Natural Health Industry Professional Associations
The natural health industry or complementary health care industry is regulated and monitored by various organisations. Practitioners, as students and after graduation from an accredited college, are able to register with their selected organisation. This organisation will then on-register them with the TGA to enable issue of a TGA Certificate of Exemption. This certificate indicates that the person is a bona fide member of an organisation listed in Schedule One of the Regulations of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
Recertification is required annually and requires proof of continuing education, relevant insurance and First Aid certificate along with fees. The TGA Certificate is then updated yearly indicating current professional status.
TGA Recognised Healthcare Practitioners
TGA Australian Regulatory Guidelines for Complementary Medicines, Part lV, Section 5 – Practitioner Products V4.2. August 2011 P21 – 5.3 referencing Section 42AA (1) (c) of the Act.
1. Medical practitioners, psychologists, dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, nurses, midwives, dental hygienists, dental prosthesis’s, dental therapists, osteopaths
2. Herbalists, homoeopathic practitioners, naturopaths, nutritionists, practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, podiatrists registered under a law of a State or Territory.
Organisations which register qualified practitioners
> Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association (ANPA) Statement. The ANPA is the peak professional naturopathy association run by naturopaths for naturopaths in Australia. Established in 1975 this democratic association supports and represents naturopaths across Australia. It is actively engaged in representing issues that affect naturopaths at all levels, state and federal ensuring compliance with the highest standards. www.anpa.asn.au
> Australian Natural Therapists Association Limited (ANTA) is the largest national democratic association of 'recognised professional' traditional medicine and natural therapy [Complimentary Medicine] practitioners who work in the areas of health care and preventative medicine. ANTA was founded in 1955 and represents the multi-disciplinary interests of approximately 5900 accredited practitioners Australia-wide. ANTA is one of the original Schedule 1 bodies as defined in the regulations of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. ANTA works with Governments, Researchers, Educators, Health Funds, Work Cover Authorities and Professional Organisations.
> Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS) is a national professional association of natural medicine practitioners. It is a multi-disciplinary association representing around 11,800 accredited practitioners throughout Australia. The ATMS was founded in 1984 and is an incorporated not-for-profit company with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. ATMS is the only natural medicine practitioner association appointed to two Commonwealth statutory committees, where it represents the interests of the natural medicine practitioner profession.
> National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) was incorporated in 1920 and is the oldest complementary medicine association in Australia. The NHAA has a long record of working behind the scenes for the interests of herbal medicine. At the "big picture" level, protecting and advancing the profession is important for the entire country and allows the public greater access to a viable and effective treatment option. Involvement in various committees and discussion groups, and production of submission papers and media releases are among the many activities of the Board.
> Australian Homeopathic Association (AHA) is the largest and national association of professional Homoeopaths in Australia, with branches throughout the country. All Professional Members are registered with the Australian Register of Homoeopaths (AROH). The objectives of the AHA are to promote Homoeopathy and to provide services for members
See “Dispensing Natural Medicine and Nutritional Supplements" for regulation of supply, prescribing and sale of nutritional and herbal medicines.