Introducing Sinead Hegarty, the 2023 recipient of the Gattung Foundation sponsored Master of Music Therapy Award in partnership with the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust and the Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust. Sinead lives in the Hawkes Bay and is in her final year studying for a Master of Music Therapy degree at Victoria University. This scholarship comes with a monetary award of $8,000 and a minimum 750 hour placement with the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust. Sinead has chosen a highly important topic for her Masters research, based around how music therapy might be used to support community wellbeing during times of high stress and instability. We are thrilled to support Sinead’s journey towards a career in music therapy.

"I am beyond grateful to be selected as a recipient, I am excited and privileged to be able to carry out my final year of Masters research and placement in my home town. Due to the impact Cyclone Gabrielle has had on Hawkes bay, I am interested in looking at the role of music therapy in building and strengthening communities significantly impacted. I am particularly interested in trauma-informed, community based and bicultural ways of working. Through my placement with Raukatauri and support from this scholarship I hope to deepen my understanding of my emerging practice and develop an authentic way of working as a music therapist to support individuals and communities to access inner resources and tools to support healing and wellbeing. I feel empowered and well supported by this scholarship and the inspiring team at Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust." Sinead

Pictured are Sinead and Jen Glover, Executive and Clinical Director of Raukatauri Music Therapy.