At a time where our economy has a very poor outlook, where does the burden of Association memberships leave therapists who are already struggling to make a full time and rewarding living from their craft ?
Networking is perhaps one of the main reasons why most professionals and companies join associations. … In an association, every member is given an opportunity to see the other members within their group. They get to meet up as Association events and hear and exchange industry information. In Australia of course, for therapists, Association membership is an imperative for providing massage therapy services in a responsible way. Insurance coverage and health rebate provider status are two key drivers for joining an Industry Association as a massage therapist.
The costs for Association membership, as we know are not cheap, can be onerous and are demanding in terms of quality assurance and the practitioner’s own professional development pathways. Much of this is driven by insurer terms and conditions in the underwriting of the practitioner liability, but much of this is also funding Association infrastructure.
How do we measure the value of our dollar in Association Fees !
Here are five of Australia’s biggest massage therapy associations:
Association of Massage Therapists (AMT)
- Established in 1966 and is Australia’s oldest massage therapy association.
- It is not-for-profit organisation
- Advocates to advance the profile and standing of massage therapists, and promote the health benefits of massage therapy.
- Member benefits:
- annual national conference
- workshops, meetings and local members’ days throughout the year.
- quarterly journal,
- AMT online forum.
Cost: $75 application fee for new members, plus $185 per year.*
Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)
- Established more than 60 years
- RepresentA complementary medicine and natural therapy practitioners.
- 10,000 members across Australia.
- Member benefits:
- Regular national seminars
- Practitioner referral service.
- Validation among 50 health funds and WorkCover Authorities.
- A quarterly publication
- Free association webpage
Cost: Membership is from $165 for members with a Diploma qualification.*
Massage Association of Australia (MAA)
- Volunteer-run organisation
- Aims – build bridges between the massage industry and other health professions with mutual respect and care.
- Member benefits:
- AGM voting rights at the annual general meeting
- Board and sub-committee opportunities
- Discounted liability insurance
- Quarterly newsletter
- Free classified ad in the Quarterly newsletter.
Cost: New memberships are $253 for 12 months; renewals are $192.50.*
Myotherapy Association of Australia (formerly IRMA)
- Established in 1989, (formerly IRMA)
- Aims – work closely with governments, educators and other key stakeholders to advance the myotherapy industry and provide improved access to myotherapy services.
- Member Benefits:
- Peak organisation for myotherapists
- Comprehensive insurance as part of their annual fee through Guild Insurance,
- Use of the MA brand,
- Free listing on our ‘find a practitioner’ page,
- Recognition by major private health funds and workcover authorities, industry partner discounts, Discounted registration fees to a high-calibre of evidence based PD activities
Cost: Student membership is free.
New myotherapy graduates joining within 12 months of graduation for $395.*
(This fee includes insurance).
Massage & Myotherapy Association (MMA) (Formerly AAMT)
- Formed in 2003
- Not-for-profit organisation
- Aim – represent massage therapists nationwide.
- Goal to 8,600 + members – uphold and promote the highest quality of standards in the field of massage therapy.
- Member benefits:
- Discounted premiums in combined malpractice, public and products liability insurance
- Free listing in the Association’s Massage Directory.
- Range of lectures, workshops, online learning sessions
- Annual Conference
- Quarterly journal and monthly e-news updates.
Cost: Membership is from $319 including the application fee. Membership level is dependent on education qualifications and subject to change.
Mmm you decide…where your membership money is better spent – and in doing so – let’s talk about weighing up the therapist members’ own obligations and reporting requirements before deciding where the value for money truly lies.
Where do your figure your membership money is better spent ?
