Innovations and adaptations of a national music therapy program during covid lockdowns

Children thrive when their parents have access to the resources they need to provide a nurturing environment, including the knowledge, skills and capacity to develop secure and responsive relationships. Sing and Grow is an Australian, evidence-based music therapy program supporting parents to build these skills, and increase their children's resilience in the face of adversity. COVID restrictions and lockdowns increased community need for this program, as social isolation and other stressors had a significant impact on parental capacity to create nurturing environments. However, challenges arose for both Sing and Grow and families in the necessary pivot from face-to-face services. The national music therapy team responded by adapting not only the way services were delivered, but the way in which they worked together to create content. Three working groups were formed, and an interconnected workflow was developed. Enablers and barriers to families accessing the adapted services, as well as outcomes, were gathered via verbal and written feedback from clients, staff and collaborating organisations. This also provided the opportunity to learn about the emerging needs in the community. By integrating the adaptations into Sing and Grow's regular suite of services, and aligning them within a Targeted Universalism framework, a wider cross-section of the Australian community can benefit from the inclusion of music therapy and music therapy-informed services to improve child outcomes.