Kate Aitchison

Conference Convenor & Sponsorship

Kate Aitchison is a registered music therapist with seventeen years’ experience establishing, developing, and providing music therapy services for people across the lifespan. Kate is currently a senior music therapist with Jacaranda Place, Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ), Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS). In her role with CYMHS Kate works with young people and families who are experiencing severe, complex, and enduring mental health challenges.

In 2013, Kate completed a Master of Mental Health majoring in psychotherapy. She is currently undertaking doctoral research studies through the University of Melbourne. Kate has published a book chapter on songwriting with adolescents in consultation liaison mental health (2015) and two articles based on her research, exploring young peoples’ lived experiences of resource-oriented music therapy assessment in intensive multidisciplinary mental health settings.

Kate enjoys working collaboratively to promote mental health not only for individuals and families, but also for teams, services, and communities.

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Katrina Skewes McFerran

Scientific Chair

Dr Katrina Skewes McFerran is Professor and Head of the Creative Arts Therapy program at The University of Melbourne, which has now expanded to include dance and drama therapy.

Kat is an adolescent specialist and her research and practice has focused on music listening in the past decade, including the exploration of helpful and unhelpful uses of music.

She has recently published the 2nd edition of Receptive Music Therapy with Emeritus Professor Denise Grocke, and has created a free MOOC for people interested in Music and Health called ‘How Music Can Change Your Life’, as well as creating a TedX talk about ‘Returning from the Darkside with Music’ which has had 130K views.

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Carmen Cheong-Clinch

PDS Chair

Carmen has been practicing in child and adolescent mental health inpatient services since 2008 and is currently working at the QLD Children's Hospital. She is passionate about the use of music beyond inpatient services, and has collaborated with youth health portal TINO to develop a music-based e-platform, and with likeminded practitioners from other fields to create online resources for positive youth development. She also loves being in research projects to do with mental well-being and enjoys being part of the teaching team for HK students doing the Master of Music Therapy at The University of Melbourne.

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Erin Skinner

Advanced Competency Workshop Coordinator

Erin is a Registered Music Therapist, graduating from The University of Melbourne in 2019.

She has a range of experience working with groups and individuals across the life span. Erin is currently working with children and families in mental health and with NDIS clients in private practice.

She has a passion for working alongside children and families to support healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing and creative self-expression through strengths-based and resource-oriented approaches.

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Isaac Lizzit

Engagement Coordinator

My name is Isaac Lizzit and I am a Registered Music Therapist from Melbourne. I recently graduated in 2021 from the University of Melbourne with a Master of Music Therapy. I’m currently working in the community as a Registered Music Therapist and also as a Disability Support Worker with children and adolescents on the NDIS. I’m deeply passionate about providing Music Therapy in caring, kind, and neurodiverse affirming ways.

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Jacinta Calabro

AMTA Events Chair

Jacinta Calabro has been a music therapist for over 20 years, working with families with infants and young children. She is passionate about ongoing learning and is the founder of Music Therapy Online.

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