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| Hpathy Ezine - March, 2008 | ||||
Homœopathy in Australia-- Peter Torokfalvy Victorian Branch President of the Australian Homœopathic Association |
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| Current Regulatory Situation Federal Government reports have recommended that there should be effective and accountable structures to ensure that complementary medicine practitioners are appropriately qualified and work within appropriate standards of ethical and professional behaviour to safeguard consumers. In this regard, the homœopathic profession in Australia has achieved some major milestones in the past eight or so years. As a result, the profession has already achieved the type of organisation and self-regulation suggested by the Government.
The homœopathic profession, in conjunction with the Federal Government, established National Competency Standards in Homœopathy in 1999. These standards are incorporated in the Government’s Health Training Package, and define what should be taught in accredited courses in homœopathy which are conducted by registered training organisations. The standards are reviewed by the profession biennially in conjunction with the Government. The Australian Homœopathic Association (AHA) supports this process, and has provided significant input by participating in the industry reference group representing the profession. Perhaps the most significant advance took place when an independent national registration board was established, also in 1999, for homoeopaths who meet the government-endorsed standards. This board, the Australian Register of Homoeopaths (AROH), is the national register and self-regulation body for homoeopaths, replacing the registration role which had previously been fulfilled by the various homœopathic associations throughout Australia. The AHA was instrumental in supporting the establishment of this registration board and has significant on-going representation on the board. The criteria for registration with AROH are based on the National Competency Standards in Homœopathy mentioned above, including underpinning knowledge, clinical competencies, medical sciences, etc. In addition, practitioners must annually maintain their continuing professional development (or CPD), hold a current senior first-aid certificate, and must have current indemnity insurance. Practitioners registered with AROH are recognised by all the major health insurance funds for the purpose of rebates on consultation fees. All of the above were achieved without any Government funding, but through the voluntary efforts of people passionate about their profession.
Under the present self-regulatory system, there is no statutory protection of title, and unqualified individuals may declare themselves to be homoeopaths. Also, many complementary medicine practitioners who are not homoeopaths, and some medical practitioners, dispense homœopathic medicines but without a detailed underpinning knowledge of homœopathy. In Australia, many people have never heard of the word ‘homœopathy’ and don’t know what it is, while others mistakenly think that homœopathy and naturopathy are identical. Naturopathic training may include training in homœopathy as an elective amongst a range of other modalities, rather than as the dedicated focus of study. While some naturopaths may undertake further studies in homœopathy, the general level of training does not meet the National Competency Standards required for registration with AROH. As mentioned above, unfortunately, the term ‘naturopathy’ is more well-known than ‘homœopathy’. Consumers need to be educated to understand what homœopathy is, that there is a difference between homœopathy and naturopathy, and to seek the services of a properly qualified and registered homœopath, rather than just relying on a practitioner’s advertising. A major focus of the promotional activities of the AHA is aimed at providing such information (see below). After extensive investigation by a Government expert committee and input from the AHA, the Federal Government is planning to develop a system for the statutory regulation of complementary medicine practitioners, including homoeopaths. AROH-registered homœopaths already meet all the criteria specified by the Federal Government for the status of ‘recognised professionals’, and we now await the endorsement of this recommendation in appropriate legislation. The Australian Homœopathic Association The Australian Homœopathic Association is Australia’s only national professional association for homœopathic practitioners, and has branches in the States of Australia. Branch Committees provide the day-to-day running of the Association in their State, including the organisation of local seminars, while the National Council of the Association (made up of representatives from each Branch) sets the strategic direction and overall policies, and provides such services as are considered best achieved at a national level. Significant achievements (and savings) are made via the combined energies of the committees throughout Australia, all of whom are unpaid volunteers. Since relinquishing the role of registering practitioners and handing this function to AROH, the AHA has shifted its focus. The AHA’s role has always included the provision of services to members, the promotion of homœopathy, education of the public and governments, the lobbying of governments and regulatory bodies, and participation on various committees and bodies which are related to homœopathic standards, education and regulation. All our efforts are now concentrated on achieving these objectives. Homœopathic Education While the minimum educational standard for registration is presently at the level of an Advanced Diploma in Homoeopathy, there are now a number of Degree programs in homœopathy at universities and private colleges. The AHA has membership on the course advisory committees of many of these institutions. The AHA’s professional journal, Similia, is Australia’s only journal designed specifically for homœopaths. A peer-reviewed journal which is indexed by CINAHL, its contributors are mainly from Australia, but also includes articles from leading overseas practitioners. The AHA provides regular seminars with leading local and international homœopaths. Australia’s only national homœopathic medicine conference, conducted biennially, is also organised by the AHA, with each Branch taking turns in hosting this major event. The 6th conference will be held in Sydney 12-14 September 2008. Homœopathic Medicines The manufacture and sale of homœopathic preparations in Australia is controlled by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration). The AHA has an ongoing dialogue with the TGA, working on a sub-committee to help ensure that our members have access to the full range of homœopathic medicines, prepared in an approved and accountable manner. Promotion AHA’s Branch Committees have always conducted promotional activities in their own States. For the past three years, this effort has been coordinated and enhanced by the activities of the National Council. The AHA promotes an annual national campaign during World Homœopathy Awareness Week (WHAW) to promote homœopathy in the community via our Professional membership. A significant amount of the annual budgets at both national and State levels is allocated towards activities which are planned for WHAW. Members are encouraged to participate in grass-roots activities in clinics, community centres, libraries, etc. Branch Committees and National Council support members by providing them with kits of promotional material designed for the occasion, much of it provided free-of-charge. Each year a special publication is created and distributed as widely as possible throughout Australia via an insert in a selected health-related magazine. The insert explains homœopathy, the credentials and registration status of AHA’s Professional Members, some simple examples of homœopathic cases, and a listing of all of AHA’s Professional Members, sorted by suburb within each State. Additional copies of the AHA insert are printed, for use in Branch promotional activities or for members to issue to patients and others. The AHA has created a very short and simple advertisement (publicising the AHA website), designed for use in cinemas. Some Branches have arranged to give public talks, or radio advertisements, or regular spots on local radio programmes. Others have arranged to have a large banner stretched across a major street, advertising World Homœopathy Awareness Week and the AHA website. These are just a few of the AHA’s activities, all achieved by dedicated volunteers. For more information about the AHA and our activities, see www.homeopathyoz.org. |
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