{"id":3792,"date":"2023-09-13T07:46:46","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T21:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/?p=3792"},"modified":"2023-09-13T07:46:50","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T21:46:50","slug":"the-one-where-we-say-goodbye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2023\/09\/13\/the-one-where-we-say-goodbye\/","title":{"rendered":"The one where we say goodbye…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After a 26 year involvement with AMT, Rebecca Barnett has decided to farewell AMT and embark on new challenges after enjoying some much deserved time off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebecca started with AMT in 1997 as a volunteer, typing up member submissions to the AMT newsletter, before joining the governing Committee in 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When AMT was about to collapse in 2006 and AAMT looked set to acquire it, Rebecca found an ember in the smoking heap and breathed life back into the association. She found herself promoted to Company Secretary as a result. Rebecca worked to get AMT back on an even keel, avoiding financial collapse and became AMT Treasurer, a role she grew into and thrived in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the major achievements of Rebecca\u2019s AMT career was to steer the development of the Massage Therapy Code of Practice<\/a> (2008-2012). This living document guides massage therapists in how they practice, putting legislation, policy and guidelines in one easy-to-access place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the giant insurer, Medibank Private, decided they would determine the education standards for massage therapists in 2013, and blocked massage therapists from becoming providers with them or even changing their clinic address, Rebecca stood firm, doing her utmost for new graduates and RTOs, as well as existing members. While ultimately not able to claim victory, Rebecca\u2019s tenacity told AMT members that they and their careers mattered and were important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2014\/2015, Rebecca prepared a major submission to the NHMRC in response to the Federal Government\u2019s Natural Therapies Review and then spearheaded a (successful) campaign for remedial massage therapists to remain eligible health fund providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After hearing one too many stories of massage therapists being engaged on sham contracts and contractors being denied superannuation, Rebecca set about raising awareness amongst massage therapists and employers. While this awareness raising was not popular with everyone, it has started a trend to fairer contracts and greater understanding by massage therapists of their rights and entitlements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebecca became AMT’s CEO in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From January 2020, Rebecca began informing AMT members about what would become the COVID-19 pandemic. At all stages of the pandemic, Rebecca kept members informed through social media, emails, blog articles and webinars. Rebecca instigated a successful letter writing campaigns to State and Federal members, pressuring those in power to provide financial support for massage therapists. She also steered the development of return to work strategies and best practice standards, keeping members safe at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 2022 and 2023, Rebecca initiated the development of the AMT Social Media Standard and was an active committee member. This document went live in September 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After her role volunteering on the AMT newsletter, Rebecca transitioned it into the \u201cIn Good Hands\u201d journal, where she was the editor. Rebecca shifted the journal into the AMT Blog in 2017 while continuing to publish the AMT Yearbook. Throughout this, Rebecca was editing, seeking and often writing articles. Rebecca\u2019s wit, humour, sharp observations, vast knowledge and industry experience are on display in each of her articles, from writing a humorous piece about underwear to informing readers of all aspects of employment for massage therapists and a 2 part myth-busting article that became a worldwide sensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMT members and non-members alike have benefited from Rebecca\u2019s counsel and support, including phone calls running late into the evening or on weekends, out-of-hours coffee meetings and Zoom calls. Rebecca remembers the names of many AMT members current and past, and recognises most of the faces at AMT conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Photo<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Rebecca\u2019s fierce determination to protect the massage industry, improve standards for massage therapists and hold stakeholders to account are hallmarks of her tenure at AMT.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Cartoon<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

However, no one is perfect. Rebecca\u2019s potty mouth is infamous and she has been known to turn the air blue in many a conference room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While AMT members will be sad and disappointed that Rebecca is no longer part of the AMT team, they will benefit from the hard work Rebecca put into making AMT members the most up-to-date, informed and professional massage therapists in Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On behalf of all the AMT membership, the Board would like to offer its sincere gratitude to Rebecca for her dedication and outstanding leadership during her many years of service to our organisation. Her tireless efforts and unwavering commitment, together with her clear vision and strategic guidance, have been crucial in the growth and success of AMT, making it the most reputable and referenced massage association in Australia. We wish Rebecca all the very best with whatever opportunity that may present itself in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the words of Harry Truman “it is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit”. After 26 years involvement with AMT, we say goodbye to Rebecca Barnett, appropriately in the Blog that she started back in 2017.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3795,"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":[32,13],"tags":[28,910,34,704],"class_list":["post-3792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amt","category-news-and-events","tag-amt","tag-amt-history","tag-rebecca-barnett","tag-thank-you"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.amt.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/thank-you-140227_1280.jpg?fit=1280%2C689&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3540,"url":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2022\/02\/15\/living-with-covid-massage-therapy-industry-survey\/","url_meta":{"origin":3792,"position":0},"title":"Living with COVID Massage Therapy Industry Survey","author":"admin","date":"15\/02\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Our latest graphical story is not exactly something we can urge you to enjoy. 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Read about why you can be justly proud of AMT's police check initiative.","rel":"","context":"In "AMT"","block_context":{"text":"AMT","link":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/category\/amt\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.amt.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/national-police-check.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.amt.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/national-police-check.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.amt.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/national-police-check.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":790,"url":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2018\/05\/24\/amt-agm-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":3792,"position":3},"title":"AMT’s Annual General Meeting 2018 in review","author":"admin","date":"24\/05\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In 2018, the AMT AGM travelled to Adelaide for the first time. 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