• Ebrall P

• Accreditation
• Chiropractic / Australia
• Education
• Holistic Health
• Open Access Document
• Planning Techniques
• Social Identification

Narrative: Chiropractors world-wide were shocked and dismayed with the shameful announcement from RMIT University that there would be no Chiropractic student intake in 2024 and the program, which will have lasted 50 years or so by the time it ends, will be taught out over the next 4 years.

While there has been little concern for staff as some will remain and happily teach students in the replacement program of physiotherapy and others will spend more time in their own practices, grave concern was expressed for those many potential students planning to submit their application to commence their studies with RMIT in 2024, and for the 4-years of students remaining. The profession has acted, knowing that these dear people are the future of Chiropractic.

The Australian Chiropractic College, based in Adelaide, announced a giant growth step to introduce an enlightened form of study from 2024 where students can commence where-ever they live, completing first year while they consolidate and then move to Adelaide to finish and graduate. It may be that further options emerge during 2024 and this is a sign of strong, positive growth rooted in adversity which can only be good for the discipline of Chiropractic.

The philosophical vacuum that long existed at RMIT has also been addressed and educational sessions have been delivered which were greatly appreciated by the student body. These will be ongoing and supplemented with further offerings.

We also note the new WHO Benchmarks for Anthroposophic Medicine, which I see as a layer of whole-body thinking to sit across established healing disciplines. These Benchmarks provide a challenging backdrop for the WFC as it develops a belated set of Benchmarks for the training of Chiropractors.

If implemented properly, the WFC Benchmarks will sideline the destructive negativity of the UK’s GCC which refuses to accredit any chiropractic program that teaches what they consider ‘unorthodox’ ideas such as we see embraced as the focus of Anthroposophic Medicine.

We think the GCC is in for an awakening until it differentiates and identifies Chiropractic as a distinct profession in its own right. 

Author keywords: Chiropractic - Accreditation - Education - Professional identity - Future planning - Anthroposophic medicine

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