Massage Fremantle areas
Remedial Massage Therapists and sex
Sex services undermine legitimate massage
A recent series of raids by Victoria Police on what the police term ‘massage parlors’, masquerading as legitimate massage clinics but providing unregistered sexual services, highlights the need for an urgent review of the regulations governing the massage sector. The issue of offering sexual services has sullied the reputation of the legitimate massage sector for many years. The credibility of remedial massage therapy clinics, their legitimate place as health service providers, and the safety of the public and practitioners are difficult in a solely self-regulated profession. Current legislation enables the prosecution of individuals who have been shown to have committed a sexual offense or provided an unregistered sexual service in Victoria, but it has not redressed this problem. AAMT supports Australia’s governments in seeking to establish an enforceable obligation for those claiming to provide massage through the new draft National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers as a positive first step. However, in its current draft form, the Code is limited in its application and is unlikely to redress the current loopholes. AAMT is seeking a collaborative approach with all State, Territory, and Federal Governments where, in addition to the National Code, professional associations have the opportunity to monitor practitioners registered under a Standardised Title of Practice that clearly states to the public their professionalism and education standards. Anyone outside of the Single Massage Register would not be deemed a professional remedial therapist, making it easier for law enforcement agencies to identify illegal brothels and take appropriate action. This would also make a clear statement to the public as consumers and will help them ensure they are being treated by legitimate remedial massage therapists. – See more at: http://aamt.com.au/aamt-bulletin-july-2014/#row5