2024 Annual General Meeting
Voting members of Massage & Myotherapy Australia (AAMT) will receive official notice of the 2024 Annual General Meeting, including further details and information about online registration. The AGM will take place on Friday 29 November 2024 at 4pm AEDT. To register your attendance at the AGM, please click here.
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Adding New Clinics
If you are planning to activate any new clinics in December or January, please ensure to update the Association with the clinic details soon as possible as the Private Health Funds close over the Christmas and New Year period leading to delays in receiving new provider numbers.
Clinic Updates
It’s critical that members avoid duplicating clinic entries when adding new clinics, as this can cause significant delays with Private Health Funds. If you are unsure whether a clinic is already registered, please review your clinic listings carefully on the Association website. If you find an error in your clinic details, please contact the Association immediately to have it corrected. When entering a new phone number for clinic details, please do not include the +61 country code; only an area code is required for landline numbers. For further assistance, please contact the Association.
Understanding notifying claims under Claims Made policies
Understanding insurance policies is essential for protecting your practice, especially when it comes to professional indemnity. A ‘Claims Made’ policy is a common type of coverage used in professional fields like massage therapy, remedial massage therapy, and myotherapy. But what does it involve, and why is proper claims notification critical? For more in-depth information on this topic, watch the Aon presentation by clicking here. This presentation provides a deeper understanding of claims notification, helping you stay informed and protected.
Important update to Massage & Myotherapy Australia Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
Massage & Myotherapy Australia has updated the following key policies, procedures and guidelines:
It is crucial members familiarise themselves with these updates to ensure that you adhere to the latest industry standards and maintain best practices. Understanding these documents assists you to build the highest ethical and safety standards in your practice.
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2024 Mentoring Program Scholarship in Honour of Athol Robinson
Under the Association’s Awards Program, Massage & Myotherapy Australia will offer this mentoring program to a selected student upon graduation or during their final semester (if they have the capacity). The program provides tailored support based on the student's strengths and weaknesses, aimed at helping them develop business, technical, and practical skills, as well as supporting their professional growth during the first 12 months of practice. Applications are invited from students graduating this year for the 2024 Mentoring Program Scholarship in Honour of Athol Robinson. Applications close on Friday 13 December 2024, at 5PM AEDT. For more information and to apply, please click here.
National Skin Cancer Action Week (17-23 November 2024)
Australia leads the world in skin cancer rates, with two in three Australians likely to be diagnosed in their lifetime. This National Skin Cancer Action Week, Cancer Council Australia and the Australian Government are launching a campaign to promote SunSmart behaviours, particularly for men over 40 who are shown to have lower sun-safe habits. Sun exposure causes 95% of melanomas, with UV levels often reaching extreme levels across Australia. Australians are encouraged to regularly check UV levels on the SunSmart app, Bureau of Meteorology, or weather updates. For more information please click here.
Addressing Misconceptions: Remedial Massage vs. Sex Work in Liverpool, Sydney
Recent coverage on the television program A Current Affair regarding a school located in Liverpool, Sydney, among adult shops and quasi massage shops that masquerade as legitimate remedial massage clinics offering low end massage to sexual services, has highlighted an important issue facing the remedial massage therapy and myotherapy industry. This coverage has inadvertently spotlighted a pervasive misconception linking remedial massage therapists and myotherapists with sex work, leading to increased sexual harassment and potential risks for female therapists. In 2022, a pulse survey revealed that over 54% of remedial massage therapists and myotherapists experienced sexual harassment, with 74% regularly taking proactive measures to protect themselves and their teams (Massage & Myotherapy Australia Pulse Survey 2022). These numbers emphasise the need to clarify the boundaries and distinctions between legitimate therapeutic practices and sex work to uphold safety and professional integrity. Massage & Myotherapy Australia and the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS) call upon community members, the media, and relevant stakeholders to support efforts to clarify these distinctions and foster a safer environment for all. For more information and to read the full joint statement, click here.
Important Update on NDIS Funding Rules for Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) review has led to new funding rules aligning closely with Medicare Guidelines, restricting coverage for many massage services. According to NDIS guidelines, massage services are excluded unless provided by an AHPRA-registered health professional. This impacts remedial massage therapists and myotherapists, whose services are no longer funded directly under the NDIS. Massage & Myotherapy Australia sought clarification from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), confirming that NDIS funding is now limited to massage services offered under an Allied Health Professional’s care. Members may consider exploring arrangements with AHPRA-registered providers. While immediate policy changes are unlikely, Massage & Myotherapy Australia is committed to advocating for the profession and presenting evidence of the benefits of massage therapy for clients with disabilities. Members and clients are encouraged to provide feedback on the impact of these changes to NDIS. Further details have been emailed separately, please click on that email for more information.
CMTV Podcast
Massage & Myotherapy Australia CEO Ann Davey caught up with Aubrey Gowing and Alison Kavanagh at the Holistic College Dublin to talk all things massage therapy, the challenges and successes we face in two different countries, and what we can achieve together in Episode 7 of their podcast CMTV. Watch the interview by clicking here.
Massage & Myotherapy CONNECT
In Episode 84 of Connect, Associate Professors Niki Munk and Amie Steel discuss new challenges in the research realm facing survey research.
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