW to develop the Initiative in Trauma and Mental Health.

For over 30 years I have been working with populations affected by trauma and mas conflict, including veterans, emergency service workers, refugees, asylum seekers and those affected by trauma.

I am the president of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2019-2021), the peak professional body for advancing understanding, prevention and treatment of traumatic stress within the Australasian region, and for promoting mental health, resilience and post-traumatic growth.

A major focus of my work is to partner with government, industry and policy advisers to improve the recovery environment for those affected by traumatic stress injuries.

My work in partnership with asylum seekers in Australia has helped to develop an evidence base on the adverse mental health consequences of harsh asylum policies including the use of immigration detention and temporary protection visas. In recent years I have worked with UNHCR to develop a Guidance Note on the Psychologically Vulnerable Applicant in the Protection Visa Assessment process.

Ben Weblin is a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) with the Australian Music Therapy Association and a musician for the past five years having completed his training at St John of God in North Richmond. 

During this time, and during his training, Ben has worked in NDIS, aged care and mental health in the Sydney, Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains regions. As such, he has acquired a wide skill set based on the varied populations through trial and error and - through getting to know the person I’m working with.

As a musician, Ben has been playing and writing music for 17 years. Starting with the guitar as a boy, and since then accumulated a wide variety of instruments and eclectic musical interests (whether it be listening to artists, pondering musical philosophy, or incorporating science and art as seen with music therapy).

Ben believes that music is a great way to express oneself without saying anything. Ben once described learning how to play an instrument -

'learning how to speak with your fingers — and once you start to play with your whole being, the feeling is incredibly cathartic and liberating.'