ABOUT
Get to Know Me
Lauren Payne
Registered Music Therapist (MMusTher, BMus, NMT)
Kia Ora, I’m Lauren, a Registered Music Therapist working in Invercargill.
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia and moved to New Zealand in 2014.
I've always had a love of music and grew up in a very musical household with two trumpet players from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as parents.
In 2009, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theatre from the Federation University Arts Academy.
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From 2011-2013 I ran music education classes for infants and children from 6 months- 5 years through Mini Maestros Ltd.
MY APPROACH
I believe that Music Therapy is an incredibly valuable and often life changing therapy which should be accessible to all Southlanders.
As I am the only music therapist in Southland, it was this thought that largely propelled me into opening my private practice. Music Therapy is a research-based practice which is both incredibly therapeutic and also incredibly fun. I am very passionate about what I do and really enjoy talking to others about how music therapy works and what goals can be achieved in sessions.
In 2011, I decided I wanted to do something different and considered going back to university to study psychology. This is when I stumbled across Music Therapy which combined my love of music, interest in psychology and my drive to help others.
I completed a Master's Degree in Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne in 2013, completing my thesis on family-centred music therapy in acute brain injury rehabilitation. During the Master’s programme I had several placements in aged care, acute mental health, oncology/haematology, brain injury rehabilitation and special education.
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After graduation, I decided to treat myself with a much needed holiday to New Zealand. It was there that I met my partner, who is a Southlander, and moved to Invercargill in 2014. I have held the positions of Registered Music Therapist and Specialist Services Coordinator at Ruru Specialist School since 2014 and recently stepped back from this full time position to create Musical Milestones Ltd.