Australian Music Therapy Association, NDIS Independent Review of Pricing of Art and Music Therapy: Submission to the Independent Reviewer

On 22 November 2024, the AMTA were notified through an unauthorised leak from the NDIA that it planned to release reviewed Operational Guidelines that would specify a funding cut for music therapy. Without consultation or notice, the NDIA had intended to remove music therapy as a therapy support at a price limit of $193.99 per hour and instead fund music programs under Participation in Community, Social and Civic Activities, which has a price limit of $67.56 per hour. In making this decision, the NDIA quoted that music therapy does not have sufficient evidence to satisfy the section 10 requirements for what constitutes an evidence-based therapy support in relation to the maintenance or improvement of functional impairment. Despite several requests, the NDIA has not provided AMTA with the evidence upon which the initial decision was made. Formal requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 have also not been fulfilled at the time of lodging this submission.