Introduction

CMASA was originally established in New South Wales with its name of Chinese Medicine Seminar of NSW since 1990, registered as Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Society Australia LTD since 1999.

CMASA is an Australian national-wide nonprofit organisation with more than 400 members, which is headquartered in New South Wales with two branches,one in Queensland and one in West Australia at present.

CMASA members are professional Chinese medicine and acupuncture specialists, who are from all over the world, while the majority of them are from China mainland, Taiwan, Hongkong, Macao, and some other southeast Asian countries. Holding a Chinese medicine and/or acupuncture college qualification at least, or having a bachelor, master, PhD degree, most of them have got many years hospital experiences, or oversea clinical experiences.

CMASA members are recognised by most private insurance companies as their health services provider.

Since 2003, ATO(Australian Tax Office) has approved that services provided by CMASA members is GST FREE .

CMASA organises academic seminars every one or two months as well as offering First Aid training courses, certificates for its members.

CMASA has also opened a Chinese medicine and acupuncture training center to provide its members in-service training workshops and refresher courses.

CMASA has publications(i.e. Chinese medicine and Health) and magazines (i.e. Australian Journal of Chinese Medicine and Materia Medica)printed annually or quarterly for its members.

CMASA also helps its members applying for discounted public liability insurances and other relative insurances.

CMASA is administered by the Board of Directors, which is reelected every two years.

CMASA welcomes new members and provides counselling services pertaining to opening Clinic and other queries.

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Board of Directors & State Committees

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From the CMASA Bylaws

The objectives of this society shall be, but are not limited to the creation of a professional group, which will provide:

• The promotion of interest in the exploration, practice, research, education development of traditional Chinese medicine, through the media of conferences, the press, seminars and courses, and other literary and educational means;
• The support, by organizational management or otherwise, of practice, professional exchange, and other means of encouraging the study of traditional Chinese medicine;
• The stimulation of the advancement and development of applications of traditional Chinese medicine and related technologies and encouragement of entrepreneurial development thereof;
• The bring together of persons from government, industry, educational institutions, the press, and other walks of life for the exchange of information about traditional Chinese medicine;
• Promoting collaboration between various societies and groups interested in developing and utilizing traditional Chinese medicine;The provision of suitable recognition and honor to individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the practice, research, education and development of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as technological developments related thereto.

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Code of Ethics

1.    INTRODUCTION
1.1    This Code has been compiled by the Ethics Committee of the Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society of Australia and relates to the standards of practice of practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine who belong to the Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society of Australia. In this document the term ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)’ is synonymous with that of ‘Oriental Medicine’ and includes the modalities of acupuncture, traditional Chinese Herbalism, tui na and qi gong; all of which have a common basis in theory and historical development.
1.2    This Code of Ethics describes the professional standard of conduct expected of practitioners of so as to preserve and enhance the reputation of the Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society of Australia, the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine and to protect the general public.
1.3    This Code applies to all practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine who are full or associate members of the Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society of Australia.
1.4    The Ethics Committee reserves the right to amend the Code of Ethics if and when it is deemed necessary.

2.    DUTY OF CARE
2.1    The primary professional duty of a practitioner is to competently assist the patient to optimum health, within the circumstances of the patient's condition.
2.2    The practitioner shall always maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and duty of care to the patient.
2.3    Under no circumstances shall a practitioner knowingly undertake any action or treatment that would adversely affect the health of a patient or fellow human being.

3.    PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
3.1 The practitioner shall have respect for the religious, spiritual, political and social views of any individual irrespective of race, age, gender, colour, ethnic origin, differing abilities, sexuality, creed, marital status, culture, political views or social standing.
3.2    Proper conduct must always be paramount in practitioners' relations with patients. Practitioners must behave with courtesy, respect, dignity and discretion. Their attitude must be competent and sympathetic, hopeful and positive, thus encouraging uplift in the mental outlook of the patient and a belief in a progression towards good health practices.
3.3    A practitioner should not enter into an intimate or sexual relationship with a patient whilst the patient is under their care.
3.4    A practitioner can practice only the modality(s) of TCM; natural and/or traditional therapy discipline/s; medical specialty in which she/he is accredited by the Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society of Australia or other professional body recognized by the Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society of Australia.
3.5    The practitioner is to recognize a responsibility to give the generally held opinions of the profession of Traditional Chinese Medicine when interpreting and conveying scientific or empirical knowledge to patients or to the general public, and where one presents any personal opinion which is contrary to the generally held opinion of the profession, clearly indicate that this is so.
3.6    A practitioner shall not provide false information on documents used for health fund rebate purposes.
3.7    A practitioner shall not use any unsafe or improper practice.
3.8    Practitioners shall at all times show due respect and co-operate with practitioners of other disciplines.
3.9    Practitioners must never claim to "cure".  The possible therapeutic benefits may be described as recovery, but this must never be guaranteed.
3.10  A practitioner shall at no time take part in or promote any activity, verbal or otherwise, which will reflect improperly or denigrate the standing of Traditional Chinese Medicine or natural and traditional therapies, or the Traditional Chinese Medicine, or the Federation of Natural and Traditional Therapists within the general community or to other organizations official or unofficial.
3.11  Practitioners should ensure that they are medically, physically and psychologically fit to practice.
3.12  A practitioner should not attend to a patient or clinic whilst under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other substance that would impair their judgment. It would be considered inappropriate for a practitioner to smoke or consume a tobacco product in the clinical setting.
3.13  A practitioner shall not use their professional connections or affiliations in an unconscionable manner.
3.14  A practitioner shall not knowingly breach the Commonwealth or State legislation or regulations pertaining to their area of practice, and shall be aware of noticeable diseases.

4.    CONFIDENTIALITY
4.1    A practitioner may not disclose information obtained in confidence from or about a patient unless consent has been given.
4.2    Patient records are to be kept confidential at all times and access restricted to the practitioner or assistant, except:
(a)    Where consent has been obtained from the patient or guardian, and then only to the extent of the agreed disclosure;
(b)    In an emergency or other urgent situation where the information may prevent possible injury to the patient or other person;
(c)    Where required to do so by the law.

5.     PATIENTS RECORDS
5.1    The public are entitled to expect that a practitioner will maintain a good standard of practice with full records. 
This includes:
(a)    Name, address, telephone contact number, date of birth;
(b)    Details of health history;
(c)    Dates of treatment;
(d)    Details of remedies prescribed and treatments administered.

6.     ADVERTISING
6.1    A practitioner shall not advertise or lay claim to secret or exclusive methods of treatment.
6.2    In the advertising of a practitioner's skills and services, due-regard should be paid to the following:
(a)   Practitioners-shall not use titles or descriptions which give the impression of medical or other qualification to which they are not entitled.
(b)  A practitioner shall only advertise in a proper and professional manner for the purpose of informing members of the general public as to their location details and areas of specialist practice.

7.     STATIONERY
7.1    A practitioner is responsible for the issue of his own receipts and their personal receipt books are not to be shared with other practitioners.

8.     BREACH OF CODE OF ETHICS
8.1    A serious breach of any aspect of this Code of Ethics will make the practitioner subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the mechanism described in the Complaints Unit and Disciplinary Tribunal of the Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society of Australia.

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