Support statutory registration
In March 2026, ARONAH, together with members of the Australian Naturopathic Council and collaborating organisations, lodged a formal submission seeking statutory registration of naturopaths and Western herbal medicine practitioners under Australia’s National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
How You Can Help
Add your voice
ARONAH is asking practitioners, students, patients and members of the community to contact their elected representatives about the submission. You do not need to write a long letter or be an ARONAH member. A short, respectful and personalised email can help show why stronger regulation and public protection matter
Who To Contact
Start with the people who represent you
Your state or territory representative
Contact the representative for the electorate in which you live. Let them know you are a constituent and are asking them to support appropriate consideration of statutory registration
Your federal MP
Write to the federal Member of Parliament who represents your electorate and ask them to support consideration of the submission and supporting evidence
Health representatives
You may also contact representatives responsible for health, particularly if your message focuses on public safety, consumer protection or health regulation
Choose from four email templates and personalise the one that best reflects what you want to say
Get in touch with us at info@aronah.org
Why Statutory Registration
Stronger standards and clearer accountability
Naturopathy and Western herbal medicine are not currently regulated under Australia’s National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, meaning there is no statutory national registration framework establishing minimum entry-to-practice standards for these professions
Education standards
A national statutory framework can establish consistent requirements for education, competency and entry to professional practice
Public protection
Regulation can provide nationally consistent mechanisms designed around protecting people who seek healthcare
Accountability
Statutory regulation can establish consistent expectations for professional conduct and mechanisms for regulatory action
Professional titles
For many registered health professions, legislation also protects professional titles, helping the public identify practitioners who have met registration requirements
Health system clarity
Clearer information about qualifications and standards can support communication, referral and collaboration across healthcare
National consistency
A statutory framework can provide consistent regulatory expectations rather than relying solely on participation in self-regulatory arrangements
“One of the biggest lessons I have taken from both paramedicine and naturopathy is that people do not need to be in an emergency to be vulnerable. Every day, people who are living with chronic illness or persistent symptoms place trust in the health information they receive and in the practitioners they seek help from. Without clearer standards, they can be exposed to poor health advice, particularly online, which can create real health risks and add further emotional and financial burden. ”
How We Got Here
More than two decades of regulatory work
The 2026 submission did not begin in 2026. It builds on longstanding Australian regulatory work and contemporary independent research examining the professions as they exist today
The Lin Report
Victorian Government research examined regulation of naturopathy and Western herbal medicine and recommended registration alongside Chinese medicine practitioners
Contemporary research commissioned
Funding was secured to update and expand the evidence base, including $20,000 raised through crowdfunding and matched dollar-for-dollar by Dr Marcus Blackmore AM
Carlton Report completed
Ten chapters and 234 pages of independent research examined risks, benefits, workforce, education standards and regulatory requirements
Formal submission lodged
The evidence was translated into a formal submission seeking statutory registration under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
The Evidence
Research behind the submission
By 2019, the evidence underpinning earlier Australian regulatory work was around fifteen years old. Contemporary research was needed to examine naturopathy and Western herbal medicine as the professions exist today
Led by ARONAH, funding was secured and independent consultant Dr Anne-Louise Carlton and the research team were engaged to undertake a comprehensive review
Assuring Safe and Integrated Health Care
A Review of the Risks, Benefits, and Regulatory Requirements for the Professions of Naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine
Formal submission seeking statutory registration
The research findings informed a formal submission addressing the criteria used by Australian governments when considering regulation of additional health professions
The purpose of statutory registration is public protection — not the protection of the interests of a profession
Email Templates
Choose what you want to say
Template 01
General support
A balanced starting point for most representatives
Subject: Support for statutory registration of naturopathy and Western herbal medicine
Dear [MP’s name],
I am a constituent of [electorate/suburb] and am writing to express my support for the formal submission seeking statutory registration of naturopathy and Western herbal medicine under Australia’s National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
In March 2026, ARONAH, together with members of the Australian Naturopathic Council and collaborating organisations, lodged a submission informed by contemporary independent research into the risks, benefits, workforce, education and regulatory requirements of these professions
I believe the evidence for nationally consistent regulation warrants careful consideration, particularly in relation to public protection, professional standards and accountability
[Add a few sentences about why this matters to you]
Please consider raising this matter with the relevant Health Minister or parliamentary colleagues and supporting formal consideration of the submission
I have included links to the formal submission and independent research report for reference
Thank you for your time and consideration
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Your suburb]
Template 02
Public safety & consumer protection
Focus on standards, accountability and public protection
Subject: Public protection and statutory registration of naturopathy and Western herbal medicine
Dear [MP’s name],
I am a constituent of [electorate/suburb] and am writing about the formal submission seeking statutory registration of naturopathy and Western herbal medicine
These professions are currently outside Australia’s National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. Professional associations and independent registers can establish standards for their own members and registrants, but those requirements do not apply consistently to everyone practising outside those frameworks
Independent Australian research completed in 2025 examined clinical risk, consumer use, education, workforce characteristics and the regulatory requirements of these professions
[Add your own reason for believing stronger public protection is important]
I ask that the submission and supporting evidence receive appropriate consideration through the relevant government processes
Thank you for your time
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Your suburb]
Template 03
Integration & health system alignment
Focus on clearer standards across healthcare
Subject: Statutory registration and integrated healthcare
Dear [MP’s name],
I am a constituent of [electorate/suburb] and am writing in support of appropriate consideration of the submission seeking statutory registration of naturopathy and Western herbal medicine
Australians already use these professions as part of their healthcare. A nationally consistent regulatory framework could provide greater clarity around practitioner education, professional standards and accountability
Clearer information about practitioner qualifications and professional standards may also support communication, referral and collaboration across the broader healthcare system
[Add your personal or professional perspective here]
I ask that the evidence and submission receive appropriate consideration by the relevant government decision-makers
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Your suburb]
Template 04
Short version
A concise message with the essentials
Subject: Support for statutory registration
Dear [MP’s name],
I am a constituent of [electorate/suburb] and am writing in support of appropriate consideration of the formal submission seeking statutory registration of naturopathy and Western herbal medicine under Australia’s National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
The submission is supported by independent Australian research examining the professions and their regulatory requirements
[Add one or two sentences about why this matters to you]
I ask that the submission and supporting evidence receive appropriate consideration through the relevant government processes
Thank you for your time
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Your suburb]
Make It Personal
Give them a reason to remember your email
You do not need to rewrite the whole template. A few sentences from your own perspective can make the message more meaningful
Why do clear standards matter to you?
Think about people trying to make informed healthcare choices or identify appropriately qualified practitioners
What would this mean where you live?
Mention local healthcare needs, community growth or why stronger public protections matter in your area
What does your education mean to you?
Explain the education and clinical training involved and why consistent standards matter as you enter the profession
What do you see in practice?
Consider professional accountability, standards, referrals or collaboration with other healthcare practitioners
Why does confidence in a practitioner matter?
Your experience seeking healthcare can help explain why transparency, standards and accountability matter
One genuine reason is enough
You do not need a professional background or a long story. Explain in your own words why you think this issue deserves consideration
Supporting Documents
Send the evidence
Include the links for the following documents in your email so your representative can access both the formal government submission and the independent research supporting it