{"id":2821,"date":"2020-09-23T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T23:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/?p=2821"},"modified":"2020-09-22T18:07:05","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T08:07:05","slug":"amt-chairperson-spring-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2020\/09\/23\/amt-chairperson-spring-message\/","title":{"rendered":"AMT Chairperson Spring Message"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Michelle McKerron<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time to change the story. We are enduring a back-breaking period of history. We have each worked through huge things that have hit and hurt our industry: environmentally with the fire season last year, health-wise with COVID-19, business-wise with disruptions to providing services and mentally as the whole thing adds up, drains us and seems never-ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I sense there is a change in the air. Is it spring? Is it the relief as we see our Victorian comrades bring their numbers down? Is it the relaxing of restrictions? Is it just plain old human hope? I actually don\u2019t care too much about the underlying factors; I\u2019m ready to embrace this vibe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a question for those who like a good cogitate. Is there a term for being in the moment but also very much looking forward? Whatever it is called, this is where I\u2019d like to encourage you to be. A place where you can be prepared in your clinic space as per existing and new guidelines, give thoroughly excellent and holistic treatments, and still have the energy and grit to think through \u2018what\u2019s next for me as a growing therapist?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional Development<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I know I have reached a point where I feel a little more comfortable at work purely because I have a COVIDSafe plan as well as adhering to the guidelines set up by AMT\u2019s Biosecurity Planning Committee. It has freed up time in my head that I was spending worrying or watching the seventh re-run of the day\u2019s news updates \u2018just in case\u2019 or, indeed, some days watching for anything remotely massage related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what a relief to find that I am feeling ready to engage with new information (preferably non-COVID related), and start learning and growing again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One example of this \u2018head space\u2019 is covered succinctly (only 17 and a half minutes! No way!<\/em>) in the most recent webinar AMT has produced about Professional Development<\/a>. If you haven\u2019t had a chance to watch this, I can highly recommend it for ideas and inspiration on how you can make the Professional Development program easy. Books, webinars, MOOCS \u2013 the question we could ask is, \u2018what can\u2019t I do?\u2019. I have also seen many people encouraging others to join online courses with them. What a lovely sense of community as we continue to adhere to safety measures of not meeting in face-to-face groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMT 2020 Virtual Conference<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Of course, possibly the most exciting time of the year for an AMT member is approaching. The AMT Conference is NEXT MONTH! Save the date \u2013 25 October 2020 (that\u2019s a Sunday). And considering it\u2019s online this year, you could even wear your pyjamas and attend from anywhere in Australia. Can it get any easier to stay educated?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the conference brochure here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Register for the conference here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve stolen this bit right out of a recent email from head office: \u201cWe will also be running a series of other webinars in the lead up to the virtual conference, including a pre-conference webinar with a special international guest. You will be able to access all these webinars as part of your conference registration fee.\u201d <\/em>Um, how amazing is this?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s not to love about the line-up and structure? Whether you are into research, love a personal success story, want to learn more about exercise interventions or motivational interviewing, or just want to submerge yourself into massage related talk, the AMT annual conference has you covered. And that\u2019s just the serious stuff. With the freedom to make a cuppa at any time, it seems to me that this is just what the doctor ordered: some fantastic education opportunities and some quality time with old friends (and maybe some new ones in the chat).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over a hundred registrations in the first 24 hours, this could possibly be the year we hit highest attendance! Be a part of this momentous occasion and the great vibe, as we shift from downtrodden to beating the odds despite what this past year has thrown at us. Let\u2019s get back into a healthy headspace by being inspired and educated by some top brains, and use that to renew and reinvigorate our practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s just the right timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Michelle McKerron is currently representing AMT members in the role of Chairperson of the Board of Directors. It’s a role she takes seriously because, as a Massage Therapist herself, she knows what it’s like to be working in the industry and wants to encourage members to continue the tradition that AMT holds in standing up for excellent massage therapy in Australia.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2020 doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. AMT Chairperson Michelle McKerron wants us to focus on how to improve ourselves as therapists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,249,164],"tags":[658,106,15,105,138],"class_list":["post-2821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amt","category-amt-conference","category-continuing-education","tag-amt-2020-virtual-conference","tag-amt-chairperson","tag-amt-conference","tag-michelle-mckerron","tag-professional-development"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.amt.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/spring.jpg?fit=900%2C391&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":417,"url":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2017\/12\/12\/7-considerations\/","url_meta":{"origin":2821,"position":0},"title":"7 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