Our Staff
A core group of staff are responsible for the day to day operation of the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre in Kingswood. These staff are supported by a much bigger team of contract staff, students, volunteers and of course The Board. This core group of staff are as follows:
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Iani Sujono - Operations Manager Iani Sujono is a Registered Music Therapist, and the Operations Manager of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia. As well as managing operational matters, Ms Sujono is also involved the coordinating the clinical placements of the Master in Creative Music Therapy Master students. Iani Sujono trained as a classical pianist and music therapist at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. With 14 years experience as a music therapist, her special interest includes working with children and adults with intellectual and physical disability, as well as working with the Older Australians. Iani Sujono has been an active member of the Australian Music Therapy Association; presented in many national and international conferences; and has owned a successful music therapy business for children & adults with disability. |
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David Currie - Financial Controller
David Currie was appointed Financial Controller on a casual basis in January 2007. David holds business qualifications including a BBus in Accounting and is currently a member and Fellow of the CPA Australia. |
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Dr Alan Lem – Course Advisor, the Master of Creative Music Therapy Dr Alan Lem is Course Advisor for the Master of Creative Music Therapy program offered by the UWS School of Humanities and Communication Arts in collaboration with Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia. He is a well-known music therapist, supervisor, lecturer and composer with deep interests in improvisational music therapy and music for health and well-being. Alan is also is a prolific author who published several music scores, educational guides and CDs for use in music therapy. His key publications appear in The International Journal of Music Medicine, Music Therapy Collection, MusicMedicine 3 and the Journal of the Australian Music Therapy Association. Alan’s creative work featured on ABC Radio National's Health Report and international and national conferences of music therapy and music medicine. Alan is also an active member of the Australian Music Therapy Association serving currently on its National Education Committee. |
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Rebecca Hedger - Business Development & Fundraising Manager Rebecca Hedger joined the team in January 2009 initially focussing on developing relationships in the Penrith Valley and surrounding areas. As the business needs have changed, so has Rebecca's role. In 2012 Rebecca took on an expanded role overseeing Business Developement and Fundraising for the organisation. Reporting to the CEO, Rebecca is responsible for working with business and individuals to look at ways of expanding the Nordoff-Robbins business as well as fundraising intiatives including events, sponsorships, donation programs (including workplace giving), applications to Trusts and Foundations and grant submissions. "The role is a challenging one, but certainly one I relish. The more I achieve in this role, the more clients have access to music therapy. It's a win all round." |
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Sandra Cogswell - Fundraising Assistant Sandra has volunteered for Nordoff-Robbins for many years and since leaving the Banking industry came to work with us part time assisting the Fundraising Team. Sandra brings with her many years of management skills and her passion for Nordoff-Robbins and all that it stands for and achieves. She has developed the highly successful Café Series events, and works directly on "Frocks at the Trots" and our annual Melbourne Cup Fundraiser. |
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Brenda Simmonds - Office Manager Brenda has a background in sales and administration. She began working with Nordoff-Robbins at the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre in 2004, and as a core member of the administration team she is responsible for reception, accounts and general operational administration, as well as being responsible for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). She believes in the work of the Centre and enjoys being part of a committed team whose work has meaning and a positive impact on people’s lives. |
Contract Staff -
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Nicci Gow - Fundraising Contractor Nicci joined Nordoff-Robbins in 2004. Nicci worked closely with the Board of Directors and Fundraising Committees to raise funds for Nordoff-Robbins through corporate sponsorship, grants, donations and fundraising events. She describes her work with Nordoff-Robbins as "incredibly rewarding. Music therapy is truly magical and I am very proud to be associated with Nordoff-Robbins." In 2012, Nicci started her own company, Nicci Gow Events. From there, she continues to run fundraising events on behalf of Nordoff-Robbins, with her two flagship events being; the annual ‘Nordoff-Robbins Music Quiz’ and the biennial ‘Art of Music’ event. As well as her work in events, Nicci also continues to submit funding applications for Nordoff-Robbins and volunteers on the Nordoff-Robbins Fundraising & Events Committee. |
Registered Music Therapists -
Belinda Burns -
Belinda graduated with distinction from the Master of Creative Music Therapy at the University of Western Sydney in 2011. During her time as a student, and now as an RMT, Belinda has worked across various client populations including children and youth 'at risk', adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, homeless and disadvantaged adults, and aged care. She has a strong belief in community outreach and holds great interest in rural and international projects that partner with local communities to broaden the reach and influence music as therapy may have for individuals and families suffering hardship. Belinda is currently working in multiple outreach projects that include programs for primary children in public school struggling with emotional and behavioural problems, as well as homeless and disadvantaged adults in Western Sydney. Belinda also hopes to pursue further research in these areas to establish the effectiveness of music therapy as an allied health practice.
