Description:
This article describes the process of learning and development that occurred when the prevention and early intervention project, Sing and Grow, began to provide services to indigenous families. The first attempt at establishing a weekly music therapy service for Indigenous families presented many challenges which impacted on program implementation. Through analysis of the contributing factors, guidelines were developed and implemented in the following program, which resulted in a positive learning experience for the families and therapists involved. Four main themes emerged in the work and will be addressed: trust and rapport; physical space; staff support; and cultural issues. It is hoped that the following discussion will be useful to clinicians working in cross-cultural and multi—cultural settings. The article presented here is republished from the Australian Journal of Music Therapy Vol. 17, pp. 54-63, 2006, with the kind permission from the publisher and the author.