How We Were Formed

The Complementary Medicine Association (CMA) was founded in 1985 by Mr Bob Lucy but was initially known as The Counselors Association of The Preventive Medicine Movement.  It officially became an incorporated association in NSW, and it was not until the late 80’s that it became the CMA.  After a special resolution was passed in 2000, it became a Company Limited by Guarantee.

Shortly after becoming the CMA, education standards were also changing, and Colleges were becoming Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s).  By this time the CMA had become a single modality association for those studying and qualified in Naturopathy only.  It was the view that if only operating as a single modality association, it could utilise all of its knowledge, skills, resources and expertise in this singular modality, to put forth a robust case to those in positions of power and legislative control, in regards to registration and regulation.

However, in early 2013, with many associations petitioning their version of a single regulatory framework for all natural therapists, the CMA felt that such a model would be ineffective if it was to encompass both tactile and ingestive modality practitioners.

In an effort to protect ingestive therapists and lobby for a framework that was more achievable, workable and effective, the CMA elected to widen its membership intake to also encompass Homeopathy, Nutrition, Ayurveda, Western Herbal and Chinese Herbal Medicine.

While similar in some ways to other existing ‘umbrella groups’, they are different in many ways, which is what we believe makes the Complementary Medicine Association a more evenly represented, democratic, and ethical organisation.

The CMA was formed as a Federal Association, with the view to afford its members;

• Voting rights; thus, allowing them to assist with the direction of the organisation
• A professional Constitution, Code of Ethics and By-laws
• Strict educational entry requirements, ensuring all members are equally qualified
• Access to Professional Indemnity Insurance
• Recognition as health care professionals by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in order to allow exemptions from charging GST on consultations (where applicable)
• Recognition as providers by Australian private health funds
• Access to a variety of avenues in order to accumulate Continuing Practice Education (CPE) points
• Information on how and where to obtain first aid certification
• Recognition by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for professional advertising exemptions
• Independence, by having no affiliations to colleges, manufacturers or other bodies, which may present a conflict of interest

We have worked hard since our inception in 1985 to build an ethical and highly skilled Association of prime contact practitioners to represent to Government, Health Funds and the Public. We are committed to obtaining full government recognition for our members and the profession in the form of professional peer group registration.

Until this occurs however, the CMA is dedicated to protecting the public by providing and policing both a high and professional standard of complementary medicine services and practitioners.

Our Aim

• To promote, encourage, provide internship and counsel in matters relating to Complementary and Alternate Medicine, and its associated Therapies and Modalities, at the highest level of professional responsibility.
• To establish and maintain relations with institutions, organisations, colleges, universities, and other groups & bodies throughout the world having the same or similar objectives.
• To promote and protect the mutual interests of its Members.
• To educate the public as to what Natural Therapists do.
• To provide a service to people who wish to have access to natural remedies.
• To provide and maintain a professional Code of Ethics and Conduct.
• To create and pursue policies with the aim to unite the trained Natural Therapists of Australia.
• To provide a more professional image for Natural Therapists and their modalities to the community.
• To provide support in the many aspects that confront practising Natural Therapists.
• To attain full registration for qualified Complementary Medicine Practitioners in Australia.

Our Mission

The purpose and intention of the CMA is to promote and protect the science and profession of complementary medicine in all theatres, to the benefit of the profession, its practitioners, its clients and humanity.

We will pursue the acceptance and recognition of these professions as viable and highly beneficial modalities, through registration of qualified practitioners. 

We will nurture and stimulate these professions by:

• mentoring students and novice practitioners
• establishing realistic standards of professional qualification; facilitating meaningful, ongoing professional education and development
• encouraging and supporting research and the dissemination of knowledge

We will set out to protect complementary medicine and its practitioners from any threat or misunderstanding.

We will vigorously defend and actively promote the practice and benefits of complementary medicine.

