Melody as medicine: music therapy for First Nations patients
Researchers from the Centre for Aboriginal Studies have created The Health Songbook to support the wellbeing of Indigenous patients undergoing health treatment.
Music isn’t just entertainment. It’s a powerful tool for healing, connection, and culture. Music therapy can help manage stress, strengthen memory, and lift patients’ moods. Music is also a cornerstone of culture; for Australia’s First Nations peoples, it carries ancestral knowledge, supports storytelling, builds community, and deepens connection to Country. At the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM), researchers recognise that music supports both health and cultural continuity. To harness this dual power, they’ve created The Health Songbook.
“There was a clear lack of culturally appropriate musical resources for music therapists working with First Nations patients—limiting trust, engagement, and therapeutic effectiveness in health settings,” says Grayson Rotumah, Co-director of Elder Conservatorium of Music.
“The project addresses the absence of culturally relevant music therapy resources for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.”Grayson Rotumah, Co-director of Elder Conservatorium of Music
Through consultation with Aboriginal communities, music therapists, and artists, 20 original songs were commissioned in 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Rotumah, a Bundjalung man who has previously composed work for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, is among the musicians who contributed songs, collaborating with hip-hop artist Bousta on a track titled Healing on Kaurna Land. Other featured artists include Barkindji songwoman Nancy Bates, the Inarma Women’s Choir, and CASM co-director Dylan Crismani, who wrote a piece for the song book inspired by a long hospital stay he had when he was 18 years old.
All the songs were recorded, notated, and made freely available online, along with supporting materials such as lyrics, sheet music, and artist reflections that provide cultural and creative perspectives. Rotumah says making the songbook easily accessible was central to its goals.
“Hosting the work on a freely accessible digital platform removes barriers to access for healthcare practitioners and Indigenous communities while enabling ongoing development and inclusion of new material,” he says.
The project was led by Rotumah and Associate Professor Luke Dollman, with valuable contributions from Dr John Baranoff, Associate Professor Clemence Due, and research assistants Hannah Yates, Connor Fogarty, and Nicola Baker. The songbook was developed in collaboration with Adelaide University in partnership with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation music therapists and Aboriginal artists across Australia.
Through centring First Nations songs, stories, voices and language, the Health Song Book Project aims to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and patient outcomes.
“I hope this resource helps practitioners to engage meaningfully with Indigenous peoples in clinical and community settings, especially where cultural safety is essential to building trust and connection,” Rotumah says.
What’s next?
Initiated in 2023 and officially launched in 2025, the Health Songbook is an ongoing project, continuing to evolve and grow as more contributors get involved. It has attracted strong interest from music therapists across South Australia, and the researchers hope it will become a meaningful and widely used resource, offering culturally rich tools that support more inclusive and responsive care
“Looking ahead, I hope this work continues to grow as a living resource, shaped by and shared with communities across the country,” Rotumah says.
“My dream is for it to one day include songs and stories from all of Australia’s 250+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. I want it to have a lasting impact—to be something that helps keep our languages, music, and cultural knowledge strong, something that future generations can connect with, learn from, and feel proud of.”