Who we are
Who we are
Tuned In Connections brings the neuroscience of connection and music for health and wellbeing into early childhood settings, disability services, aged care, and homes across Australia. Our work is grounded in over a decade of clinical practice and academic research and designed to be practical enough to use straight away. No musical skills required.
We believe that when educators, support workers, and caregivers understand how connection works, and have simple tools from the therapy room and research to support it, outcomes follow naturally from there. This is what we mean by connection before outcomes.
Meet Anita
Hello, I'm Anita, founder of Tuned In Connections and Tuned In Music Therapy.
I've worked as a music therapist for the past decade, and for the last two years as a postdoctoral researcher focused on dementia risk reduction, brain health and music in healthcare. In my work, I support autistic children and young people with disability, consult on music-based programs in aged care, and work within allied health teams in schools.
What I’ve noticed, across the therapy room and the research, is that the moments that change things are rarely just the music. They're the small, attuned moments before we're working on anything else. And this attuned practice is where we get curious, take a slow look, and intentionally share presence.
That observation, and years of neurodiversity-affirming practice grounded in music therapy, neuroscience and attachment theory, led me to develop the A-TUNE framework. A set of principles that translates what the research actually shows us into something every educator, parent, carer or support worker can use.
The question I kept being asked was: "How do I do what you do?" Tuned In Connections is my answer. No musical skills required.
Testimonials
Research publications and work
Anita is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development (Western Sydney University). She examines the role of music in health, wellbeing and connection across the lifespan.
-
Connell, A. (Author), Garrido, S. (Supervisor), Steiner-Lim, G. (Supervisor), MacRitchie, J. (Supervisor), Milne, A.J. (Supervisor) & Smith, C. (Supervisor), 2025
Western Sydney University thesis: Doctoral thesis
-
Connell, A., Anakkathil Anil, M. & Stevens, K., 2026, Penrith, N.S.W.: Western Sydney University. Research output: Book/Research Report › Research report
-
Thompson, G., Zidar, M., Antipas, H., Arns, B., Bibb, J., Connell, A., Fuller, A., McMahon, K., Silveira, T. M., Skewes McFerran, K., Stretton-Smith, P., Subiantoro, M., Tamplin, J. & Thompson, Z., 2025, Australian Music Therapy Association
-
MusicBeat Symposium, Connect, Collaborate. Create: 2026
-
ASPIRE SOCIAL PRESCRIBING CONFERENCE, EACH25 BRISBANE, 2025
-
ASPIRE SOCIAL PRESCRIBING CONFERENCE, EACH25 BRISBANE, 2025
-
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, SYDNEY, 2024
-
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, SYDNEY, 2024
Anita brings her research directly into her clinical practice and attuned practice coaching and professional development offerings. She is also an Associate Editor for the Australian Journal of Music Therapy