The Therapeutic Harp program has been offered across Canberra’s Health Care facilities for the past 15 years. It is a compassionate service where music is adjusted and offered to support and enhance emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical wellbeing in palliative and end of life care. 

The harp has many soothing qualities, including, beauty, resonance, vibration and can soften the soundscape of modern health care environments. There is no required outcome for the patient and harp music is curated and   constantly adjusted to support whatever the person is experiencing in the present moment - whether that’s to uplift, calm, assist rest and sleep, encourage reminiscence, comfort, distract, reduce anxiety, soothe, augment pain medication, or support during end-of-life care. This can offer an extra mantle of care creating a sacred space within the hospital/hospice setting. 

This program also offers continuity of care – often meeting patients and families at the beginning and then following their health care journey as they have treatment, hospital stays, movement between facilities and often playing at the time of their death and then by request at their funeral.

Accompanied by a small harp, Alison will focus on unique stories from the Therapeutic Harp Program in Canberra, this compassionate service, its range, depth and the possibilities in palliative and end of life care for other health care facilities where the music can benefit not only patients but families, visitors and staff.