ATMS Journal Autumn 2021 (Public Version) | Page 6

President ’ s Report

Peter Berryman | ATMS President
‘ Gong Xi Fa Cai ’ – wishing you and your extended family good health and abundance this New Year , for both the Chinese New Year of the Ox , and the Calendar New Year of 2021 . I trust that this New Year will continue to bring you much prosperity and contentment .
We have tried to keep you well informed of recent COVID-19 shutdowns in all states , and sadly , we are well aware of how these may affect the success of your practice . This is why we are very gratified by the confidence you have shown in the work of the Society through the pandemic by renewing your membership . Members ’ subscriptions are the major income stream for a membership-based professional association .
Our second most important income stream is derived from providing members with high quality , accessible and relevant Continuing Professional Education ( CPE ) events , which are well under way for 2021 , including our running of the excellent Menopause Symposium in Sydney on 7th February . In compliance with social distancing requirements we supplemented our face-to-face audience by live streaming across the country . Recordings of all five presentations are available to be purchased for those who would like to catch up on what was truly an awesome multi-modality event . Industry sponsorship for the event was also excellent , so many thanks to all the company sponsors who were able to attend , and also for their generous free samples for our fabulous ‘ goody bags ’ that were given to those who attended the event in person .
We have a calendar of 2021 CPE events readily available from which you can choose events corresponding to your need to attend locally , pandemic requirements permitting . For example , our National Seminar Series this year is especially suited to bodyworkers : two highly experienced presenters , John Kirkwood and David Sheehan , will be discussing and demonstrating ‘ Fascia , Meridians and Lower Body Constriction Patterns ’. In this one-day seminar , to be held in five state capital cities , John and David will examine the relationship between the acupuncture meridians and the trigger point system , for resolving patterns of constriction in the lower body .
Please also save the dates for our upcoming 2021 Natural Medicine Week , starting 24th May , where we will be adding our new ambassador campaign to our planned events .
Thank you to the significant number of members who have taken up our new membership category of Fellow . A large numbers of Fellows have attended their dedicated webinars , and many are expected to attend their upcoming first online Forum . Your option to continue your Fellowship , or to become a new Fellow , will occur with your next financial membership renewal from midyear 2021 .
Our political lobbying continues , with submissions on behalf of our registered Chinese medicine practitioner members to the Therapeutic Goods Administration ( TGA ) for continued access to restricted plant medicines , such as Aconitum carmichaelii , and plants that contain Amygdala . Typically such lobbying involves collaboration , for example with the Australian Council of Chinese Medicine ( ACCM ), and the Chinese Medicine Industry Council ( CMIC ), acting as a unified voice on behalf of our profession . Along with the other member associations of OneCAM , we have collaborated on a pre-budget submission to the Treasury Department , requesting support for our ongoing research projects , the reinstatement of Private Health Insurance rebates while the Natural Therapies Review is still under way , and recognition for our contributions to the recent focus on the mental health of Australians . We have even formally objected to the attempt by the Dietitians Association of Australia ( DAA ) to trademark the term ‘ Accredited Nutritionist ’. Our continuing membership of the Council of Small Business of Australia ( COSBOA ) enables us to also advocate for the business side of our profession in our federal and state lobbying .
ATMS has always supported every level of education that is available for professional development , in all the potential academic pathways , in every direction and medium . This commitment is reflected in our annual Simon Schott education grants , and in the third Education Symposium that ATMS held in November 2020 . The focus was a forum for a discussion between academics about the right place and use of online learning . This is particularly relevant in the contexts of the new normal of telehealth and online consulting during a pandemic , and the provision of high quality education for rural , regional and international students . It has also been very pleasing for ATMS to be able to address the education gap that
6 | vol27 | no1 | JATMS