Likeminded Medics!
Australasian Integrative Medicine Association(AIMA)
By Liz Baker

The AIMA is a national, voluntary non-profit organisation which comprises of around 500 members. It consists of medical practitioners who provide holistic health care for their patients, integrating western medicine with complementary therapies. Associate members include allied health professionals such as chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists and other health professionals. AIMA is officially affiliated with the Victorian Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Graduate School of Integrative Medicine at Swinburne University and is recognised as a special interest group by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

AIMA is recognised as a responsible authority in holistic, complementary and integrative medicine within the medical fraternity and through strong links with a variety of organisations and institutions, networks with over one thousand like-minded Australian doctors.

Of particular interest is AIMA’s position statement on long consultations and quality of care. While it focuses on GP interactions, particularly in chronic and complex cases, much of the content is relevant to holistic primary contact practice of any type.

The group aims to support their members in the use of alternative therapies, but does not seem to have a clear policy on standard of education required for those therapies.

Their website www.aima.net.au will find local members and give you access to their special interest group lists.