Complaints Procedure Further Information

The Complementary Medicine Association (CMA), takes complaints against its members very seriously and WILL act upon them. Complaints from patients, fellow members or any member of the public will all be treated equally and follow the same procedure.

Patient Procedure

• Complaints MUST be in writing in the form of a Statutory Declaration.
• They must be forwarded to the CMA Federal Executive via the Federal Administration Office.
• The Federal Executive will contact the member concerned and provide them with a copy of the complaint affording the member an opportunity to respond.
• The Federal Executive also reserves the right to undertake its own investigations.
  • The complaint together with all relevant associated material will then presented at a formal meeting of the Federal Executive when the appropriate action will be decided by a majority vote.
  • Members will be afforded the opportunity, should they formally request it, to make a personal representation to the Federal Executive at that meeting.
  • The decision of the Federal Executive will be regarded as final and not subject to appeal unless formally granted by the Federal Executive due to new evidence.

Courses of action open to the Federal Executive

• In the case where the Federal Executive finds in favour of the member no action will be taken and the complainant advised of the outcome accordingly. Reasons may or may not be given to either party.
• In the case where the Federal Executive finds against the member they have the power to:
• Caution the member and obtain undertakings that such incidences will not happen again.
• Reduce the members status and membership privileges [membership grade] for a prescribed period, or until the Federal Executive is prepared to reinstate the member to their previous status.
• Suspend their membership for a prescribed period of time or cancel their member and expel them from the association.
• The complainant will also be advised of this outcome with or without any further explanation.

Non-registered Providers

The HCC can handle complaints about health services provided by any organisation or person in Victoria, including both registered and non-registered providers.

Non-registered providers are those who are not legally required to be registered under national health practitioner regulation law. They are also known as general health service providers. The many types of practitioners in this category include audiologists, naturopaths, dieticians, speech pathologists, homeopaths, counsellors, massage therapists, alternative therapists and other providers of general health services.

In Australia, 14 health professions do require registration in order to practice. These are known as registered practitioners and are regulated under a national scheme by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Code of Conduct

The national Code of Conduct sets standards for non-registered providers, who are not regulated under the national scheme by AHPRA. It also applies to registered practitioners operating outside their area of registration, for example a physiotherapist providing reiki therapy.

The code became Victorian law on 1 February 2017. Any possible breach of this code by a non-registered provider may be grounds for a complaint to, or investigation by, the HCC.

In summary, the Code of Conduct says that practitioners must:

1. Provide services in a safe and ethical manner
2. Obtain consent from their clients
3. Display appropriate conduct when giving treatment advice
4. Report concerns about treatment or care provided by other health care workers
5. Take appropriate action in response to adverse events
6. Adopt standard precautions for infection control
7. Practice safely if diagnosed with infectious medical conditions
8. Not make claims to cure certain serious illnesses
9. Not misinform their clients
10. Not practice under the influence of alcohol or drugs
11. Modify or stop practicing if they have certain mental or physical impairments
12. Not financially exploit clients
13. Not engage in sexual misconduct
14. Comply with relevant privacy laws
15. Keep appropriate records
16. Be covered by appropriate insurance
17. Display information about this code and how to make a complaint.

(Practitioners should refer to the relevant full text of the Code of Conduct to understand their responsibilities)

Non-registered providers must make a copy of the Code of Conduct, as well as information about how to lodge a complaint with us, easily accessible to clients. The resources below can help you with this.

Actions

Compliance with the code should not mean extra work for those already operating safely and ethically, but it does provide grounds for us to take action against those who are not. We may accept a complaint about or investigate any possible breach of this code by a non-registered provider in Victoria.

At any time during an investigation into a non-registered provider we may issue an interim order prohibiting delivery of a service, or part of a service, by that provider. A final prohibition order may then be issued following investigation, if it is necessary to do so. Prohibition orders in force in other states and territories will be recognised in Victoria.

Following an investigation into a registered or non-registered practitioner, we may issue a public warning statement to alert people to serious risks to their health, life, safety or welfare.