Meet Tanya
Dr. Tanya Marie Silveira (PhD) is a Registered Music Therapist, Researcher and the 2020-2021 inaugural recipient of Australian Music Therapist of the Year.
Tanya is extremely passionate about advocating for music therapy and furthering her research into the importance of accessible music-making for stroke survivors.
Biography
Tanya has always wanted to combine her love of music with her passion to help others. So, after completing school, she enrolled in a double degree in Music and Arts, specialising in Performance (Music) and Psychology (Arts). This set Tanya up well when applying for a Masters of Music Therapy (by coursework). She then collaborated with an NGO in Mumbai, creating a Community Music Program which supported children receiving treatment for Cancer.
“I truly believe that music therapy is unique as it provides a holistic approach to recovery”
After completing her Masters degree, Tanya was given the opportunity to work across many different areas, which include oncology, hearing impairment, multiple and profound needs, autism, acute mental health, and neurorehabilitation, across the lifespan. It was her clinical work in neurorehabilitation that lead her to pursue a PhD. Tanya says, “I truly believe that music therapy is unique as it provides a holistic approach to recovery”.
Tanya’s PhD research examined how accessible music-making can impact the hand function and wellbeing of stroke survivors. In 2019, Tanya was invited to speak about her PhD research at the inaugural TEDxNewtown event.
Tanya is extremely passionate about advocating for music therapy and, as a result, has held a number of volunteer positions, including her most recent role as the Australian Music Therapy Association’s National Conference Convenor. In 2018, Tanya was awarded the Ruth Bright Award for Excellence at the Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference for her PhD intervention protocol for upper limb stroke rehabilitation. And, in 2022, Tanya was awarded the Helen Shoemark award for Research Excellence for presenting the findings of her PhD research.
Her work has been published in notable journals which include the International Journal of Stroke, the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy and the Australian Journal of Music Therapy.
Over the years, Tanya has successfully established multiple ongoing music therapy programs in Australia and India. Identifying as an Australian of Indian origin, Tanya is now working hard to advocate for the importance of visibility and representation in music therapy and beyond.
Philosophy
Music Therapy
Music is such an accessible resource in today's world. When we listen to music, we can exercise for longer, we can feel uplifted, and we can feel more connected to those around us. Music Therapy draws upon the intentional use of music by a Registered Music Therapist, to support people in need. Sessions could be centred around goals related to emotional wellbeing, socialisation, speech development, attention and memory, quality of life and physical rehabilitation.
My vision for music therapy is centred around accessibility. I believe that ALL people should have access to music therapy for the benefit of their wellbeing. In collaboratively developing specialised music therapy programs with various organisations (such as Hospitals, Aged Care Facilities, Early Intervention Centres, etc), we can work towards a more person-centred approach to healthcare.
Advocacy
Advocacy is central to my work as a Music Therapist. Now, more than ever, it is important to use our voices and positions in power to advocate for those who experience adversity. As an Australian of Indian origin, I have consciously chosen to reframe my adverse experiences to give me strength in my continued journey towards advocating for others. Advocacy should never be limited to one area… In advocating for the profession of music therapy and access to music therapy, I am also conscious of the bigger picture: continued advocacy in the movement towards equality. It is therefore necessary for tanya.marie.silveira to explicitly state that Black Lives Matter.
Research
My approach to research is a result of my passion for the benefits of Music Therapy as well as the importance of Advocacy in the community. In considering the strive toward equality, my current research is centred on the importance of accessible music-making for stroke survivors. The research itself is specifically examining how Functional Electrical Stimulation combined with iPad-based Music Therapy impacts the upper limb function and wellbeing of stroke survivors.