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 Joane Goulding HLMASCH & Lyndall Briggs
On behalf of the ASCH, I presented the following awards: Les Bullock, (Honorary Life Membership HLM), Joane Goulding (HLM), Max Baker (HLM), Don March (Fellow), Jeff Berger (Fellow). I think the words on the awards say it all – “Let it be known that by unanimous decision of The Executive Board of the ASCH, (name), is hereby recognised for having provided extensive and valued service to this Society, and to the advancement of Clinical Hypnotherapy in general.”
 Don March FASCH & Lyndall Briggs * UK Surgeon, Dr. Braid experimented, perfected and named trance states "hypnosis'" around 1850. Since then, however, it appears that the elite professions have not wanted to wholeheartedly utilise and practise hypnotherapy as training in hypnosis theory and practice is almost non existent in University faculty teaching curricula.  Max Baker HLMASCH * In the I980's, prosecutions against hypnotist Martin St James for conducting stage shows in South Australia and Victoria, were defeated in favour of James, because the Courts considered restrictive legislation in those States did not contain a legally sustainable definition of hypnosis. * The Social Development Committee of Victoria's Parliament gave the elite professions opportunities within 1984 and 1985 to table researched scientific papers, to support their slated concern and belief that there were dangers in hypnosis practice. No such evidence was made available to that Committee. The same Committee recognised that hypnosis is a component of many health care practitioners' treatments and it is therefore impossible to restrict related health care. * The NSW Parliament rejected the inclusion of hypnosis restrictions in the 1989 Psychologists Registration Act, on the basis that the Health Commission had never received complaints concerning Hypnotherapists.  Jeff Berger FASCH * The Queensland Government has never enforced restrictive legislation against Hypnotherapists practising in breach of the law - once again no complaints against hypnotherapists had been lodged. * In 1995, the Commonwealth and State Trade Practice Acts were amended by agreement which enabled the structuring of the National Competition Authority. Amongst its powers, the authority can oversee the removal of a monopoly restriction within a profession's regulating Act, such as hypnosis restrictions, unless such a monopoly gives the public an economic advantage. There is no such economic advantage in hypnosis monopolies nor are they in the public interest. * In February 1997 the Australian Health Ministers Working Party Advisory Group agreed that hypnosis, as used within an occupation, should not be regulated in any Australian State.  Les Bullock HLMASCH It is interesting to note that about two years ago, Les Bullock attended a conference where the Victorian Government Health Commissioner was present. He asked her: “Hypnosis was restricted here in Victoria for 30 years or so because of alleged dangers of the public. Since the restrictions were removed about 9 years ago, how many complaints have you had about hypnotherapists?” Her response: “None”. I truly hope that we will all endeavour to maintain this good record as we strive to the next level of professional recognition. Regards, Lyndall Briggs
President ASCH |
