Please expand the below headings to read the communications to members at that time.
The Queensland Government have revoked the Vaccination Mandate for Healthcare Workers as of September 2nd, 2022.
As stated by Queensland Health, the COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for healthcare workers in primary care, private hospitals and private allied health services.
Health service employees, and workers in aged care and disability care must be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Decisions on mandatory vaccinations will instead be made by the owner or operator of these settings.
For more information, please contact Queensland Health on 13 42 68, or visit www.qld.gov.au/health
The Queensland government announced today, from 6pm Friday 4th March 2022, masks will no longer be required (except in certain circumstances).
Wearing a mask in clinic for yourself or your client is going to be a personal preference if it makes you or your client/s feel safer.
As of the 7th February 2022, the Queensland Government no longer requires businesses to display QR Check-In Codes. This is now only applicable for businesses that require proof of vaccination to enter.
Reminder: On 21st December 2021, we emailed members advising that all National Boards advised healthcare practitioners that they have an obligation to treat all persons, regardless of their vaccination status, as every Australian has the right to health care, provided it can be done safely. This has not changed.
Further to the email we sent Queensland members on 11th November 2021 regarding the Direction to be vaccinated, we want to make it clear that ANTA is a pro-choice organisation (you can read our Position Statement here if you missed it).
We are not requesting proof of your vaccination status and currently health funds are not requesting this information.
If your choice is to not be vaccinated, we respect your decision. If you are considering practising after 15th December and you are required under the Direction to be vaccinated, we recommend you contact your insurance company to ask how it may affect your insurance if a claim is made against you.
Additionally, we will remind members that the ANTA office closes on 22 December 2021 and the Queensland State of Emergency is due to expire on 26 December 2021 – with the possibility of extension for another 90 days. As we will be closed, we strongly encourage members to keep an eye on the Directions to be kept informed.
The ANTA office will reopen on 10th January 2022. Please be patient with us as we settle back in and organise any information necessary to provide you all with an update.
The Workers in a healthcare setting (COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements) Direction is now available on the health.qld.gov.au website. We are going to attempt to make this as clear and concise as possible, however, please note that Queensland’s Directions are different from every other State.
Where ANTA members are concerned:
– anyone who is AHPRA registered
– anyone who is ELIGIBLE for Health Fund Recognition
are required under the Direction to be fully vaccinated by 15th December 2021 to continue working within a healthcare setting.
This includes anyone who works within a gym, or provides mobile clinic services – regardless of their modality.
__________________________________________________________
The following modalities, by omission, are not included:
If you are one of the above modalities that works within a healthcare setting that is run by an Allied Health practitioner, AHPRA registered practitioner or someone who is ELIGIBLE for health fund recognition – then you are also required to be fully vaccinated by the 15th December 2021.
A health fund eligible person is someone who is currently able to receive health fund recognition, regardless of whether they currently receive it.
This Direction does NOT apply to persons providing telehealth/virtual consultations outside of a healthcare setting (please read the Direction definition for healthcare setting).
We also encourage anyone who disagrees with this interpretation of the Directions to seek independent legal advice.
South East Queensland restrictions eased at 4pm yesterday. The requirement to continue wearing face masks is still in place.
New restrictions are now in place for Cairns and Yarrabah.
Cairns & Yarrabah
As of 4pm Sunday 8th August 2021 until 4pm Wednesday 11 August 2021, these areas are considered locked down.
The definition for Essential Work or Volunteering from the QLD Health Directive:
Essential work or volunteering refers to work or volunteering that is urgently required for safety reasons, for emergency repairs, or that is necessary to maintain essential services and supplies to the community, or to a part of the community, including but not limited to, a nurse, doctor, cook, teacher, healthcare provider, shelf packer, plumber or electrician. Essential worker or volunteer has the same meaning.
Note – where a person is working at the workplace or volunteer facility rather than from their residence for safety reasons, it is considered they are leaving to attend essential work.
