The Battle Over Chiropractic Continues in Australia
Macquarie University Eliminating Chiropractic Degrees
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by: DrTirpak posted: May 06, 2013
Macquarie University in Sydney Australia wants to transfer their Chiropractic degree programs to another university by 2015, stating they are moving towards more "research-intensive" programs. Currently the Macquarie University has over 600 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and the Chiropractic Masters programs.
Currently four universities in Australia offer degrees in Chiropractic: Macquarie, Murdoch, RMIT and Central Queensland University.
On April 24th 2013 in a press release from the Macquarie University Clive Baldock, the newly-appointed Executive Dean of Science Professor stated “… our Chiropractic area does not meet our requirements from a research-intensive perspective…”
Professor Baldock goes on to discuss wanting to focus research and teaching towards the University’s recently expanded medical school and hospital.
The Chiropractic Association of Australia (CAA) started to organize a student protest on the campus of Macquarie University over the elimination of the Chiropractic degree programs, but put a halt to it after the University promised all Chiropractic students would be allowed to finish their current degree. Last week Andrew McNamara the CAA National CEO met with Professor Bruce Dowton, the Macquarie University Vice Chancellor, to appeal for a smooth transition of both the students and staff to another institution.
On Facebook, The CAA called on Chiropractors and Chiropractic students to “Get out and amongst it. Let the University know that you’re not going to accept this!!! Use your voice! Keep Chiropractic on campus!!”
A Chiropractor heard this “call to arms” and the Community Facebook page, “Help Save the Chiropractic Degree at Macquarie University” launched last Friday and already has over 600 likes. The page is the brainchild of Macquarie University 2000 Chiropractic graduate, Fleur Castlereagh of Kirrawee Family Medical Practice. She started the page to increase awareness of Macquarie University’s decision to transfer the Chiropractic Degree program, highlight successful graduates and hopefully reverse her alma mater’s decision.
A backlash against Chiropractic has been brewing in Australia for years, fueled heavily by the Friends of Science in Medicine. According to a co-founder Professor John Dwyer of the University of New South Wales "We met with the university and suggested that a major tertiary institution should not offer these courses."
The Friends of Science in Medicine, sponsored by the Australia Skeptics, are attempting to remove CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) from Universities and public health programs in Australia. The group unsuccessfully attempted to block the creation of a Chiropractic Program at Central Queensland University in 2011.
Chiropractic started at Macquarie University with the acquisition of the independent 40-year-old institution Sydney College of Chiropractic. The Chiropractic College’s courses, resources and staff converted to the Center for Chiropractic offering a Chiropractic Masters program with in the School of Biological Science at Macquarie University in 1990. The University currently offers 2 education paths: a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science followed by a Master of Chiropractic Degree in 5 years and a Graduate Diploma in Chiropractic or the Graduate Certificate in Chiropractic Science preceded by a Bachelor in Health, Medicine, or Exercise Science requiring 6 to 7 years.