On February 1st 2017 Victorian health practitioners, including Reiki practitioners, became the most recent subjects of the National Code of Conduct for Non-Registered Health Practitioners.

Victoria has formally implemented the Health Complaints Act and has appointed a Health Complaint Commissioner, Ms Karen Cusack.

The National Code is already implemented in NSW, SA and Qld.

The vast majority of health service providers are ethical, take client dissatisfaction seriously, and do their best to rectify complaints. Unfortunately, some health providers are not safe, through negligence, incompetence or impropriety.

Victoria has now taken a tough stand against dodgy health services and practitioners by:

1. Expanding the definition of a health provider to include any service or practitioner engaged in assessing or improving a person’s health. This means that the conduct of anyone offering a service, or even working within a service that claims health benefits, are subject to the Code, such as secretaries, practice managers, cleaners etc who come in contact with clients.
2. Giving the Health Complaints Commissioner new powers to:-
   • receive complaints from anyone, not just the person who sought out, or received the service
   • prohibit a provider from practising
   • ban prohibited providers from other states from practising in Victoria
   • issue public warnings, and the names of providers against whom a complaint has been upheld
   • investigate matters where an official complaint has not been lodged, but there could be cause for a complaint
   • follow-up to ensure compliance with quality improvement recommendations.

Since 2002 Reiki Australia has formally participated in the development of the National Code of Conduct, providing a voice for Reiki, an advocacy for our members, and for the rights of Reiki clients and students.   Our proficiency in describing best practice professional Reiki service has seen Reiki Australia called upon as an expert witness several times by police in three states, assisting investigations into alleged criminal conduct perpetrated by Reiki practitioners. None of the offenders were members of a Reiki organisation.

Reiki Australia supports the implementation of the National Code of Conduct for Non-Registered Health Practitioners.