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Happy Chinese New Year 2007!

The Acupuncture Network team wish you a happy and prosperous Year of the Golden Pig

Keeping your finger on the pulse of Chinese Medicine!

Established in 2005 to support practitioners and students of Chinese Medicine (CM) Acupuncture Network is a dynamic online CM community. We aim to bring like-minded people together to share ideas and information. If you would like to learn more about this free initiative, click on this link to visit the discussion forum
>TCM Discussion forum

Acupuncture Network is a non-profit incorporated association, which means we are recognised by the Australian Government as a registered non-profit organisation. To learn more about incorporated associations, visit the Department of Fair Trading website click here for more information. Caution is advised when viewing commercial websites claiming to be non-profit.

Locum positions, rooms for rent, Acupuncturists and Herbalists wanted… You’ll find it all in our jobs and classified section
>>Click here

by Bobbie Sodarak

In Australia , workplace injuries are a significant economic and social cost. During 2000/01 the gross incurred cost of employment injuries rose by 15.7% to $1,138 billion from the previous year.

The WorkCover Scheme is an Australian Government system that provides occupational health and safety, compensation and rehabilitation in each state and territory in Australia . The scheme enforces the occupational health and safety legislation through education, inspections, investigations into incidents and complaints and, when necessary, applies penalties and prosecutions. Each state and territory has its own compulsory workers compensation system and each state has varying regulations.
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Discover the magic of this ancient healing art. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used to heal more than a 1/4 of the world’s population for over 2000 years. A complex and intricate system, it is used to treat a wide range of conditions to help you get back on your feet, faster.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine gauge needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture promotes metabolic functions and restore homeostasis. Put simply, acupuncture helps the body to heal itself…

What does acupuncture look like?>>

Acupuncture image>>

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a growing field. Doctors, Health Care Practitioners and the community are continuing to recognise the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine. This website is to help you learn more about acupuncture and TCM, how it works and how it might help you. It is also the place to find a practitioner in your area and ask questions to acupuncture and TCM practitioners in the community.

For more information about Acupuncture Network Australasia (ANA)contact:
Katherine Berry
ANA Public Officer
Email: click here
Mobile: 0412 414 369
Postal: PO Box 3464 Tamarama NSW 2026

Benefits of Acupuncture Network Australasia (ANA) Membership:

Acupuncture and TCM practitioners*

1. An acupuncture email addresses (Practitioner.Name@acupuncture.net.au). This is professional email address which inspires confidence. It is preferable to mainstream addresses like hotmail and yahoo (etc) and can still be accessed anywhere in the world.

2. A personal webpage for your clinic/practice. This is an online brochure and includes your contact details, clinic address, qualifications, photos, specialty areas (e.g. women’s health) other modalities (e.g. Tui Na or Chinese Herbal Medicine) etc. This webpage is linked to a directory so members of the general public can search for practitioners in their area (and print your webpage).

3. The website has an online forum Click here to view forum which aims to help practitioners overcome the sense of isolation they feel in private practice. The forum is the place to discuss case studies, new products, business management issues and TCM theory etc. An online forum will never replace face to face contact, however it can link practitioners from around the region- creating an online acupuncture and TCM community. The forum is closed (i.e. only available to ANA members to ensure quality and validity of all postings to the forum).

Acupuncture and TCM students

1. An acupuncture email addresses (Student.Name@acupuncture.net.au). This is your address to keep forever (unlike University addresses which expire after you graduate) and can be checked from anywhere in the world.

2. Students will have access to the online forum where you can correspond with experts in the field, qualified practitioners and other students from across the region. The forum is the place to ask questions, share ideas or find clinical placements with practitioners in your area. The online forum cannot replace face to face mentoring, however it can give you access to a broad range of practitioners and their expertise- creating an online acupuncture and TCM community. The forum is closed (i.e. only available to ANA members to ensure quality and validity of all postings to the forum).

3. The website is a clearinghouse of current research, new products, book reviews, conferences and events. It is a one-stop-shop for all your study needs.

The medical community/ general public

1. The website provides clear, easy to read information about acupuncture and TCM for the general public. This includes what is acupuncture and TCM, the history, how it works and what it is good for.

2. The website has a directory of all ANA members with links to their webpages. This way, the general public can see where a clinic is, opening hours and practitioner’s area of expertise (e.g. sports medicine). These webpages can be printed, like a brochure and Practitioner’s contact details will also be included so patients can telephone to make appointments.

3. The website will have an option for members of the public to email a question about acupuncture and TCM.

Don’t forget to bookmark this site (CTRL-D)

Who is the Acupuncture Network?

