»Honour for Royal Melbourne Hospital music therapist
17 November 2011
Emma O'Brien, Manager Music Therapy at The Royal Melbourne Hospital receiving her award from the Premier Ted Baillieu.
The pioneer of the world-renowned Music Therapy Program at The Royal Melbourne Hospital has been honoured for the use of music and songwriting to improve the quality of life for cancer patients.
Premier Ted Baillieu presented the hospital's Senior Music Therapist and Manager, Emma O’Brien, with a Health Leader’s Award for Enabling Person and Family-Centred Care at the 2011 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in Melbourne.
The Premier’s Award for Enabling Person and Family-Centred Care highlights outstanding health leadership in the delivery of healthcare around the needs and experiences of people with a serious illness.
Minister for Health David Davis said through 14 years of dedication Ms O’Brien had become an internationally-renowned innovator by pioneering Music Therapy in Cancer Care at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“In 2005, Ms O’Brien’s songwriting method, where original songs are written together with cancer patients at the bedside, was featured internationally in a major documentary film, and she has released two major CDs of songs, both of which have featured on radio,” Mr Davis said.
The diagnosis of cancer and its treatment is a devastating experience and cancer patients can experience high levels of distress, low mood and feelings of helplessness.
“It is vital that the emotional and psychosocial aspects of a patient’s journey are part of their treatment, and using music therapy Ms O’Brien assists cancer patients to express their feelings,” Mr Davis said.
“Patients are involved in every musical step, melodic choice, verse and chorus setting and the guitar style, and when the song is completed they are given a CD of it for their personal use."
Media contact: Catherine Lander 0419 878 925