The Australian Natural Therapists Association Ltd (ANTA) is the largest national democratic association of natural therapy practitioners in Australia. For over 60 years, we have been representing the multi-disciplinary interests of thousands of accredited practitioners across the country, as well as natural therapy students.
Founded in 1955, ANTA is one of the original Schedule 1 bodies as defined in the regulations of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. A person is only said to be a member of a Schedule 1 organisation if they have the training and qualifications appropriate or necessary for membership of that organisation.
ANTA is synonymous with quality, and being the “Peak of the Profession” in our industry. By maintaining the highest qualification and ethical standards, we are able to achieve exceptional quality and public safety.
ANTA’s mission is to provide the public with best-practice health care, and the highest possible standards for the conduct and safety of traditional medicine and natural therapy practitioners. Working with governments, researchers, educators, health funds, WorkCover authorities, and professional organisations, ANTA represents the interests of the following disciplines/modalities:
ANTA is a public company limited by guarantee, and is governed by National Council Members who make up the Board of Representatives for each of the modalities recognised by ANTA. Our organisation is registered with ASIC, and the Board is elected by the Members of the Association and can hold that position for up to three years. The National Council elects all office bearing positions within the Association, which are for a period of one year. These are supported by the services of a full-time Executive Officer, Company Secretary and national administration office staff.
ANTA upholds the highest possible standards for the practice of traditional, complementary, and natural therapies. We are committed to a policy of consultation with professional associations as well as all government and regulatory bodies associated with these professions. We also:
ANTA was recognised by the Australian Taxation Office in November 2002 under a private ruling as “a professional association that has uniform national registration requirements for practitioners of traditional, complementary medicine and natural therapies”. This allows ANTA practitioners of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, naturopathy and Western herbal medicine to practice GST-free.
The Australian Taxation Office Private Ruling Authorisation also states that “ANTA is a professional association that has uniform national registration requirements for practitioners of traditional medicine and natural therapies. Consequently, practitioners who are members of ANTA will be considered to be recognised professionals”.
To be eligible for accreditation and membership with ANTA, graduates are required to undertake a rigorous course assessment and recognition program. Practitioners who belong to ANTA have achieved high educational and professional standards, consistently improve their skills and knowledge, and abide by a strict Code of Practice.
Membership is valuable because it recognises practitioners as qualified and legitimate within the healthcare industry, and 7 of the recognised modalities are eligible for registration with over 50 Australian health funds. Membership also significantly reduces professional indemnity insurance premiums.
Other benefits of membership include the provision of: