2006/7 NZ Health Survey:
Use of particular health care workers in previous 12 months
Results of a survey carried out by the Ministry of Health.
September, 2008
Moodle
The word Moodle is actually an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. College graduate and teacher, Matt Stewart, was the first to suggest this program as a way of increasing the NZCM's online presence. Through courses taken at Unitech using a similar Course Management System (CMS) called Blackboard, Matt recognised the potential for the College.
Moodle offers the opportunity for the College to stay in closer contact with students and graduates, enables the delivery of online lesson content, 24hr availabilty of class resourses (course notes etc) and forum or chat areas for students.
Midway through 2008 Matt and Christian Cole (ICT co-ordinator for the NZCM) embarked on rather a steep learning curve to install and implement a second web site called NZCMonline. This was rolled out to students in October 2008.
Initial feedback was positive and we hope to gradually increase content on the site and create a thriving Massage community online.
November 8, 2006
The New Zealand College of Massage reiterates call for regulation of massage therapists in New Zealand and for effective standards of training to be set
The case of a young woman who was paralysed by the release of a blood clot following a workplace massage, reported on TV1 last night and the New Zealand Herald today, highlights the need for effective training of massage therapists, according to the New Zealand College of Massage.
The college has reiterated its call for regulation of massage therapists in New Zealand. “Although the massage link could not be proven absolutely in this tragic case, it highlights the need for effective training of massage therapists,” says college director Susan Penman.
The media reports stated that the therapist was “qualified” but this in itself is no guarantee of safety. “Standards of training are still very mixed both in Australia and in New Zealand. It is still possible to gain so called “certificates” and “diplomas” in 5 - 10 days,” she says “The young woman reported that the massage felt very rough.
The massage also took place at a work desk, with no indication of support for the neck. Therapists with effective training are taught a number of precautions that ensure safety. Workplace massage training should include: a check of client health and any pre-existing conditions, how to sink into deeper tissues without any bruising or blood vessel damage, and avoidance of endangerment sites on the body,” she says.
Ms Penman says anyone with concerns about the level of training of massage therapists in the workplace should contact an NZQA registered provider or the president of Massage NZ, Barry Vautier.
February 5, 2006
Massage College Calls For Registration of therapists to protect the public
Massage therapists in New Zealand should be registered to protect the safety of the public, according to Ms Susan (Shay) Penman co-founder and director of one of the country’s leading massage therapy education providers, the New Zealand College of Massage.
Ms Penman has made the call for registration, similar to that in other health professions, following the recent release of an opinion by the Health and Disability Commissioner regarding a complaint of “inappropriate massage” on a client. The Commissioner found that the therapist involved had failed to comply with the appropriate standards for a professional masseur and had breached the Health and Disability Code.
The therapist had claimed to be a student at the NZCM at the time. In fact, he had completed only a small part at certificate level and the College had discontinued his training prior to the incident.
“If there had been a registration system in place, at least the client could have checked to see what level of qualification the therapist held and the registration body could have ensured he was a competent practitioner,” comments Ms Penman.
The College’s views on registration are endorsed by The Therapeutic Massage Association of New Zealand which has already initiated the process toward government regulation under the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act 2003.
TMANZ president Ms Frances Halligan says that people who want to make submissions should contact the association (www.tmanz.org.nz). Ms Penman adds that at the moment anyone can set up shop as a massage therapist and the public is vulnerable to a small minority of unprofessional people who are drawn to a profession that offers physical contact.
“As the leader in massage therapy education, we train our therapists to the highest standards of practice, including ethical standards. Our students understand appropriate massage and we teach techniques to protect both themselves and their clients,” she said.
Indeed, the Commissioner wrote in his opinion that, “The College where (the therapist) studies is very clear about the need to give clear instructions about which parts of the body will be massaged and to gain consent from all clients before commencing the massage.”
The only current form of registration for massage therapists in New Zealand is through voluntary membership of a massage association. Less than 50% of current therapists are registered with these organisations.
“Massage therapy has come a long way since we started the College in 1984. We promote evidence-based practice and world standard education. Recent massage research has verified the benefits of massage, sports massage, neuromuscular therapy, and other forms of hands-on therapies,” comments Ms Penman.
The College offers courses in massage therapy to certificate, diploma, and now degree level.
Media contact: Brenda Saunders 021 777 171 23
November 2005
College Launches First Degree in Massage Therapy
The New Zealand College of Massage has launched the first degree qualification in the Southern Hemisphere specialising in massage and neuromuscular therapy.
"This degree is a new benchmark for massage education in New Zealand and will give massage therapists a similar standing to physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors and other allied health professionals," explains NZCM co-founder and director, Susan (Shay) Penman.
The new Bachelor of Health Studies (massage and neuromuscular therapy) programme, which starts in February 2006, integrates and extends on the College's current two-year Diplomas in Clinical Sports Therapy and the Diploma in Neuromuscular Therapy.
Initial intake for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority approved three-year degree programme is restricted to 30 students, and the College says there has already been considerable interest from previous students. "Massage therapy has come a long way since we started the College in 1984. We promote evidence-based practice and world standard education. Recent massage research has verified the benefits of massage, sports massage, neuromuscular therapy, and other forms of hands-on therapies," comments Ms Penman.
She adds that there has been a rapid increase in demand for quality massage and other body therapies and NZCM graduates make up the majority of registered therapists in New Zealand. "As the leader in massage therapy education, we specialise in personal and professional development. A good massage therapist must have technical knowledge and skills but must also be able to run a business and be good with people," says Ms Penman. She believes the new degree programme will appeal to existing therapists, school leavers and more mature people looking for a rewarding career change.
Enrolments are now open. The NZCM 2006 prospectus detailing the full range of programmes and courses is available on its website www.massagecollege.ac.nz or by calling (Auckland) 09 522 5522 or (Wellington) 04 916 0200.
Media contact: Brenda Saunders 021 777 171
January 19, 2007
A call for massage therapists in New Zealand to be registered to protect the safety of the public, has been repeated by one of the country’s leading massage therapy education providers, the New Zealand College of Massage.
The call comes after the college was notified by police that a complaint had been received of “inappropriate massage” on an Auckland woman by a person posing as a student of the college. The college is deeply concerned at this latest alleged incident and confirms that this person is not a student now or previously with NZCM. The Police description rules out any previous student.
“It’s college policy that student workplace or community practice involves teachers as supervisors, signed agreements, guidelines for participants and other health and safety practices,” advises the NZCM academic manager, Scarlett Cooper.
Ms Cooper adds that a registration system would allow prospective clients to check qualifications held by practising therapists. “Currently, the public is vulnerable to a small minority of unprofessional people who set up shop as a massage therapist, sometimes with little or no training,” she says.
Ms Cooper advises people to visit the NZ College of Massage website which offers a link to show where its graduates are working in NZ. “While there is no registration in place the public can, at least, make confident decisions about where to find ethical practitioners from our site,” she says. “As the leader in massage therapy education, we train our therapists to the highest standards of practice, including ethical standards. Our students understand appropriate massage and we teach techniques to protect both themselves and their clients,” she says.
The college offers courses in massage therapy to certificate, diploma, and degree level.
Media contact: Brenda Saunders, Auckland. 021 777 171