Understanding How Culturally Minoritised People with Dementia and Their Family Carers Perceive Music Therapy and Its Strategies within Their Circumstances

The aim of this research is to understand how music therapy can support people with dementia and family carers from non-dominant cultural backgrounds. We are interested in learning about their experiences of music therapy - what works well, what doesn’t, and why these things are important to them. Recruitment is currently taking place in Melbourne and surrounding areas. Participants will be invited to take part in a series of music therapy sessions at where they live, offered in either a dyadic or one-on-one format.

The study is open to people who:

• Have a diagnosis of dementia (any type) or are experiencing cognitive decline.
• Self-identify as being from a culturally or ethnically non-dominant background in Australia. This may include people who identify as people of colour, refugees, migrants, Indigenous Australians, multiracial or multiethnic people, or people who speak English as a non-primary language (This list is not exhaustive).
• Have enough hearing and alertness to take part in music experiences.
• Live in Melbourne or surrounding areas.

Participants will take part in 7 meetings (1 introductory session, 5 music therapy sessions, and 1 final interview). Meetings can be one-on-one or include a family carer. The format will be discussed with each participant and based on suitability and their preferences.