Aon were delighted to have the chance to speak to Ann Davey, CEO of Massage & Myotherapy Australia. Read below and find out about Massage & Myotherapy Australia’s 2023 National Conference, how to become a Certified Specialist® and other valuable activities the association is involved in.

Massage & Myotherapy Australia recently announced the 2023 National Conference will be in NZ, can you share any details of this exciting event?

Yes, I can. I am pleased to announce that for our 20th anniversary we are taking the Conference to Auckland, New Zealand, at the Grand Millennium, so save the date – 27 and 28 May 2023. We have partnered with our friends at Massage New Zealand to bring a premier event to our members and theirs. The program is currently being finalised so watch this space.

How does Massage & Myotherapy Australia support members in the areas of education and ongoing training?

Massage & Myotherapy Australia provides ongoing Continuing Professional Education opportunities, not only to members but also to the broader massage profession. We have hands-on workshops, wet labs, regional meetings, an online learning platform (HALO – Health and Learning Online), webinars, a quarterly journal and our webcast show. Visit massagemyotherapy.com.au for more information.

Massage & Myotherapy Australia developed a certification program – What does becoming a Certified Specialist® involve?

The Certified Specialist® program is a national best practice standard, the first of its kind for the massage profession. The goal is to achieve consistent quality assurance. It has received approvals from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and IP Australia (under the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science) – it is the only one of its kind in Australia. It is open to all therapists, not just Massage & Myotherapy Australia members.

The industry needs to clarify what it stood for and to achieve this, a landmark standard has been developed that sets out best practice services and standards in the massage and myotherapy industry. It involves three stages, criminal check, a self-assessment workbook and a site support visit/verification.

What are the benefits of receiving a Certified Specialist® certificate?

Becoming a Certified Specialist® helps the practitioner be recognised as a leading massage and myotherapy healthcare professional, builds business recognition, improves recognition of skills and competencies, and separate the practitioners’ services from unprofessional massage shops.

What are the benefits of being a Massage & Myotherapy Australia member?

Members who are suitably qualified and meet compliancy get access to Private Health Fund status. Other benefits of membership include: discounted events, special Member combined PI/PPL insurance premiums with Aon, a quarterly print journal, regular industry updates, templates that members can use to assist running their business and an association that advocates on their behalf for the betterment of the industry. Members also have the choice to list their clinics on the Australian Massage Directory free of charge.

As the massage industry is not registered, how can someone who isn’t in the field of massage, identify a qualified massage therapist or myotherapist?

The massage profession is an unregistered profession, however, it is regulated by associations such as Massage & Myotherapy Australia, the Private Health Funds, the Healthcare Complaints Commissioners/Office of the Health Ombudsman, and the National Code of Conduct for Unregistered Healthcare Workers. It is really quite simple, ask to see the therapist’s qualification or membership certificate of an accredited association.

Can you share insight into the advocacy work conducted by Massage & Myotherapy Australia?

The Massage & Myotherapy Australia advocacy program is building recognition for the skills and competencies of professional massage therapists who provide health services. Lack of appropriate recognition in federal and state government policy and regulation in the areas of immigration, health and discrimination contributes to the conflation of legitimate massage with quasi-massage and massage parlours. GPs, and allied health professionals work with and refer patients for massage therapies in numerous areas of health including oncology, aged care, musculoskeletal conditions, stress and injury.

What does Massage & Myotherapy Australia offer to students and/or members new to the industry?

While student members are not eligible for Private Health Fund rebates, they do get access to every other benefit of membership. Best of all, student membership is completely free.

Joining the Association as a student member is the perfect first step to entering the industry. Members in their first year in the industry after graduation are eligible to apply for the Athol Robinson Award, the Association’s mentoring program that monitors aspects of business, technical and practical skills, and future development within the winner’s first 12 months of practice.

Ann Davey is the CEO of Massage & Myotherapy Australia, the leading not-for-profit association and peak body for massage, remedial massage and myotherapy, spanning Australia nationwide with a membership of over 8,600 professionally qualified practitioners. With over 20 years of leadership experience across NFP, university and commercial organisations, Ann holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Human Resources and Administration Management. Whilst Ann has worked at the Association for over a decade, she took up the role of CEO in April 2020, at the height of the first wave of COVID-19. In her spare time, Ann is involved in volunteering in the local the community initiative, Repair Café – Bring, Learn and Mend, with the aim to save precious goods from landfill. She is a mother of four and also enjoys Pilates and regularly walking the family dog, a Kelpie named Buddy that was rescued from the Lost Dogs Home.