{"id":1184,"date":"2018-10-24T09:44:12","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T22:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2018-10-24T09:44:12","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T22:44:12","slug":"amtconferencereview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2018\/10\/24\/amtconferencereview\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do You Call a Gathering of Massage Therapists?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sharon Livingstone<\/h4>\n

Although she vehemently denies it was anything other than a genuine question about why massage therapists pay a lot of money for online courses, AMT CEO Rebecca Barnett could not have hoped for a better response when she posted in AMT\u2019s private Facebook group:<\/p>\n

Why are massage therapists willing to invest over $1000 to enrol in dry needling trainings that are mostly delivered online but baulk at $450 for AMT annual conference registration?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Despite Queenslander Sam McCracken registering within a nanosecond of the 2018 AMT Conference going on sale, it looked like it\u2019d be a small attendance. Which was disappointing, given the fantastic programme of workshops and plenary sessions, not to mention AMT\u2019s coup of securing Doctor Doubter, a.k.a Professor Ian Harris as the keynote speaker.<\/p>\n

Then Rebecca posted her tantrum<\/span> genuine question. Within days, workshops were filled and someone at Head Office had to source more lanyards.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Clyde Andrews<\/p><\/div>\n

Clyde Andrews, from Victoria, decided to attend, making it \u201cpart of a holiday for me. My wife and I stayed on a few more days to enjoy the sights of Sydney<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Not everyone needed the inspiration of the CEO\u2019s Facebook question. Christine Taylor booked her spot only a few minutes behind fellow Queenslander, Sam.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Christine Taylor<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI pester AMT as early as possible (sorry not sorry) to find out where and when the conference will be, so I can budget my time, money and CEU into a big happy ball. As soon as the date and venue were set for the 2018 AMT Conference, I leapt into action and booked flights from Brisbane, my hotel room at Rydges and my place at the conference. Then I told my husband I was off to Sydney for four days in October, and he was coming.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"Whatever the motivation, the 29th Annual AMT Conference turned out to be the best attended in the history of AMT Conferences. There were people sitting in the back of the room in workshops, standing along the walls during the plenary session and the burble of conversation over lunch rivalled Rainbow Lorikeets at dusk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Did everything go according to plan? Er, no.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know there were some rather stressful moments as booked speakers got sick or cancelled. But you know what, everything turned out fine \u2013 so much so, socially awkward introverts like me didn’t even notice<\/em>.\u201d \u2013 Clyde<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard that there were last minute hiccoughs that had elves running about fixing but it all looked seamless from out front.<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Christine<\/p>\n

Was there an unusually high number of Canadians in attendance? Why, yes.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Robert Libbey<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHis accent was something else. Hey, he could read the phone book and I\u2019d listen!<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Clyde (on Robert Libbey)<\/p>\n

Robert Libbey was a bit of a hit with everyone who had the joy and privilege of attending one of his workshops.<\/p>\n

\u201cI walked in and sat down and was wowed by Robert Libbey and his LAST presentation. To be in the hands of a trainer so passionate about his craft is very inspiring. I am pleased to report that I have used techniques from both presentations with total success.<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Christine<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a workshop where there was something I could take away to my practice. Pity we didn\u2019t have more time with him<\/em>.\u201d \u2013 Clyde<\/p>\n

But Robert wasn\u2019t the only hit at the conference. The two men who replaced one woman (refer back to \u201cdid everything go according to plan\u201d), Matt Hempsell and Mike Foy from One Health in Port Macquarie ran a pre-conference workshop and 2 breakout workshops.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Mike and Matt do some explaining.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThere is something to learn in every presentation and Matt Hempsell and Mike Foy certainly delivered. A lot that was said was reviewing past learnings and I am glad for any chance to review and revive as it challenges my brain to stay alert. I also find that with my hands-on experience ideas now become relevant and I can now activate the practical application as I have greater understanding. An example is \u201cyou can change Neuromuscular Adaption but not necessarily be able to change bony (genetic) structure\u201d. A simple enough statement, or is it?<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Christine<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was difficult to get up and introduce Ian Harris, the keynote speaker, after singing a round or two of \u201cGuten Morgen, Guten Morgen, Guten Morgen\u201d in his face. I\u2019ve long been banned from singing in the shower \u2013 I\u2019m that terrible \u2013 and I can only apologise to Ian for subjecting him to that.<\/p>\n

Have you seen Ian on the SBS Insight programme – Joint Operation<\/a>? Or read his book, Surgery, The Ultimate Placebo<\/a>? Or subscribe to his Doctor Skeptic blog<\/a>? It\u2019s no wonder I hyperventilated during that introduction. He\u2019s a sensible voice in the din.<\/p>\n