About us
Management Committee
Research and Clinical Advisory Panel

Website Team
Mission statement
Key goals and objectives

Our services

Acupuncture Network (Australasia) ANA is a dynamic new organisation set up to promote and support Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (CM) in Australia, New Zealand and the South East Asia. ANA aims to do this by establishing an online acupuncture community, with forums where practitioners and students can discuss TCM theory and the practicalities of primary health care.

About us

Acupuncture Network is a dynamic new membership organistion made up of Chinese Medicine (CM) students and practitioners from the south east asian region. ANA is a nonprofit organisation, governed by a Committee of Management and Research and Clinical Advisory Panel (RCAP) of expert practitioners. ANA governance is free of commercial interest and influences.

Management Committee

Acupuncture Network is run and supported by a team of people including:

Katherine Berry is the Acupuncture Network’s Public officer. Katherine is a TCM Practitioner, researcher and tutor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and sessional lecturer at the University of Western Sydney (UWS).

Lucy Rantzen studied acupuncture in England at the College of Traditional Acupuncture, Leamington Spa, graduating from the three year Licentiate in Acupuncture course in 1995. Lucy is now in private practice in Bondi Junction, Sydney.

Melissa Baker is a TCM practitioner who graduated from the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences (Brisbane) in 2002. She has a keen interest in diverse fields, including paediatrics, women’s health, pregnancy and childbirth and internet technology.

Ilan Ben-Nissan is a third year TCM student at the University of Technology Sydney. Ilan, with the support of several students, founded the Wu Wei Club - a student union affiliated organisation established in 2004 to support students of TCM by providing extra curricular educational sessions and social events. Ilan provides the ANA with a student perspective and inputs into the strategic direction of the organisation.

Ophir Biran is a third year student of TCM at the University of Technology Sydney and a founder member of the Wu Wei Club, which brings students and practitioners together in social and educational activities. He has been practising tai chi, which he learnt in Korea, for 12 years and is a tai chi instructor at the SunMoon Tai chi School. His dream is to bring alternative therapies such as TCM & tai chi to disadvantaged communities.

Jason Rumbel began studying tai chi and meditation at the age of 15, where he developed in an interest in Chinese Medicine and traditional healing. Following high school, Jason alternated between work on a remote farm in Queensland and studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Philosophy. After acquiring other skills (IM/IT for example) Jason pursued his interest in Chinese Medicine and is currently studying at the University of Technology Sydney. Jason brings to the Acupuncture Network his passion for tai chi, meditation, Chinese Herbal Medicine and acupuncture and also his skills and expertise in developing innovative technology to share with the Chinese Medicine community.

Cameron Rogers completed a Practitioner Diploma at the Acupuncture Colleges Australia (ACA) in 1982. Cameron was a lecturer for the ACA from 1983 to 1990, and he was the ACA Vice-Principal in 1989-90. Cameron is co-author of the Rogers and Rogers: Acupuncture Point Location and Point Dynamics Manual.

Research and Clinical Advisory Panel

Associate Professor Carole Rogers trained at Acupuncture Colleges Australia in 1973 completing both the Acupuncture Diploma and the International College of Oriental Medicine degree. She joined the College as a teacher in 1976 and subsequently became Vice Principal (1984) and Principal in 1987. With Carole’s enthusiasm and commitment, in 1994 the ACA transferred their degree into the University of Technology, Sydney and Carole was appointed Associated Professor and Head of the UTS College of Acupuncture (now Traditional Chinese Medicine).Carole retired in 2001 but still plays an active role in research, education and consultation - she is an Adjunct Professor at UTS.

Professor Alan Bensoussan is the Director of the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney. His research interests include Traditional Chinese Medicine, Evidence-based Complementary Medicine, Development of a toxicity database for Chinese herbal medicines and Clinical trial validation of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Alan has contributed to many books and reports, and has published many articles in Australian and International journals. Alan consults for key organistions such as the World Health Organisation, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Government. Alan is also on the International editorial board for Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Churchill Livingstone) and Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies (Pharmaceutical Press).

Dr Kerry Watson is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Medicine at Victoria University, Melbourne Australia. Kerry holds qualifications in Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Chinese Therapeutic Massage and a Doctorate in Oriental Medicine.

Dr Chris Zaslawski is the Director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, School of Health Sciences at University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

Paddy McBride has more than 15 years experience as an Acupuncturist and specialises as a Childbirth Educator. Paddy is based in Nelson, New Zealand and runs a very busy practice specialising in the care of pregnant women and new mothers. Paddy has trained extensively both Eastern and Western medical paradigms.

Debra Betts is a New Zealand Registered Nurse with several years of Neonatal and Paediatric experience. She is a member of the British Acupuncture Association, having graduated from the British College of Acupuncture in 1989. Upon returning to New Zealand, she has become a member of the New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists. In 1995 she joined the teaching staff at the New Zealand School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, where she teaches the foundation subjects of traditional Chinese medicine and directs the Student Clinic.