The government does not provide specifics about working in the home or traveling to your clients. If you have questions about the way you operate your business, please contact QLD Health on 13 42 68.
The Queensland government has announced today that they are extending the current lockdown until 4pm Sunday, 8th August 2021.
We would like to remind members that during these trying times, it is important to continue to display integrity and professionalism. We are relaying the information from Queensland Health and if you have any questions regarding these directions, please contact them on 13 42 68.
Ingestive Therapists
(Naturopaths, Nutritionists, Herbalists, Ayurveda, Homeopathy)
You can work if your work can be done via telehealth.
Manual Therapists
(Remedial Therapists and Myotherapists, Shiatsu and Oriental Remedial Therapists)
The current directive states:
“Massage therapy for the management or prevention of a disease, injury or condition, provided by a qualified massage therapist.”
If you are able to justify the work you are doing under the above definition, then you can continue to work.
Again, if you have the ability to work via Telehealth, we suggest using that method.
If you have a clinic in a restricted premise, such as a gym or a wellness centre, that location will not be able to open. You can continue providing services from a location that is not a restricted venue.
AHPRA Registered Therapists
(Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine)
Allied Health, including AHPRA-regulated Allied Health is not restricted. You may continue working.
Mobile Clinic
No
Home-based Clinic
No. Unless it is via telehealth
The Directive is very clear, “no visitors at a residence”.
We are continuing to get inquiries regarding home-based clinics. Below is taken directly from the Direction that is currently in place.
Masks
This requirement has not changed for these locations. Masks are still required.
Restricted Areas
Restricted access is in place for the lockdown areas. This means that you will not be able to go in and out of the lockdown areas unless you meet one of the criteria listed in the Directive. Please click the link to read further.
You can also contact the 134COVID (13 42 68) if you would like clarification on the direction/restrictions.
Financial Support
The Queensland Government will be offering financial support to those who need it. This will be available to apply for from 7th August 2021. Please click the link to read more about what is on offer.
2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants
The Queensland Government has announced that $5,000 grants will be made available to small and medium businesses across Queensland affected by the current COVID-19 lockdown (commenced Saturday 31 July 2021) and lockdowns in other states.
The Queensland Government recognises the short interval between lockdowns in South East Queensland, and the unique circumstances faced by regional economies who are impacted by multiple border closures. These $5,000 grants will provide cashflow support for businesses to help them adapt to evolving circumstances.
Support payments will also be provided to affected large tourism and hospitality businesses within the lockdown areas.
The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants will provide grants of $5,000 (excluding GST) to:
Businesses must have experienced at least a 30% reduction in turnover as a result of the lockdown to be eligible as well as meeting other eligibility criteria.
Small and medium businesses are defined as businesses that have a turnover of more than $75,000 per annum and have an annual payroll in Queensland of up to $10 million.
Sole traders that are employing businesses will be eligible for the grants if they are not receiving, or are not eligible to receive, income support through the Australian Government’s disaster payment. Non employing sole traders may be eligible for support through the COVID-19 Disaster Payment with further information available on the Services Australia website.
Further information on the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants including eligibility criteria and details of how to apply will be available shortly from: www.business.qld.gov.au/supportgrant
We understand everyone’s frustration during this time and we want you to know you are not alone. If we can assist you in any way, please contact us at info@anta.com.au.
We would like to thank everyone for their patience this weekend. Most of you would have viewed the official government website and read the current Directive that applies to South East Queensland.
The current lockdown period is from 4pm Saturday, 31st July 2021 until 4pm Tuesday, 3rd August 2021.
Ingestive Therapists
(Naturopaths, Nutritionists, Herbalists, Ayurveda, Homeopathy)
You can work if your work can be done via telehealth.
