An ecological perspective on music programmes for at-risk children and families in Australia

The capacity for organizations to articulate key components of their programmes is pivotal in establishing and maintaining support from funding bodies and participating communities. This study sought to understand how music programme practitioners situate their programmes in the ‘music, health and well-being sector’. Practitioners and managers of two Australian music programmes for at risk children were interviewed about their understanding of the programmes for themselves, and how this understanding was communicated to participating communities and funding sources. The initial findings indicate that the two programmes operate within distinctly different theoretical frameworks – one based on a development and well-being theoretical framework, and the other in a sociological paradigm focused on the lived experience of music making. This distinction is important as it highlights the unique contributions of the two programmes to the wider ‘community music programmes’ sector.