Advocacy for Naturopaths
The CMA has worked hard since its 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.
Historically, as complementary medicine practitioners we have needed to safeguard our interests politically for both ourselves, and our patients. Government actions have shown the need for political lobbying as a united group of professionals and the CMA has been and will continue to be, very active in this area. The CMA maintains active membership with the WNF (World Naturopathic Federation) and the ANF (Australian Naturopathic Federation). Additionally, the CMA works collaboratively alongside other industry groups to form the Australian Naturopathic Council (ANC), a coordinating body representing the naturopathic profession, and as part of OneCAM to create a unified voice for the complementary medicine industry.
The World Naturopathic Federation (WNF) represents naturopathic organizations from around the world. The goal of the WNF is to support and promote the naturopathic profession globally, to support regulation and recognition of the naturopathic workforce, to promote accreditation and the highest in educational standards for the global naturopathic profession and to encourage and support naturopathic research.
Find out more about the WNF here.
Australian Naturopathic Federation
The Australian Naturopathic Federation (ANF) is the Australian chapter of the WNF and is made up of two key associations: the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) and the Complementary Medicine Association (CMA). Together these associations work to promote the naturopathic profession and the educational and research needs of naturopathic practitioners within the Australian context.
Find out more about the ANF here.
OneCAM is a not-for-profit group representing the complementary medicine and natural therapies industry and its practitioners. OneCAM aims to represent the Australian complementary medicine practitioners and natural medicines industry for:
- Input into government policy formation and interpretation.
- Providing a united media response.
- Coordinating a proactive role in advocating and promoting the benefits of natural medicines to the general public
OneCAM won't replicate the work of any professional association, but, when an issue such as health fund rebates occurs and affects us all, OneCAM will speak with one clear, unified voice. Members of OneCAM include:
- Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS)
- Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)
- Complementary Medicine Association (CMA)
- Metagenics
- Intergria
- Vital.ly
- Bioconcepts
- Go Vita
Find out more about OneCAM here.
The Australian Naturopathic Council (ANC) is an industry body made up of key educational and practitioner organisations whose function is to be the unified body that represents Australian naturopathic practitioners in political lobbying, matters relating to statutory registration, and policy formation. The ANC consists of the following stakeholders:
- Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH)
- Complementary Medicine Association (CMA)
- Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)
- Endeavour College of Natural Health (ECNH)
- Southern Cross University (National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine) (SCU)
- Torrens University
Find out more about the ANC here.