Manual Therapists
(Remedial Therapists and Myotherapists, Shiatsu and Oriental Remedial Therapists)
The current directive states:
“Massage therapy for the management or prevention of a disease, injury or condition, provided by a qualified massage therapist.”
If you are able to justify the work you are doing under the above definition, then you can continue to work.
Again, if you have the ability to work via Telehealth, we suggest using that method.
AHPRA Registered Therapists
(Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine)
Allied Health, including AHPRA-regulated Allied Health is not restricted. You may continue working.
Mobile Clinic
No
Home-based Clinic
No. Unless it is via telehealth
Masks
This requirement has not changed for these locations. Masks are still required.
Restricted Areas
Restricted access is in place for the lockdown areas. This means that you will not be able to go in and out of the lockdown areas unless you meet one of the criteria listed in the Directive. Please click the link to read further.
You can also contact the 134COVID (13 42 68) if you would like clarification on the direction/restrictions.
Financial Support
The Queensland Government will be offering financial support to those who need it. This will be available to apply for from 7th August 2021. Please click the link to read more about what is on offer.
We understand everyone’s frustration during this time and we want you to know you are not alone. If we can assist you in anyway, please contact us at info@anta.com.au.
We have come in specifically to send out this notification to ensure members are aware of the current lockdown coming this afternoon. Unlike most of our communications, this one comes with some uncertainty due to the official government website not having all of the information ready at the time of this email. Today and tomorrow members will need to do their own reading to confirm this information.
From 4pm today, 31st July until Tuesday, 3rd August (presumably 4pm), South East Queensland will be in a snap lockdown. Click the link below for the listed Local Government Areas.
Given there is currently very little information listed on the official website, we will give you information based on previous lockdowns, but encourage everyone to check back on the official government website to carefully read through the information for yourselves.
(Naturopaths, Nutritionists, Herbalists, Ayurveda, Homeopathy)
You can work if your work can be done via telehealth. Previously, you have not been able to work in a face-to-face environment during a lockdown in Queensland. Please check back on the government website to confirm, or wait for further information from us to come on Monday.
(Remedial Therapists and Myotherapists, Shiatsu and Oriental Remedial Therapists)
In most lockdowns, the manual therapists who can only operate face-to-face have not been able to do so. It can be assumed this is still the case. This means no clinic work, no home clinic work and no mobile clinic work.
Myotherapists – If you are able to do any telehealth work, you are able to do this. Otherwise, it is likely you fall under the same restrictions as the Remedial therapists for this lockdown.
Please check on the government website when it is updated to confirm this information, or wait for further information from us to come on Monday.
(Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine)
Thanks to the last communication from the federal level Chief Health Officer, you are classified as AHPRA-regulated Allied Health. Whilst we cannot currently see what this means for you, in the past you have been able to operate if your client falls under the category of ‘Essential Care’, not routine care.
This definition has usually been the following:
Again, please check the official website in case any of this has changed for this lockdown. Each lockdown has changed the definitions and requirements from previous lockdowns.
No
No. Unless it is via telehealth
This requirement has not changed for these locations. Masks are still required.
You can also contact the 134COVID (13 42 68) if you would like clarification on the direction/restrictions.
We will provide another update on Monday when we are back in the office and when the official government website has been updated.
We understand everyone’s frustration during this time and we want you to know you are not alone. If we can assist you in anyway, please contact us at info@anta.com.au.
The Queensland government has announced that the Face Mask Restrictions will continue to apply to South East Queensland until 6am AEST Friday, 6 August 2021.
It is with pleasure we advise that late yesterday afternoon we received a notification from the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia that The Chief Allied Health Office has updated their website to include Chinese Herbal Medicine, which also includes Acupuncture.
Please see below what this means for members in each state:
SA: Chinese Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture can work if they operate from a Hospital
NSW: Chinese Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture can work in any location under any circumstance
VIC: Chinese Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture can work for essential clinical care. Please click this link to go through to a previous communication to see the points that determine “essential clinical care“.
