September 2003

Above down ... from down under

by Andrew Destro, CEO, World Chiropractic Alliance -- Australia

In early 2002, Dr. Peter Snodgrass ‑‑ in response to continued action and threats by various government bodies against specific corrective chiropractors ‑‑ rallied together like‑minded doctors to form a unique member‑based association, the World Chiropractic Alliance -- Australia.

In Australia the term "corrective chiropractor" applies to those chiropractors who practice structural rehabilitation based on Harrison's model of a straight AP spine with three lateral 63‑degree curves, regardless of technique practiced.

The initial purpose of the association was to assist in the defence of members before various boards, tribunals and government bodies.

"There are were Chiropractors with good hearts who were going to get hurt if we didn't act when we did, given the increased ability of various bodies to collect statistical information on our members who have high volume practices, which resulted in more scrutiny," Dr. Snodgrass recalls. "The various bodies were comparing high‑volume practices to those practicing symptomatic care and finding large discrepancies in referrals for radiology and frequency of care and started scrutinizing corrective chiropractors and seeking to restrict their practices to conform with palliative chiropractic."

He know the only way to protect our rights was to unite!

"I didn't want to spend my time establishing an association and lobbying chiropractors for support, as I had a practice that should have been my focus," he admits. "However, had we not united, we were facing progressive restrictions on our practice through over regulation and restrictive legislation."

At that time, the threat to corrective chiropractors in Australia was escalating disproportionately. With threat also comes opportunity ‑‑ the opportunity to define our work, collect research and world standards, and start down the long road of educating the profession, government and the public.

As we talked to fellow corrective chiropractors of our plans, they weren't asking questions; they were reaching for their chequebooks. No hard sell needed, as it was obvious to them that the association needed to be formed or subluxation‑based chiropractic would be lost forever.

While the initial purpose of the association was to protect members' rights, we started planning the obvious work very early and developed a five‑year plan that included:

***  Political Lobbying

***  Research

***  Education of the Profession, including students

***  Public Education

One of our members, Dr. Mark Pearson‑Gills, is on the Board of Governors for World Chiropractic Alliance. After some initial discussions with Dr. Terry Rondberg -- president of the World Chiropractic Alliance, Dr. Pearson‑Gills approached Snodgrass with the concept of the association becoming affiliated as World Chiropractic Alliance -- Australia. The plan was formalised in May 2003.

"In the one act of affiliation we have moved from a small group of passionate chiropractors to being part of one of the foremost organizations that represent subluxation‑based chiropractors in the world," Snodgrass explains. "The successes and credibility of an organization such as WCA would have taken us 10 to 15 years to achieve. The affiliation has moved us forward many years."

Snodgrass sees a long and active life for the new group. "My vision for the World Chiropractic Alliance ‑ Australia is to become one of the most influential organizations in the provision of chiropractic, leading the community to a subluxation‑ and drug‑free, way of life."

The Association hopes to raise the standards of its members through research and protocol development. However we also intend to remain vigilant for any groups that seek to undermine our right to practice wellness care and will activate all our resources to ensure the public receive the most appropriate care as determined by the chiropractor ‑‑ not as determined by those who would seek to scrutinize or control our practices.

"I am excited by the opportunities that present themselves at the beginning of this new century; the opportunity to be part of the World Chiropractic Alliance, the opportunity to bring Chiropractic to the Public in Australia," says Snodgrass.