President’ s Report
Rebecca Lang | ATMS President
The past few months have been an inspiring and productive time for ATMS. It has been a privilege to travel around the country with our CEO, Annie Gibbins, and fellow Board Directors to connect directly with you at our Business Success Weekends. In Perth we were joined by Vice President Chantel Ryan, and in Melbourne and Adelaide by Director Geraldine Headley. Each weekend brought together students, members, and non-members in a vibrant and supportive space. The energy was uplifting, the conversations were meaningful, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Our next Business Success weekend is in Brisbane on October 25 and 26 where we will be joined by Treasurer Cass Henry and Vice President Donna Eddy. These events are not only about business growth, they are about connection, inspiration, and celebrating the incredible work you do every day.
We also visited several colleges during these trips, meeting with students and hearing first-hand about their experiences and aspirations. These conversations are invaluable. They give us insight into the needs of the next generation of practitioners while allowing us to share encouragement and practical support as they prepare to enter the profession. I left each visit feeling deeply inspired by the passion and commitment of our future colleagues.
On a broader business note, Annie and I recently attended the COSBOA( Council of Small Business Organisations Australia) Small Business Summit in Melbourne. This summit highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing small business owners across the nation, many of which directly affect our members. From workforce participation and training to regulatory reform, digital tools, and the economic outlook, the discussions reinforced just how important our advocacy role is in ensuring that natural medicine practitioners are recognised and supported as small business professionals. The insights we gained will strengthen our ongoing conversations with government and industry partners.
Our advocacy work also continues with the Health Minister and the NDIS. We are committed to ensuring that remedial massage remains recognised as an essential therapeutic service for people living with a disability. With continuous letters showing the scientific evidence required, we will not be giving up on this issue. A significant development is the recent approval for Professor Sandra Grace to oversee the development of a systematic review of the effectiveness of massage for those eligible for the NDIS— research that will add robust evidence to support our case for the inclusion of remedial massage therapists under the NDIS. This will be an invaluable resource for future advocacy and recognition.
In parallel, Annie recently ran a survey gathering member input on health fund rebates, the results of which are included on pages 131-137. Your feedback plays a critical role in how we present our case to health funds, and we will continue to push strongly for expanded access to rebates for clients seeking natural medicine services.
Our Meet the President webinars have also become a vital platform for dialogue, with hundreds of members joining each session. I genuinely value the opportunity to hear your concerns, answer questions, and explore ideas together. These sessions remind me that ATMS is strongest when we stay connected and responsive to the needs of our community. Please join us at the next webinar on Monday 15th September at 12 noon.
Another area of focus by Annie and the Directors has been the development of White Papers and practical resources. The first of these documents is available to all members on the ATMS website and is included in this journal on page 172, offering evidence-based insights and guidance you can refer to in practice and advocacy. I am especially proud of the resources we are finalising around Mental Health, Suicide Prevention Awareness, Domestic Violence Support, Financial Counselling, and Cultural Awareness. These will provide critical support for you, your clients, and your businesses, and will be regularly updated to ensure relevance.
This work reflects my personal passion for mental health and neuroscience, an area I am continuing to study at a postgraduate level. I firmly believe that by equipping practitioners with the right tools, we can extend our reach and provide meaningful support to the public at a time when it is desperately needed.
124 | vol31 | no3 | JATMS