This is a small win and something we can continue to reference into the future.
If there is anything further we can assist you with please feel free to contact us at info@anta.com.au.
The Queensland government has announced that the Face Mask Restrictions will continue to apply to South East Queensland until 6am Friday, 30 July 2021.
All other restrictions are due to end at 5:59am Friday, 23rd July.
The Queensland government has extended the restrictions which were due to end tomorrow until 6am Friday, 23 July.
This applies to:
Restrictions will ease in the local government areas of Townsville and Palm Island at 6am Friday 16 July (as planned).
Face Masks – Are still required to be carried at all times when leaving your house, and be worn outside (unless you have an exemption).
All other restrictions remain the same until 6am Friday 23 July 2021 – unless otherwise notified.
After further clarification from Queensland Health, we would like to advise Manual Therapists that are located within one of the lockdown areas of the following statement:
Providing massage therapy for the management or prevention of disease, injury or condition by a registered health practitioner or qualified massage therapist. However, we strongly encourage any non-urgent appointments that can wait until after the lockdown period to be postponed. Physical distancing must be observed to the extent possible.
Masks are required to be worn by clients and practitioners at all times.
It is also advised that if you can work via telehealth or other virtual means, then please do so.
From 1am Friday 9th July 2021, the Check in QLD app will be mandatory for a number of businesses, including clinics.
To register your business for the Check in QLD App, please click here.
As announced this morning, from 6pm Tuesday 29 June 2021, a 3 day lockdown will be in place for the following Local Government Areas:
You can only leave your residence for limited/permitted purposes, such as:
You must carry a face mask at all times when you leave home.
For further details on the restrictions taking place, click here.
From the information that has been released from the Queensland Health Directive (No. 21.), it has been determined that all practitioners are eligible to continue to practice. Face masks must be worn at all times by both practitioners and clients (if your client is laying face down, then the mask can be removed during this part of the treatment). Occupant density for an indoor space of no more than 1 person per 2 square metres needs to be adhered to at all times.
It is also advised that if you can work via telehealth or other virtual means, then please do so.
For further information about the Queensland Health Directive (No. 21), click here.
From 1am Friday 9th July 2021, the Check in QLD app will be mandatory for a number of businesses, including clinics.
To register your business for the Check in QLD app, please click here.
As announced this morning, from 1am Tuesday 29th June 2021, increased restrictions will be brought in for people living in South East Queensland in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs):
These increased restrictions will be reviewed on Tuesday 13th July, 2021.
For more information, please click here.
We apologise for the delay in getting this information out to members. The Queensland government did not update their website until 2pm (QLD Government website)
Greater Brisbane will go into lockdown for 3 days from 5pm tonight, Monday 29th March 2021, until 5pm Thursday 1st April 2021, people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will go into a 3 day lockdown, and anyone who has been in these areas since 20th March 2021 will be subject to home confinement restrictions.
Reasons to leave home in the Greater Brisbane Area:
Masks (all of Queensland & Greater Brisbane)
Masks must be carried on all persons at all times when leaving your home, unless you have a lawful reason to do so.
You must wear a mask in indoor spaces such as:
It is recommended people wear a mask when outdoors if unable to stay more than 1.5m from people, such as walkways and thoroughfares.
Children under 12 do not need to wear a mask, people with certain medical conditions, or in workplaces where it is unsafe to do so.
Masks can be removed to consume food and drink.
Naturopaths, Herbalists, Nutritionists
If you are in the Greater Brisbane Area you will not be able to work unless you can do so via Virtual/telehealth appointments.
Remedial Massage and Myotherapists
Non-therapeutic massage is permitted if:
For practitioners who provide both therapeutic and non-therapeutic services, you are still limited to 50 people for these services.
