Adjunct Professor Dr. Daphne Rickson was awarded the World Federation of Music Therapy's Highest Honour
Adjunct Professor Dr Daphne Rickson, ONZM, was announced as the 2023 recipient of World Federation of Music Therapy’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Congress of Music Therapy, held in Vancouver Canada on July 24-29th.
This is the World Federation’s highest honour, awarded every three years to an individual who is deemed to have made significant contributions to the field of music therapy.
The citation acknowledged Dr Rickson’s prodigious contributions to the field of music therapy both nationally and internationally; her lifetime of dedication to music therapy and the furtherance of the field through practice, teaching, and research; and her generous sharing of her vast knowledge with others by presenting at conferences throughout the world and authoring or co-authoring numerous peer-reviewed articles and books. Dr Rickson is particularly renowned for her work with children and adolescents who have learning support needs. During her time as a WFMT council member Dr Rickson demonstrated her dedication to the field by fully investing in her roles as Australasian Regional Liaison and leader of the recently established WFMT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative, fulfilling them with not only with excellence but also with compassion, thoughtfulness, and kindness.
In reflecting on the honour, Dr Rickson noted that making a significant contribution was not necessarily about the number or size of the milestones that one is able to conquer. Rather, it is about caring deeply for music therapy, and all involved in it and endeavouring to make the most of the experiences and opportunities that come our way. She noted that “by developing rich and meaningful relationships not only with music therapy participants but also with team members, supporters of music therapy, local politicians, and music therapy colleagues in New Zealand and abroad, I have been inspired and motivated to take every opportunity I could to move the profession forward. I valued each step along the way, no matter how small they seemed, or how heavy they felt at the time, and I am profoundly grateful to have had such a rich and highly enjoyable career in music therapy”.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipients enjoy honorary life membership in the WFMT. Previous recipients include Dr Clive Robbins (UK) 2020; Dr Barbara Wheeler (USA) 2017; Dr Ruth Bright (Australia) 2014; Dr David Aldridge (Germany) 2011; and Dr Rolando Benenzon (Argentina) 2008.