The UTS-based Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM) is set to expand its research agenda in the complementary and alternative medicine field as the result of a new partnership with the Australian Chinese Medical Association (ACMA).
ARCCIM Director Professor Jon Adams said the partnership would be an exciting development for both ARCCIM and ACMA, assisting in the creation of a long term research strategy that more appropriately considers policy and practice regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the wider Australian health care system.
“This partnership signals the expansion of ARCCIM’s research networks across Australia and ACMA will be an invaluable partner throughout this process. Traditional Chinese Medicine is popular across both the Chinese and non-Chinese communities in Australia and there is a great deal of potential for further rigorous research to examine key public health and health services research questions around TCM.
“ACMA is an association that effectively bridges the divide between conventional medicine and TCM in Australia. All members of ACMA are currently registered medical professionals; with many having an interest in TCM. The ARCCIM and ACMA partnership will develop critical and rigorous research and research capacity building of practical benefit for these practitioners and their patients” Professor Adams said.
President of ACMA, Dr Danforn Lim, says, “ACMA aims to establish itself as a vigorous, vibrant and responsible organisation. It seeks to promote the excellent professional status of its members and to increase the degree of co-operation and mutual concern amongst its members and community and academic research institutes.”
“Most ACMA members have a strong link to Chinese culture or heritage and we support ARCCIM’s vision and research strategies that aim to elicit the evidence behind Chinese medicine and integrative medicine therapies. TCM is a popular health service choice in Australia and as clinicians we understand that subjecting TCM to critical, rigorous research is vital to safeguarding patient safety and enhancing clinical services.”
ARCCIM will also be one of the two beneficiaries of ACMA’s Annual Charity Ball to be held on 23 November 2013 at the Star Room, Imax Theatre Complex. The initiative is supported by funding from the ACMA Charitable Trust.