Gyms, Health Clubs, Fitness Centres, Yoga studios, Day Spas & Wellness Centres in the Greater Brisbane Area are required to close.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine
This has not been clearly outlined in the directives, but these modalities are not listed on Schedule 1 of the Direction, therefore it is assumed you can still operate your services, unless you operate from one of the above-restricted premises, or you can reasonably operate via virtual/telehealth. If you are unsure, please carefully read through the Direction.
29th March 2021
Restrictions for the Greater Brisbane area will be eased from 1am Friday 22 January 2021 – the same level as the rest of the state.
While everyone is encouraged to carry a face mask and wear it where you cannot socially distance, from today, only people at Queensland airports, on domestic commercial flights, international arrivals travelling from the airport to quarantine accommodation and their drivers must wear face masks. More information on Mandatory Face Masks here.
Restrictions for businesses and events in Greater Brisbane will return to the requirements set out in the current Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 12). Please continue to support good hygiene practices and social distancing along with your obligations under the COVID Safe Framework.
22nd January 2021
Eased restrictions for Greater Brisbane will be in place from 6pm Monday 11th January 2021 to 1am Friday 22nd January 2021.
This is for the following areas:
People are permitted to be outside their homes for any purpose, subject to the following restrictions:
Face Masks
You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave your home, unless you have a lawful reason not to. You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, except in your home. For example:
The recommendation is that masks are worn outdoors when you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people, such as busy walkways and thoroughfares.
Businesses
All businesses may now have:
To read more about these changes, please visit the Queensland government website to keep updated.
11th January 2021
Greater Brisbane will go into lockdown for 3 days while contact tracers work to ensure the new strain of COVID-19 is not circulating in the community.
From 6pm tonight, Friday 8th January 2021, until 6pm Monday 11th January 2021, people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home except for the following reasons:
Masks will also need to be worn everywhere in those local government areas except if people are at home.
All essential businesses remain open. If you need to leave Greater Brisbane for an essential purpose, such as to work, to return home or to access healthcare, you should limit your movements for those three days wherever you go.
All businesses that can remain open must adhere to one person per 4 sq/m with a COVID Safe or Industry Plan.
Gyms are required to close. If you work within a gym you will not be able to work from this location during this lockdown period.
Massage Therapists are able to continue to work if they are a registered health practitioner or a qualified massage therapist.
To read more on the details of the lockdown, please click this link.
Changes may occur over the weekend whilst ANTA staff are not working to provide updates. We strongly recommend that members check the relevant government websites for updates.
Please click here to view the email correspondence received from the Tasmanian COVID-19 Emergency Coordination Centre, Department of Health.
Friday, 1st May 2020
Joint Associations,
ANTA, Massage and Myotherapy Austraia, ATMS and Myothearpy Association Australia
In what can only be described as a roller-coaster of emotions over the past month, we, the Australian Natural Therapists Association are absolutely elated to announce Myotherapy is permitted in every state and Remedial Massage is permitted in every state except Tasmania. We are hopeful that we will also have a green light from Tasmania shortly.
These results have not come about by chance. This is the result of an immense amount of advocacy, conversations with all state and territory departments and ministers, emails, carrier pigeons, you name it, we used it. This is also the result of 4 of our major industry associations, ANTA, ATMS, Massage and Myotherapy and us, MA coming together to provide one VERY LOUD voice. And it cannot go without being said that this is also the result of you, our members, strongly standing behind what you do, ensuring that your work is understood as an essential health service, contacting your own state and territory departments, and being proud to say, this is who we are, this is what we do, this is why we are essential.
We continue to advocate on your behalf – our members, our community.
Together as industry associations ANTA, ATMS, Massage & Myotherapy and MA have been working on behalf of our members, asking all State and Territory governments to clarify whether remedial massage and myotherapists can continue to practice during Coronavirus restrictions.
One by one, governments have come back to us with sensible responses that allow essential healthcare services, such as remedial massage, myotherapy and soft tissue therapy to continue caring for patients.
