After lots of planning and even more fundraising, Raukatauri’s latest school partnership, this time with the Waiheke Island Schools, began in Term 3. Registered Music Therapist Gwen Evans catches the ferry each Thursday morning and arrives to a busy day on the island where she zips between all three schools (Waiheke Primary, Te Huruhi Primary and Waiheke High School), working with 16 children and young people with special needs each week. Having only arrived in New Zealand in June, Gwen couldn’t believe her luck as the RMTC staff member who was given the assignment to travel weekly to one of the country’s most gorgeous spots. Not only is the commute beautiful, Gwen has been welcomed with open arms on the island, with parents and school staff running her between locations and the wharf each week.
Organising and implementing the programme was a real labour of love for Raukatauri, as well as the parents and schools on the island who often struggle to access the specialist services available on the mainland. The project was initiated by parent Rachel Miles who, prior to her family’s move to Waiheke, attended music therapy in Auckland with her son Sam. Rachel says, “We are so thrilled to have Raukatauri Music Therapy come to Waiheke! We moved to the island from Auckland less than a year ago and one thing we felt was a crushing loss was leaving behind music therapy.” School staff report that the time and expense involved in the ferry crossing often serve as a barrier to services like music therapy, but after applying to grant funders and community organisations, Raukatauri was able to access funding for this programme from ANZ Staff Foundation, the Jassy Dean Trust, Auckland Council Waiheke Local Board, RMTC friends and supporters Eric Johnston and Alison Buchanan, and Fullers – meaning a full year of fully funded music therapy for the island’s three schools! We are so grateful to these generous supporters and proud to have them as members of the Raukatauri whānau. Rachel’s comments make it clear how much the families value this support also when she says, “Sam is inspired by music and the incredibly talented people at Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre never fail to amaze us. We had been truly blessed to have had the opportunity for music therapy and are now so pleased that our son can continue to develop his love and passion for music, and that other children can experience that too. Thank you Jen and team. You are absolute stars.”
The Waiheke Island Schools join 13 other mainstream schools, special schools and early learning centres in Auckland and Northland who partner with Raukatauri to access music therapy services for their students with disabilities. The music therapy services that RMTC provides to schools focus on the development of the New Zealand key competencies, with much of the focus being on Relating to others and Participating and contributing. In addition to working towards these key competencies, the music therapists develop and track goals specific to each child, which often address communication, socialization, cognitive and motor skill development. All of this is possible thanks to the safe, accepting environment provided by the Registered Music Therapist where the unique contribution of each child or young person is valued and where opportunities for communication, interaction and relationship are provided. If you know of a school or early childhood centre in Auckland, Northland or Hawke’s Bay who would benefit from music therapy, please be in touch with the Centre to discuss how they might be able to access our services.
