Description
Music can play an important role in the lives of many young children in Australia, however the ways in which music is used, understood and engaged with can vary significantly from child to child, and family to family, dependent upon factors such as the cultural background of the child and family, including their beliefs, traditions and practices. This can be an important consideration when caring for children who are critically ill or dying. This poster presents select findings from a qualitative inquiry that examined the experience of music and music therapy for children in paediatric palliative care (PPC) and their families, who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. One of the key aims of the study was to understand how cultural background, beliefs and practices can shape family engagement with music, and music therapy in PPC. Three studies informed by grounded theory were conducted as part of this inquiry, and included the perspectives of six parents' caring for a child in PPC (Study One); and four music therapists, including the author, who provide music therapy to children in PPC (Studies Two and Three). The nine participants and the author represent various ethno-cultural backgrounds, and have varying cultural beliefs, practices and traditions. They included new migrants and first-generation Australians (parents, n=3; music therapists, n=1), second-generation Australians (parents, n=2; music therapists, n=0) and multi-generation Australians (parents, n=1; music therapists, n=3). Twenty themes emerged from the three studies, articulating parents' and music therapists' reflections about the palliative care journey, and the experience of music and music therapy. This poster discusses cultural considerations that emerged from the findings and that influenced family engagement with the palliative care service and music therapy. The findings inform clinical practice in PPC; and offer insights into the provision of music therapy for culturally diverse communities at end-of-life.