What is the Australian Natural Therapists Association?
The Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA) is a historic, trusted association of highly skilled practitioners qualified in traditional and natural therapies. ANTA’s mission is to provide the public with best-practice health care and the highest possible standards for the conduct and safety of traditional medicine and natural therapy practitioners. Working with governments, researchers, educators, health funds, WorkCover authorities and professional organisations, ANTA represents the interests of the following modalities:
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy
- Ayurveda
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Homeopathy
- Myotherapy
- Naturopathy
- Clinical Nutrition
- Oriental Remedial Therapy
- Remedial Massage Therapy
- Shiatsu
- Western Herbal Medicine
Why join the Australian Natural Therapists Association?
Practitioners who belong to The Australian Natural Therapists Association have achieved high educational and professional standards, consistently improve their skills and knowledge and abide by a strict Code of Conduct. Membership is valuable because it recognises practitioners as qualified and legitimate within the healthcare industry. Members with health fund applicable modalities are eligible for registration with over 50 Australian private health funds.
There are many benefits of joining ANTA; including:
- Free Continuing Professional Education (CPE) points through the ANTA Member Centre
- Free access to ANTA National Seminars held around the country
- Regular eNews keeps you informed of the latest information
- Free subscription to ANTA’s The Natural Therapist Journal, published half-yearly
- Free subscription to research databases and a host of scientific resources
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Certificate of Exemption
- Free access to ANTA’s Practitioner Directory on the ANTA website, which identifies appropriately qualified practitioners by location
- An 1800 free call number to ensure members and the public are supported by highly trained administration staff.
ANTA in the beginning
A variety of natural and traditional medicines emerged during the early 1950s as an influx of new residents into Australia saw the introduction of folk medicine, including ancient remedies that formed the basis for traditional medicines from different countries. Therapists with experience and training started forming centres in Australia to formalise categories of training and safety standards. A critical mass was emerging that increased the utilisation of safe and effective therapies, and an effort to eliminate lesser-known practices that were seen to present risks to users was established.
The Australian Natural Therapists Association was founded in 1955 and is the longest-running natural therapy association in Australia, with the founding members consulting with as many schools of thought as possible at that time. Around 1955, members agreed to form an accreditation body that was to eventually become known as the Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA). The formation of ANTA was based on a democratic model where a Board of Directors was formed to include a representation from each modality, which would become known as the ANTANational Council. A Constitution and Code of Professional Ethics were included as governing guidelines for the operation of the association and the safe and ethical practices of its members. ANTA has branches for all recognised modalities, led by highly qualified experts as the National Chair in the branches of Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Multi-Modality, Myotherapy, Naturopathy, Nutritional Medicine and Remedial Massage.
Offerings at ANTA
ANTA offers Student and Graduate awards. They understands the efficacy of natural therapy and strives to do everything that can be done to encourage students to pursue careers in this field. ANTA believe that finance should not be an obstacle to studying natural therapies, so in 2006 the ANTA Student Bursary Award was created to provide financial support for anyone studying an ANTA-recognised natural therapy qualification. They have provided more than $190,000 to students since the Bursary Awards started. As a free student member, all you need to do is apply online and upload an assignment and you could win an award of $1,000 and 12 months complimentary membership upon upgrading to full practitioner membership.
ANTA sought a way to recognise the exceptional achievements of new graduates and provide them with a financial contribution. It is acknowledged that the future of natural therapy depends on graduates, with every new wave refreshing and revitalising the industry; therefore, in 2016, the ANTA Graduate Awards were created. To select award winners, our panel of experts assess the academic transcript of each candidate. They grant a total of 12 award winners who win $200 plus 12 months’ complimentary membership. To be is considered for an ANTA Graduate Award; all you need to do is apply for new graduate membership for a fee of $110.
Latest news
ANTA fulfil its obligation to those members who lost recognition of their modalities following the Australian Government’s review of ancillary therapies completed in 2019. A further review is underway to ensure accountability to all stakeholders is being observed. That review is due to deliver its outcome in 2023. ANTA’s representative is closely observing this process and providing notifications of completion for each modality as results come to hand. ANTA is working with the peak body for private health funds in Australia, making contributions and providing support to all representations made to governments through this agency.
Connect with ANTA today
T: 1800 817 577
W: anta.com.au
E: info@anta.com.au