Anna Chapman -
While training for her music therapy post graduate diploma at UTS, Anna had the good fortune to do a prac with Robin Howat at Nordoff Robbins. She absolutely loved the experience of working in the purpose built music therapy centre as part of the team and since graduating has been fortunate to be a part time Registered Music Therapist with Nordoff Robbins. Anna has been successfully running a community drum circle at the centre for the last four years and at the beginning of this year started up the Nordoff Robbins community choir for people of all abilities.
Rob Devlin -
Rob Devlin completed the Master in Creative Music Therapy course (in conjunction with Nordoff-Robbins and UWS) and now works four days a week at the Centre. Currently the major focus of his work is in an outreach capacity, working with “at risk” school children at various schools in Western Sydney. Working in this way allows Rob to conduct music therapy directly in the school environment, for maximum effect with those targeted children who are challenged academically, socially or behaviourally. Rob has also worked extensively providing music therapy in aged care settings (at the Centre and at nursing homes), for clients with dementia and/or physical frailty. He also works with other clinical populations, including adults with disabilities, children with autism spectrum disorder and clients with spinal cord injury.
Talitha Evans -
Talitha Evans (nee Brown) graduated from her master of the Nordoff-Robbins creative music therapy masters in 2009, before that completing a bachelor of music at the University of Western Sydney. Talitha currently works as a Registered Music Therapist predominantly with children and adolescents with multiple disability & autism, ‘at risk’, mental health, and in Oncology at Westmead Children’s Hospital. She has also spent time working in aged care, specifically in the dementia units. Working privately & working with Nordoff & Robbins outreach in western Sydney schools, she loves music & loves that she can share this joy with her wonderful talented clients.
Pamela Fisher -
Since graduating from the Graduate Diploma in Creative Music Therapy at the University Of Western Sydney, Pamela has gone on to work with various groups and individuals throughout the Asia Pacific Region. Specialising in working with babies, young children and adults with disabilities has given Pamela a chance to interact and ‘meet’ with people from many different backgrounds who are coping with various challenging conditions in their lives. This broad experience helped Pamela to develop her expertise of being able to assess individual needs of other client groups. Combining Pamela’s bubbly personality and her ability to collaboratively compose and improvise on many instruments has carved her a unique reputation of being able to meet the individual needs of each client/group within a single session.
Lydia Leung -
Lydia Leung, RMT graduated with distinction in the Masters of Creative Music Therapy course at the University of Western Sydney in 2011. Previously an accompanist and private music tutor for piano and violin, she is now part of the team at Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia. She holds particular interest in working with children and youth at risk as well as families to promote communication and foster social skills. Lydia is also passionate about bringing music therapy to people of different cultures. Recently, Lydia has been working with adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, striving to enhance their well being and encourage physical rehabilitation.
Eudora Low -
Eudora first came into contact with Music Therapy when she was doing her thesis during her undergraduate studies in Music and Psychology. Subsequently, her interest in the area drew her to take on further studies in Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne to become a Registered Music Therapist. With her previous experience in piano performance, music management and music education, Eudora is able to integrate her knowledge and experience to serve clients of various age groups and needs. Eudora has a special interest in working with children with special needs and children with autism. Eudora has been with the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre since 2003. She has always been amazed by the opportunities that music has provided to the clients and is encouraged by the progress that the clients make.
Izumi Nago -
Izumi has practiced music therapy for over ten years in various settings such as mental health, children and adults with disabilities, ‘at risk’ children and adolescents as well as aged care.
Her education in music therapy began with a music therapy course at Toho Gakuen in Tokyo. From there Izumi then completed her Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy at the University of Technology Sydney and this was followed by the Master of Creative Music Therapy at the University of Western Sydney (in partnership with Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia). Izumi’s focus has been in exploring the minds of people with and without special needs through Creative Music Therapy approach, especially, the change of the client’s “self” through improvisational music. Recently she expanded her interest to explore the relationship between self and society through community music therapy as well.
Yachi Chen -
Ya Chi Chen graduated with major in Fine Art from National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan in 2006 . She earned herself a Graduate Diploma of Music Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music two years later before starting her education and training as a music therapist in the University of West Sydney in 2008. Ya Chi spent more than two years to go through the courses with sessions of real life clinical placements with different charity groups and foundations. Having gained her master degree from University of Western Sydney, and armed with an Australian RMT credential, Ya Chi began her career as a professional RMT in AngliCare Chaselon Day Therapy Centre in 2010. She started to serve in Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia as an RMT since 2011.
Kate Tabain -
Kate Tabain completed her Master of Creative Music Therapy with distinction at UWS in 2012. Both as a student and now as an RMT, Kate has experience in a variety of different areas such as aged care, kids at risk, developmental disorders such as autism and adults with disabilities, and works with all of these population groups both at the centre and in outreach programs. Coupled with a background in psychology, Kate brings her experience and passion of music and helping people to Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia, and firmly believes that music therapy can bring much joy and hope to these populations in real and practical ways.