In a victory for common-sense, yesterday, the Queensland government responded to our member advocacy permitting these services to operate. Their updates to the Directive can be read here.
We will continue to strive for more clarity for Tasmania and South Australia, and will provide updates as they become available.
You can find a full summary of the state by state rulings for all modalities below.
Wednesday, 22nd April 2020
Joint Associations,
ANTA, Myotherapy Association Australia, ATMS and Massage and Myotherapy Australia
Great news for Queensland manual therapists with a statement being released late yesterday by the Queensland Department of Health, ruling Massage Therapy are permitted services in Queensland going forward.
The statement – “Massage therapy for the management or prevention of a disease, injury or condition, provided by a qualified massage therapist, with social distancing observed to the extent possible” demonstrates the relevance and importance of massage and related services to the Queensland community at this time.
Please refer to our State Rulings document for details of each state and for each modality.
Since our first joint statement on 26th March 2020, the landscape continues to be ever changing. The joint Associations have been working tirelessly in order to provide all members the facts and will continue to seek clarity from both Federal and State Governments as to the direction orders for Therapeutic, Remedial Massage and Myotherapy services in each individual state.
As of today, 17th April 2020, the following is a summary of what has been received in writing from the different states and territories:
The following states and territories have confirmed that remedial massage and myotherapy members are permitted to provide professional services at this time:
The following states have confirmed that remedial massage and myotherapy are not permitted to provide professional services, at this time:
We continue to seek clarification from South Australia.
Obtaining the facts as they stand on a day-to-day basis has been achieved as a result of the efforts of the combined Association initiative between the Australian Natural Therapies Association (ANTA), Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), Myotherapy Association Australia (MAA) & Massage & Myotherapy Australia (M&MA). We thank you for continuing to support the work that your association is doing at this time, and stay united as a community of health care providers.
Please view THIS DOCUMENT to verify the rulings state by state. This document will be updated as any new information comes to hand.
Friday, 17th April 2020
Joint Association,
ANTA, Massage and Myotherapy Australia, ATMS, Myotherapy Association Australia
It certainly has been a challenging time for our profession over the past few weeks.
We hope that you can find confidence in the fact that four major associations are continuing to work closely in an effort to obtain more clarity on government directions, greater unity within our industry, and a stronger positioning of our members as important contributors to the health care setting.
Every day presents us with a new challenge to tackle. We know that some of you are grappling with your decisions to close or not close your practices at this time, while others have been directed by their state government to close due to local restrictions.
Please note that we are working constantly to ensure you have the most current information available, and that the relevant stakeholders in the various government departments are well informed of the services being provided by our members and the benefits that they provide the community.
It is at times like this that being a member of an industry association that exists to support and advocate for its members is most important, and we take that role very seriously. Thank you for your faith in us and for allowing us to work for you at this time.
As we approach the Easter weekend, an Easter like no other we have experienced before, please remember to keep supporting your colleagues, industry, friends and family, be respectful, patient and kind. We are all in this together and will come through the other side stronger, united and proud for the remarkable services we provide.
Thank you.
9th April 2020
Joint Associations,
ANTA, Massage and Myotherapy Australia, Myotherapy Association Australia and ATMS
As the COVID -19 situation persists through March and into April 2020 affecting members and industry nationwide, we trust that these joint statements are of assistance. The joint statements aim to help all our members better understand the COVID -19 situation as it applies to massage and myotherapy in the face of unclear interpretations of the term “massage parlour” across a range of jurisdictions.
The Australian Government has described a healthcare setting as an essential indoor gathering. At this stage it is apparent that directives to specific health service providers are being informed state by state, further adding to the confusion.
While services provided by remedial massage and myotherapists currently fall within this category (an essential indoor gathering) in some states (see below for state directive) we encourage you to consider the risk environment and public safety when making decisions about whether you are providing to your patients’ essential services within those states and territories yet to provide a clear directive.
