Hawke's Bay dame supports new scholarship for wāhine Māori and Pasifika music therapists
A new scholarship has been launched to encourage Māori and Pasifika wāhine training to become music therapists.
Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust (RMTT), founded by Dame Hinewehi Mohi in 2004, will support The Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust (KEECT) to launch its Master of Music Therapy Award, sponsored by the Gattung Foundation.
The award has been created to encourage diversity within the music therapy profession, by enabling Māori and Pasifika women to carry out full-time study for a Master of Music Therapy. The recipient of the award will receive an $8,000 scholarship for one year of study, and if they are in their second year of study, a supported student placement with RMTT.
Jen Glover, Clinical and Centre Director at RMTT says, the leadership at Raukatauri, including Dame Mohi, have long been disheartened by the lack of Māori Registered Music Therapists working in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Our experience in expanding to areas such as the Far North and the Eastern Bay of Plenty in recent years has made it clear to us that there are passionate wahine musicians living around the country who would make amazing music therapists if they could be supported in their studies.
“We are thrilled the Gattung Foundation is sponsoring The KEECT Master of Music Therapy Award. We’re confident that the award will make a real difference in increasing the diversity of our field, and improving access to music therapy services around the country," Glover says.
Victoria University of Wellington is the only university in Aotearoa to offer a Master of Music Therapy programme. As a result, there are very few New Zealand-based Music Therapists, despite there being a high demand for these services across the country.
Gattung Foundation Executive Director, Angela Gattung says the values of the charitable foundation, RMTT and The KEECT are so closely aligned, with all three organisations striving to fuel futures through education and learning opportunities.
“After becoming aware of the need for more music therapists, we’ve worked with both Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust and The KEECT to create this essential award.
“The Gattung Foundation was born out of a shared spirit to enable others and make real change. We support causes that touch us deeply and make a tangible difference – especially for Māori and Pasifika women. The aim of the scholarship is to inspire Māori and Pasifika wahine musicians to consider taking up a career in music therapy, filling the need for more music therapists, whilst increasing diversity in the profession,” says Angela.
Nina Tomaszyk, General Manager at The KEECT, echoes this, saying its mission is to fund the advancement, promotion and encouragement of education for women, and this partnership felt right in so many ways.
“We’re proud to be working alongside RMTT and the Gattung Foundation to help others achieve in furthering their education – particularly when there is an extremely high demand for music therapy services.
“Any support we can offer to help alleviate the financial strain that many face when it comes to their education is a priority for our team."
Applications for the award are open now and close on January 31, 2023. The award is for one year of study; however, reapplications for second year students will be accepted. If the application is already for a second year Master’s student, the award will include a minimum 750 hour placement with the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust.
Application forms are now available on The KEECT website: www.kateedgertrust.org.nz
