And the answer is...."No training- Practice Cowboy Style! Learn as you go"

Yep, you read that right!

In Australia - There is zero legal requirement to have any qualifications, before claiming the title "Massage Therapist" and offering Massage. Kinda scary, or at least a little confusing, hey!

If you have ever wondered why massage services vary so much? Detailed at one place, basic at another? Intake form, no intake form? Cowboy culture could be the answer!

🤠 Most of us will have unknowingly experienced a cowboy therapist, thanks to the lax Australian laws that (insert *don't) exist in the largely self-regulated, Massage Therapy Industry.

Unsafe, unqualified "massage therapists" who come to the industry with zero training, instead, using your body as the hands-on learning tool without your knowledge, and most of the time it will be fine - until it isn't!

This open door means both highly skilled therapists and untrained “cowboys” can operate under the same title, creating confusion for clients and a gap between what you pay for and the safe, effective treatment you should be receiving

- So, how can you be sure the Massage Therapist you’re about to trust with your body has any training at all?

Firstly, just ask! - It won't offend a qualified Therapist, but it may keep you from getting on the wrong table.

Whilst it's not illegal to practice without qualifications - it is illegal for a massage therapist to misrepresent their qualifications, so the easiest way to find out is to have a chat with any Therapist you're considering booking with

-make sure to ask/consider:

What are their qualifications? - Do they match what you need? (more info below)

What is their experience level? - Don't discount newer Therapists but do look for transparency and passion.

Does the Therapist listen and respond in a way that resonates with you? Communication is KEY to any good Therapist/Client relationship.

Secondly, understand the expected skill-level - Below is a basic outline of the common education levels, and what they should enable a massage therapist to do (or not do):

Relaxation Certificates/ Body Massage /Various, online or in person short courses - User beware, Certified does not always mean Qualified.

🌺Provides training for basic relaxation massage, or one particular skill.

🌺May educate on basic anatomy & contraindications

🌺Does not educate a therapist to provide Remedial/'Deep Tissue', or other complex bodywork.

🌺Course is generally >1 hour to 3-4 days, may comprise of unregulated content

🌺May meet minimum insurance standards for relaxation massage/specific course sequence.

Certificate IV in Massage Therapy

🌺 Provides training for professional relaxation massage

🌺 Provides education in basic anatomy & contraindications

🌺 Does not educate a therapist to provide Remedial/'Deep Tissue', or other complex bodywork

🌺 Generally a 6-month course - May be taught in-person, online, or blended

🌺 Meets insurance standards for relaxation massage

Diploma of Remedial Massage Therapy

🌺Provides in-depth training for anatomy, clinical assessment and education to identify potential underlying concerns requiring adaptation/refusal of treatment or referral to another provider

🌺Provides training in Relaxation Massage Therapy

🌺Provides training in corrective Remedial Massage techniques to assess and remediate chronic (ongoing) or acute (sudden) areas of pain & restriction

🌺1-1.5 years hands-on training with a registered training organization + access to ongoing education pathways., e.g., Dry Needling

🌺Meets insurance standards for relaxation massage and remedial massage therapy

RED FLAGS - Subtle signs to help you spot a cowboy practice.

Avoid practices offering "Deep Tissue Therapy" for Remedial Massage

This is a general red flag that the Therapist may not be qualified to safely navigate the body on a corrective level.

Instead - look for practices offering "Remedial Massage Therapy"

In Australia it is illegal to misrepresent a service, so Therapists cannot legally offer Remedial Massage unless they have completed their Diploma of Remedial Massage.

No Intake form and intake discussion - Intake forms are a standard, mandatory requirement for all Remedial Massage Therapy services.

An intake form is required for your well-being, it provides information regarding your allergens, history, preferences - It allows your therapist to safely plan your treatment, modify as necessary and or in the event of a complete contraindication - It allows your therapist to stop any treatment going ahead that could put you at risk of life-long complications or even death. Intakes are the holy grail of where any Massage Therapy treatment should start.

If you are not required to complete a detailed intake form, citing your medical history, and then able to discuss this history with your Therapist, walk away - You are either not in the hands of a qualified Therapist, or you are at the very least, in the hands of someone who just doesn't care enough to practice as safely as possible.

'Health fund rebates' do not always mean qualified care

There are many qualified Therapists who do not offer Health Fund Rebates, and equally as many, if not more unqualified, Cowboy businesses who do - so whilst Health Fund Rebates can be a sign of an educated Therapist, they are not as reliable as you may think.

Never assume a business with multiple Therapists, offering Health Fund Rebates is automatically providing you with a qualified Therapist - Many shops will have 1-2 Diploma qualified Therapists on their books (the minimum education level required to offer Health Fund Rebates) and illegally utilize the 1-2 individual provider numbers for their entire staff - A known and illegal practice in Australia that generally goes unmonitored, failing to protect customers who unwittingly place their body in the hands of a cowboy Therapist.

One more question worth considering...

“Does the Therapist keep up with ongoing training each year?” -The body is complex and ever-changing client to client. Therapists who invest in ongoing education bring more passion, depth, safety, and effectiveness to their work.

At the end of the day, regardless of if you are booking a Relaxation or Remedial Massage appointment - It should be a safe, professional service that supports your body, respects your safety, and leaves you feeling better than when you walked in.

I hope this information has helped you to understand the Massage Industry a little better and given you the skills to confidently advocate for yourself when booking your next massage appointment.

Bel - Owner /Massage Therapist

Bel - Qualifications

Diploma Remedial Massage

Cert IV Personal Training

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi lvl 2

Dry Needling Certified

Other - various short course/ongoing study