You would have received the email or social media message advising that we continue to seek clarity or a single definition from both Federal and State Government as to the exclusion of these health services. This is important now and in the future to establish a definitive and clear message. In the interim ARHG support the position of their participating health funds in removing access to the Hicaps facility until the government advises that the virus is contained. They have further advised that claims submitted by other means will be reviewed carefully and audited if necessary.
Police is some States are instructing some therapists that are open to close down but not in others.
It is important to note that Associations have no legal authority to tell you to open or close. We can only provide members with the guidance and advice from confirmed sources which we will continue to do.
As of today, Tuesday 31st March, we are advised Massage and Myotherapy are considered non-essential services in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Victoria, and therefore remedial massage therapists and myotherapists in those states should cease face-to-face practice immediately.
Until absolute clarity can be demonstrated such as in Queensland and Victoria please co-operate with any instructions from Police and do not put your business or self at further risk.
31st March 2020
Sincerely,
Joint Associations
ANTA, Massage and Myotherapy Australia, Myotherapy Association Australia and ATMS
We appreciate that this is a difficult time for all of you.
We have joined together to issue this joint statement to help all of our members better understand the current situation as it applies to massage and myotherapy.
Our Boards and staff are working very hard to bring you factual, up-to-date information relevant to your practices. Given the ever-changing nature of the current situation, we are fact-checking before we communicate with you. This means we are in regular communication with State, Territory and Federal government departments and Ministers to clarify the situation for our members. They all have a lot of responsibilities right now and we respect the time it takes for them to respond.
Please be patient and respectful with our staff. We are working through our enquiries as quickly as we can.
QLD Health Department released a statement late on Thursday 26th March, outlining that exemptions to continue work applies to Health services provided by health practitioners registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, with social distancing observed to the extent possible.
On 26 March, we attended a briefing with the Principal Medical Advisor at the Department of Health. Key messages from that briefing are:
Please find a letter from the Department of Health here.(File no longer available)
This is the number one question from our members and there are no black and white answers.
The short answer is that we cannot advise that you are required to close your business. Government encourages healthcare workers to continue working, to help ease the pressure on our hospital system.
You need to consider your own personal situation when deciding whether to close your practice. You, or someone you live with, may have healthcare concerns that make it prudent for you to limit your physical interaction with others.
Government is asking practitioners to refrain from using masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) and help conserve stocks for hospitals and other higher need areas.
Whatever decision you make, always remember to respect government advice on Covid-19 hygiene.
Our insurers have confirmed that you are covered as long as you:
Here are some resources to help you and your patients with Covid-19 hygiene:
Remedial Massage – it is difficult to see how massage could be provided remotely. However, you may choose to provide your clients with some stretches, exercises if in scope, or self-manage tips to help them.
Myotherapy – Yes, you can provide audiovisual consultations to your clients. In fact, where you don’t need a face-to-face consultation, government encourages audiovisual consultations.
You are insured, as long as you practice within your scope of practice and keep comprehensive notes. Insurance providers are suggesting that, where possible, initial consultations should still occur face-to-face, as it may be more challenging to perform an initial client assessment online.
On 26 March, private health funds do NOT provide rebates for audiovisual consultations. It is important that you tell your clients this so there are no misunderstandings later.
Please note – we are working with private health funds in the hope of implementing rebates for audiovisual consultation services.
There are a lot of resources out there that you can access.
This information focuses on help available for small businesses. Here is another link.
We want to reassure you again that we are here for you and doing everything we can to bring you fact-checked information as it becomes available.
Thursday, 26th March 2020
ANTA – Elizabeth Greenwood, President | Jim Olds, Executive Officer
Myotherapy Association Australia – Nick Steward, President | Anna Yerondais, CEO
ATMS – Peter Berryman, President | Charles Wurf, CEO
Massage and Myotherapy Australia – Andrew Gallagher, President | Tricia Hughes, CEO