Call for Papers

Music Therapy New Zealand 50^th Conference

Wellington, New Zealand and Online - 14-15 September 2024

“Looking Back Moving Forward”

Keynote Speaker: Dr Carolyn Ayson, PhD, MMusTher (Hon) NZ RMTh

We are calling for presenters who wish to give presentations and workshops in keeping with the theme “Looking Back Moving Forward”, with the guiding Whakataukī (proverb), ‘Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua’:  I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past.

This year's conference marks significant milestones for Music Therapy in Aotearoa, New Zealand.  It celebrates 50 years as a professional practice and the 20-year anniversary of the Master of Music Therapy course, Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington. With the ethos of bringing our wider global community together in inclusive ways for dialogue and celebration, we welcome papers/presentations in areas of practical and theoretical perspectives from international and New Zealand music therapists, music therapy students, people with lived experience, allied professionals (including health, education, social justice, hospice, prisons), musicians, and community groups. As we anticipate this will be a hybrid conference, online presentations will be considered.

In holding space for celebrations, we are also calling for critical reflections. When we look back and think forward, what would we hold on to in music therapy practice and the profession and what might we change? We welcome a range of papers/presentations that might include historical studies, celebrations of practice (e.g., sharing of meaningful moments and/or music therapy journeys and music making), and critical reflections on the expansion and diversification of practices (such as the decolonisation of practice, neurodiversity/disability affirming practices and social justice agendas).

To support the sharing of ideas, there will be an opportunity for audience questions to presenters during the last 10 minutes of each session. Sessions are mostly 40 minutes for presentation/ workshop, and some sessions will be 20 minutes plus question time.

Submissions due by 5pm 5 December 2023 to: admin@musictherapy.org.nz 

No late submissions will be accepted.

• I understand that I will not receive remuneration or compensation for presenting at this event.
• I confirm that I will register for this event.
• I would / would not (delete one) like to share video or audio-visual presentation and have consent to do so from any participants.
• I would be interested in submitting display material (poster/other) at this event. (note: posters should be no larger than A0 size)
• I acknowledge that I need to submit my PowerPoint/audio visual presentation prior to the conference. (Further information on dates will be sent in due course.)

If a Conference proceedings package (which may include recordings) is published, I agree to my presentation being included. (Further information will be provided when the programme is finalised.)

A panel will review all submissions and advise acceptance/non-acceptance by February 2024.

Any queries please contact admin@musictherapy.org.nz

Many thanks for your submission