Massage Therapy Code of Practice - Delivering quality care to Australian consumers

Sep 17, 2026

The Massage Therapy Code of Practice establishes a formal framework for safe, ethical massage therapy in Australia. Standards within the Code support practitioners in risk management and in meeting professional duty of care by avoiding acts or omissions likely to cause harm. The Code also defines professional misconduct as a breach of ethical standards, providing clear expectations to guide compliant practice in clinics and workplaces.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages69

Reading Time24 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

About AMT

Code of Ethics

Introduction

Standards

AMT Standard-Complaint Handling

AMT Standard-Professional Boundaries

AMT Standard-Social Media

AMT Standard-Draping

AMT Standard- Informed Consent

AMT Standard-Breast Massage

AMT Standard-Privacy and Confidentiality

AMT Standard-Record Keeping

AMT Standard-Issuing Receipts

AMT Standard-Advertising

AMT Standard- Infection Control and Hygiene

AMT Standard-Work Health and Safety

AMT Standard-Dry Needling

AMT Standard-Treatment of Minors

Massage Therapy Code of Practice association of massage therapists ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Code of Practice would not have come into being without the effort, commitment and energy of a number of people. Special acknowledgement is due to Rebecca Barnett, Tamsin Rossiter and Desley Scott who researched and wrote most of the standards contained in this document. Sincere thanks and acknowledgement also go to: • Alan Ford and Linda Hunter, who drafted three of the Standards in the Code • Beth Wilson and Grant Davies (Office of the Health Services Commissioner, Victoria) and Professor Michael Ward (Health Quality and Complaints Commission, Queensland) who provided invaluable feedback and insight • Colin Rossie, whose research and contributions to the Code of Practice Wiki helped to maximise stakeholder engagement in the process • Annette Cassar and Jodee Shead, who assisted in the review process • Linda White, Paul Lindsay and Katie Snell, who proofed the document • All those who took the time to read the draft Code and provide feedback. