National Natural Therapies Workforce Survey :
Part 1
Sandra Grace and Kate Baltrotsky
This report is a summary of the results from the 2022 National Natural Therapies Workforce Survey . Participants were invited by natural therapy associations in Australia to participate in an online survey that was open between 29 March 2022 and 28 May 2022 . A total of 1,921 responses were recorded . All percentages in this report are valid percentages which exclude missing data . Part 1 presents the demographics ( including gender , age , primary natural therapy discipline , professional association ) and education of respondents . Part 2 will be published in the Winter issue of JATMS ( 30 ( 2 )). It will present a summary of the business practices of respondents ( including number of consultations , income , referral networks , adverse reactions ) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Introduction
Workforce surveys provide snapshots of a profession that are important for practitioners , policy makers and educators . The 2022 National Natural Therapies Workforce Survey provided an update on similar surveys sponsored by ATMS in 2012 and 2002 . It enables practitioners to understand their profession , its composition and work practices . It enables professional associations to understand and respond to their members ’ feedback and alerts them to trends that may require attention to support their members ’ ongoing practice success . And finally , it enables educators to adjust natural therapies curricula so that future graduates are better prepared for the ever-changing environment of health care .
Method
Thirteen major natural therapies associations were invited to join a Steering Committee to review and develop survey questions on topics of current importance and to assist with survey distribution to their members . Five associations accepted the invitation .
The Steering Committee comprised :
Sandra Grace – Project Lead , Australian Traditional Medicine Society
Jarrod Carter – Complementary Medicine Association
David Casteleijn - Naturopaths and Herbalists ’ Association of Australia
Ann Davey – Massage & Myotherapy Australia
Jennifer Moore – International Institute of Complementary Therapists
Kaiya Seaton – Shiatsu Therapy Association of Australia
Maggie Sands – School of Integrated Body Therapies
And members of the ATMS Research Committee :
Peter Berryman Kathleen Daniel Brad McEwen Donna Eddy
8 | vol30 | no1 | JATMS