From November, music and art therapists will be able to bill the National Disability Insurance Scheme at the same rate as counsellors.

Last year, the federal government made major cuts to the maximum hourly rate music and art therapists could charge participants. 

The decision caused outrage within the sector, prompting an independent review on the effectiveness of the therapies. On Wednesday, the government released the results of this review, which showed the services are effective and can have an enormous impact for individuals with certain disabilities.

Image: Image: Pexels/ Mikhail Nilov

Produced By: Thomas Koutis

Featured In Story: Grace Thompson- Music Therapist and Associate Professor, University of Melbourne

First aired on The Wire, Monday 22 September 2025