News
Name change to Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia
- Published on Wednesday, 10 August 2016
We are pleased to announce that we are implementing a subtle but important change to the NHAA. Over the coming weeks you will see the way we refer to the association, change to the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia.
Our board has endorsed this change thanks to the overwhelmingly positive member support following our extended consultation process.
This evolution enables us to more accurately represent our wide membership – of which over 80% are clinicians who are qualified Naturopaths. At the same time, it enables us to protect our rich history and the core practice of Western Herbal Medicine. The NHAA is the oldest complementary medicine association in Australia and as we approach our 100year anniversary, we feel more strongly than ever about the importance of this legacy.
As the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia, we are best positioned to strongly represent our members to the public, industry and government and ensure our profession remains relevant nationally and globally. The NHAA’s vision is Naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine for the health of Australia and our mission is to continue to be the leading association in Australia supporting naturopaths and Western Herbal Medicine practitioners to deliver excellence in healthcare.
Australian practitioners are now in the unique and exciting position to facilitate real change in complementary healthcare via the voice we have as founding members of the World Naturopathic Foundation (WNF). The NHAA is proud to represent Australia, and has recently accepted a position on the WNF Board. Already, this worldwide body is in positive dialogue with the World Health Organisation and we look forward to sharing further developments with you as they occur.
FAQs
Will this change still honour the tradition and history of herbal medicine?
Yes –preserving our rich history is one of our key aims. We are and always will be an association founded on Western Herbal Medicine. The intent driving this change is to maintain our relevance and reach in a society and membership where naturopathy has become the main vehicle by which herbal medicine is now delivered. We continue to honour and represent all herbalists – whether they choose to practice as naturopaths or pure herbalists.
How will you maintain the relevance of herbal medicine?
Education standards are a critical factor. To be accredited by the NHAA, the rigorous education standards we apply to the institutions teaching Naturopathy, must deliver a strong curriculum in herbal medicine. The herbal curriculum requirement is the same for a Naturopathy course as it is for a Western Herbal Medicine course. This will not change. Our recently updated degree standards maintain the same focus on herbal medicine as our education standards always have.
If it is just a name change, then why does it matter?
We believe it matters for two main reasons:
- Our members, arguably the best practitioners in Australia, increasingly identify as Naturopaths. In our most recent surveys, over 80% of respondents referred to themselves as Naturopaths. This may be because of the qualification they attained, or is just the terminology their client base best understands. In either scenario, they are practising Western Herbal Medicine as a key modality.
- Naturopathy is the term better recognised at a national and international policy level. The WHO has policies on Naturopathy, and the World Naturopathic Federation, for which the NHAA is currently representing Australia, is working to establish closer ties with the WHO. We also understand that key consultation processes by government in Australia have excluded the NHAA in the past because we were not perceived as representing Naturopaths. As practitioners, we may understand this detail within the profession, but it is important to be understood outside the profession, so we are included in important discussions and have the opportunity to represent our members locally and internationally.
How did you decide on Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia?
We let our members decide. We had an overwhelming response from our members with the large majority preferring the name we have chosen. To keep with the consistency of our existing branding, we decided on Naturopaths and Herbalists (in place of Herbalists and Naturopaths). We feel the name accurately reflects our membership base and allows for greater understanding by the general public.
What do I need to do?
You don’t need to do anything. Our registered business name, banking details, recognition with the TGA and health funds all remains unchanged. This will not create any administrative issues for you.
Please do not hesitate to email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call on 02 9797 2244, with any further questions or queries.