About the National Herbalists Association of Australia

Lobelia erasmusThe 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. This creates greater demand for the high standard of health care service provided by our practicing members.

This work requires constant vigilance and long hours of effort by the Board of Directors. Involvement in various committees and discussion groups, and production of submission papers and media releases are among the many activities of the Board.

Below are some of the highlights and major achievements of the NHAA.

Practitioner Registration Work

The report issued by the Expert Committee on Complementary Medicines in the Health Care System in 2003 recommended registration systems for many complementary medicine disciplines. The long history of work by the NHAA in this area will serve the profession well when it comes to the implementation of the Expert Committee's recommendations.

As long ago as 1929 the NHAA submitted a Bill to the government entitled "The Medico Botanical and Eclectic Practitioners Act 1929". In 2002 our ACCMed proposal (prepared jointly with the Federation of Natural and Traditional Therapists - FNTT) was regarded as being very forward thinking and generated considerable interest in various quarters. This was part of our submission associated with the Federal government grant for investigating regulatory systems for maintaining GST exemption for herbal consultations.

In August 2005 the NHAA made a submission to the Health Care Complaints Commission on the regulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine which supports regulation not only of Chinese medicine but also Western Herbal Medicine.

GST Exemption for Herbalists

The NHAA was successful in lobbying the Federal Government to write into the legislation that "herbal" consultations would be GST exempt. This was a major relief to practitioners and patients alike, providing greater parity with conventional medicine practitioners.

Having Our Voice Heard

The NHAA has been responsible for various submissions to State and Federal governments and has been involved with various committees regarding herbal medicines. Highlights include:

Committee Involvement

  • The Consultative Healthcare Forum
  • The GST Consultative Forum for Health
  • The Industry Reference Group for herbal medicine training
  • The Joint Industry/TGA Herbal Taskforce
  • The Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee (CMEC)

Submissions of Note

  • The Poisons Schedule Review
  • Kava safety review, November 2002
  • Joint submission with NHCA regarding the report from the Expert Committee on Complementary Medicines in the Health System, 2003
  • Submission to the Joint Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency, March 2005
  • Submission to the Senate Enquiry on Cancer Treatment Options, June 2005
  • Submissions to the Health Care Complaints Commission and the Western Australian government regarding regulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, August 2005
  • Submission to the TGA regarding the proposed Medicines & Poisons Scheduling model, September 2005

To read these and other submissions go to our Govt and industry submissions page.

Ethics and Sustainability in Herbal Medicine

In 1999 the NHAA, in conjunction with World Wildlife Fund TRAFFIC Oceania, hosted an international conference entitled "Medicinal Plants for the Future - Sustainability & Ethical Issues".

International Herbal Medicine Conferences

In 1992 the inaugural International Conference on Phytotherapeutics, organised by the NHAA, was held in Sydney. Over 300 delegates and speakers from 7 countries attended the three day conference.

Due to the amazing success of this first conference, we decided to run these every 3 years, with the 7th International Conference on Herbal Medicine to be held in Coolangatta 23-25 July 2010. For details see the Conference section.

Internationally Prestigious Journal

The Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism (AJMH) is regarded as one of the leading clinically relevant, peer reviewed journals of herbal medicine. Published quarterly since 1989, it has become a valuable source of knowledge for members and students.

Before the formal introduction of the AJMH, a variety of other NHAA publications appeared under various names, going back as far as the 1920s Herbalists Gazette.

Educational Standards

In mid 2003 the NHAA released their revised educational standards and Course Accreditation System. These new standards were developed after considerable consultation with 21 training institutions and have been recognised as the foremost standards in herbal medicine education in Australia. For more information please visit the Training section.

Media Releases

Starting in late 2002, the NHAA decided to adopt a more public profile. Requests from our members to respond to various negative media stories have resulted in regular press releases and interviews. To view our press releases please visit our Media section.

Annual National Seminar Tour

In each year between international conferences, the NHAA hosts a seminar tour throughout major cities in Australia with prominent invited speakers presenting on herbal topics. These seminars are a useful and enjoyable way of keeping up to date, and are very popular with our members who receive a substantial discount on the seminar entry fee. For dates and locations of our seminars, please visit our Events section.