Massage will again be offered by CIT in 2026, if ASQA accepts CIT’s recommendation. Photo: File.
Massage therapy is set to be back on Canberra Institute of Technology’s course program after an industry backlash to the subject disappearing from view in the second half of 2024.
Industry feared it was for the chopping block as a cash-strapped CIT reviewed dozens of courses while looking to make $20 million in savings.
But this week CIT advised Massage & Myotherapy Australia that it had completed its review of massage qualifications and recommended that both the Certificate IV and Diploma of Remedial Massage be reinstated, although changes are expected.
“The review considered the impact on local industry and learners,” CIT said in an email.
“The outcome of the review is reflective of industry consultation and may lead to changes in how these courses are delivered, with a focus on efficiency and effectiveness for both students and employers.”
The final decision rests with the national regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), but that is expected to come too late for the courses to resume in Semester 1.
“We are hopeful of a response from the regulator in the coming weeks and this will determine our next steps and timing,” CIT said.
Last September, industry took the fight public to save what it argued was the nation’s best remedial massage training course, fearful of practitioners drying up despite high demand for their services and potential students being forced to use less reputable providers or move interstate.
Clinic 88 director Brad Hiskins doggedly pursued CIT executives on what was happening with the course, joined by Therapy Masters owner and well-known Canberra businesswoman Lisa LaMaitre, who still sits on the CIT industry panel and has taught at CIT, and Assuage Massage’s Angus Collins.
Without the constancy of new graduates coming through, the resultant skills gap would mean massage clinics would have to wind back services for an array of medical conditions, they said.
A win for health: Brad Hiskins, Angus Collins, Lisa LaMaitre and Thomas Emerson. Photo: Office of Thomas Emerson.
Ms LaMaitre welcomed the decision but said industry would be anxiously awaiting ASQA’s approval.
She said given the time of the year, that was unlikely this month.
“It’d be nice to have a date and I’m doubtful that they’ll get it back up and running for the first semester,” she said.
“We’ll miss another cohort, but having it back is obviously really important for lots and lots of people.”
Ms LaMaitre said there was pent-up demand for the courses, with a strong response on social media when she posted last night that the course had been restored.
“There’s so many people waiting for the course,” she said.
Changes to the courses had already been flagged during talks last year, such as delivering all of the theory units online, which had been done successfully during the COVID pandemic.
“We know the teaching staff has already converted all of the theory units anyway to be taught online,” she said.
“They did that last year when they were waiting to find out what was happening with the course.”
Ms LaMaitre praised Mr Hiskin’s determination, which finally got CIT to go to industry.
“They only came to industry because Brad just kept on fighting the good fight and saying, ‘where’s our course and what the hell’s going on?’,” she said.
She said industry would aggressively market the courses because CIT had hundreds of other courses to promote.
CIT said promotion could restart once ASQA approval was received but it also sought industry support for this.
Independent MLA Thomas Emerson, who sponsored a petition and lobbied the Minister and CIT, said the move to reinstate these courses was a great outcome driven by vocal advocacy from a small group of passionate Canberrans who cared about this critical profession.
Mr Emerson said remedial massage was on the ACT Skills Needs List, so really should never have been taken off scope by CIT to begin with.
“Canberrans are encountering ballooning waitlists for massage therapy and clinics are struggling to find qualified staff to meet demand,” he said.
Mr Emerson said reinstating CIT’s remedial massage program was vital to ensure a strong pipeline of high-quality therapists for the ACT.
“Now we just need the regulator to approve the recommencement of the program and for Canberrans interested in pursuing a career in remedial massage to re-engage with CIT’s offering,” he said.
