University of Melbourne

AUSTRALIAN MUSIC THERAPY GRADUATES� EXPERIENCES OF BECOMING A REGISTERED MUSIC THERAPIST

The proposed qualitative research study aims to investigate and identify themes and commonalities in experience amongst recent graduates of Music Therapy training courses within Australia. These experiences may include perceptions of course work, lectures and clinical training. The study also aims to measure any significant changes in personal experience, self perception and expectations; as a student, and up to 5 years following graduation. This may reveal how Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) perceive that they have progressed personally and professionally since graduating and how well they felt they were prepared for practice. Hence, practicing RMT�s current job responsibilities and job satisfaction will also be examined to determine whether there are any relationships between their current work and their experiences as a student. The study intends to gather this information from a range of Music Therapy graduates, identify any common experiences, examine whether they followed any patterns.