Dr Hong Xu is a Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Victoria Univerity’s Chinese Medicine program in the School of Health Sciences. Dr Xu has a particular interest in the historical development of Chinese Medicine and is an authority on acupuncture research.

John Terry has been practicing and teaching in Acupuncture since 1984. He completed a Masters degree by research in 2001 on the topic of learning in Chinese Medicine. John has a particular interest in the integration of Chinese Medicine into the broader healthcare community. In his private practice at Castlemaine, Victoria, he enjoys working with clients through personal challenges with a ‘life as journey’ approach. He job shares the national HOF in Chinese Medicine at the Australian College of Natural Medicine and also runs private workshops.

Dr Peter C Meier is a senior lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney. Peter holds qualifications in Western herbal medicine and acupuncture. His current research interests include neurophysiological testing of acupuncture and clinical data systems relating to TCM morbidity and patient demographics.

Dr Sean Walsh graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in 1999 with a Bachelor of Health Science Traditional Chinese Medicine. In 2004 Sean graduated with a PhD for extensive research into Traditional Chinese Medicine Pulse Diagnosis. Sean is a Lecturer and post graduate research supervisor at the University of Technology, Sydney and also runs a busy private clinic in Sydney.

Website Team

Danielle Hickie- Senior web design, web development, usability consultant and online community building support. Danielle’s creativity, innovation and technical skills are the driving force behind ANA. Danielle is also on the ANA Management Committee, providing strategic governance.

Bruno Mattarollo- Senior web developer and information architect. Bruno is responsible for behind the scenes of the ANA website. Bruno provides the infrastructure to conduct the forums- the dynamic interface of the TCM community.

Elizabeth Deane- Marketing, media and publications mananger. Elizabeth has a unique combination of skills including desktop publishing, marketing, promotions and media liaison.

Michael Donnici- Webmail service provider, web hosting services and IT consultant. Michael is responsible for the ANA professional email address offered to all TCM practitioners and student members.

Mission Statement

To decrease the burden of disease in Australasia by supporting and promoting acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the community.

Key Goals and Objectives

Our Aim
To provide acupuncture and TCM students and practitioners with access to credible up to date information to support their studies and professional clinical development.

Our Goal
To increase community awareness of acupuncture and TCM as an adjunct to primary health care services.

Our Vision
To develop, promote and support the largest online acupuncture community in the world.

Organisational Structure
Acupuncture Network Australasia (ANA) is has not for profit organisational structure governed by a Committee of Management with iput from a Research and Clinical Advisory Panel (RCAP).

Our services

The website www.acupuncture.net.au will provide students, practitioners and the general public with a number of key services. These services include:

1. Developing an on-line forum for TCM practitioners, researchers and students to discuss ideas, case studies, research and new technologies.

2. Offering TCM students and practitioners with a uniform professional email address (Firstname.Surname@acupuncture.net.au) which can be checked from anywhere in the world.

3. Linking with a national directory of qualified, registered practitioners which can be searched by members of the public to find a practitioner in their local area.

4. Developing a clearinghouse of Acupuncture and TCM resources including current research papers, book reviews, new products, TCM equipment and Universities and Colleges offering TCM courses.

Don’t forget to bookmark this site (CTRL-D)

Did you know that the Acupuncture Network Australasia also goes by the name of the Acupuncture Network? We’ve created these banners for you to use on your own website. We’ve made a few different versions to choose from, and they all link back to this site. So if you would like to show your support for our growing community we’d be thrilled to have a link, and feel free to use one of these banners! The code to use is below each banner. Just copy and paste it into your webpage - the images will be ‘pulled’ off this site automatically!

The most simple link to the Acupuncture Network Australasia website is:

Acupuncture Network Australasia, http://www.acupuncture.net.au, or http://www.acupuncturenetwork.org

But if you want to get fancy….

The button:

<a href="http://www.acupuncturenetwork.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.acupuncture.net.au/images/220_link.jpg" alt="The Acupuncturenetwork.org is the first and largest online TCM community in the Asia Pacific region. We aim to bring like-minded people together to share ideas and information." width="220" height="58" border="0"></a>

The banner:

<a href="http://www.acupuncturenetwork.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.acupuncture.net.au/images/webbanner.jpg" alt="The Acupuncturenetwork.org is the first and largest online TCM community in the Asia Pacific region. We aim to bring like-minded people together to share ideas and information." width="468" height="60" border="0"></a>

The tiny weeny button:

<a href="http://www.acupuncturenetwork.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.acupuncture.net.au/images/tiny_link.gif" alt="The Acupuncturenetwork.org is the first and largest online TCM community in the Asia Pacific region. We aim to bring like-minded people together to share ideas and information." width="114" height="39" border="0"></a>