Home / Spiffy's Blog / Tagged: Australia

Spiffy's Blog

Prof. Felicity Baker: Increasing Music Therapy Access for People Living With Dementia

Dec 10, 2024 Posted by: Shreyas Navare AI for Good,  Australia,  Music Therapy,  SDG 3,  SDGs
Prof. Felicity Baker: Increasing Music Therapy Access for People Living With Dementia

Ladderworks creates diverse picture books and educational initiatives with the mission to empower over a million kids and youth to become social entrepreneurs and advance the SDGs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring changemakers, who are advancing the SDGs through Artificial Intelligence. 

Hello, dear readers! Spiffy here with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth using AI for making the world a better place. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this beautiful blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Professor Felicity Baker, Lead Researcher at The University of Melbourne. Let’s learn what’s happening at The University of Melbourne and how Prof. Baker’s inspiring work in AI is making a positive impact in the world.

Spiffy: Hi Prof. Baker, thanks a million for talking to me today. Tell me, what challenge are you addressing through The University of Melbourne?

Prof. Baker: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! At the University of Melbourne, we are working on increasing access to music therapy for people living with dementia.

Spiffy: That’s really a noble cause. What motivates you to do it?

Prof. Baker: Thanks Spiffy. The last 32 years of my practice have shown the benefits that music has on people with dementia when used in a targeted way. That motivates me to keep going!

Spiffy: Wow, that's good to hear! What is the impact of your work and could you tell me about a recent initiative undertaken by your organization?

Prof. Baker: Our work impacts not only people with dementia but also their families and caregivers. A recent initiative of ours is the Agitation Detection System called MATCH (Music Attuned Technology - Care via eHealth). You can read more about it here: https://www.musicattunedcare.com/

Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Prof. Baker—it’s been an honor!

Prof. Baker: Likewise, Spiffy! Safe travels to your next destination.

Dr. Felicity Baker is Professor of Music Therapy and lead researcher developing music technology tools to support people living with dementia. She had 32 years experience, had run numerous clinical trials and led a team of researchers with total funding exceeding USD>11.5M (Nominated for Spiffy's Blog by Ricki Meyer, Google.org. First published on the Ladderworks website on December 10, 2024.)

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.

© 2024 Ladderworks LLC. For supporting Spiffy’s Library Program: 100K Books for 100K Kids, donate here. 

Michelle Ridsdale: Improving Mental Health and Connectedness

Jan 03, 2024 Posted by: Sujit Kunte Australia,  Michelle Ridsdale,  SDG 3
Michelle Ridsdale: Improving Mental Health and Connectedness
Michelle: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! At Kaboose, we're aiming to improve mental health and connectedness through friendships and employment. Often, neurodivergent people feel alone with no sense of belonging. In a world grappling with loneliness, one in four feels the weight of this isolation. Heartbreakingly, youth suicide is the number one cause of death in young people with autistic people three times more at risk. Let's unite, end loneliness, and build a more inclusive and compassionate world for all.

Paul Ronalds: Encouraging Private Sector Investment to Further the SDGs

Aug 24, 2023 Posted by: Shikha Tandon Australia,  Paul Ronalds,  SDG 1,  SDG 2,  SDG 3,  SDG 4
Paul Ronalds: Encouraging Private Sector Investment to Further the SDGs
Paul: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! Philanthropy and government grants are critical to achieving the SDGs, however, they will not, by themselves, provide enough funding. Traditional grant-based funding also rarely supports the flexibility and experimentation required to test new ways of having impact for children. Save the Children Global Ventures was created to complement traditional grants and philanthropy with an increased use of new ways to fund children's education, health, and protection. We also look across the world for the best new innovations that might help Save the Children to be even more impactful for children.