As you may know, Safer Care Victoria (SCV) has completed its review of paediatric spinal manipulation of children under 12, and the final report has been passed to the Victorian Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos.
The final report and recommendations from SCV will form the basis of recommendations that go to State, Territory and Federal Health Ministers ahead of their next Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council meeting in early November.
This means there are only a few short weeks left to influence these Ministers and make them aware of the depth of feeling on this issue in the chiropractic community before their meeting in November.
ACA’s submission to SCV stated “there is little or no evidence of risk of harm to the paediatric population undergoing care from a chiropractor, specifically under the age of two years and, more broadly, under the age of 12 years, either in Australia or internationally. This is supported by two systematic reviews and analysis of available complaint and/or insurance data.”
On 1 November state and territory Health Ministers, including the Federal Health Minister, will be asked to consider measures that could include restricting a Chiropractor’s right to provide care to children under the age of 12. This type of unnecessary restriction and regulation will harm a parent’s right to choose the most appropriate care for their child. This is unacceptable.
As a peak body for the profession, we believe the review into paediatric chiropractic care should not jeopardise the level of care chiropractors in Australia can offer. We firmly believe we are an important part of the everyday Australian families’ health team.
As such, the profession would greatly appreciate your support to ensure chiropractic care is available to all Australians without unnecessary age restrictions. As one of the 300,000 patients that Australian chiropractors see every week, there is no better way to show politicians how meaningful chiropractic care is, than with real-life experience.
Your help will be most effective if you could make a representation to your Health Minister (and state local member) on our behalf outlining your experience with chiropractic, particularly if you or a family member has experienced paediatric chiropractic care.
The NSW health minister, Brad Hazzard MP, can be contacted on: [email protected]
A few questions that could guide your submission are below:
- What is your experience with chiropractic in Australia?
- Have you or a family member experienced paediatric chiropractic care? What was the result?
- Do you have any opinions on the potential age restriction on those chiropractors can care for in Australia?
We also encourage you to contact your local state and federal Member of Parliament, to discuss your experience with chiropractic. Find your local representatives here. If you work or live in City of Sydney, you can contact Clover Moore on: [email protected].
An appropriate way to contact your local MP is to email their office with a short letter answering the above questions and express your desire to see chiropractic remain available to patients of all ages.
On behalf of the ACA and Wynyard Chiropractic, we are appreciative of your support. If you have any questions please feel free to speak to us, or email the ACA at [email protected].
Thank you again,
Dr John de Voy, DC DO DICCP
Chiropractor & Vice President of Australian Chiropractor’s Association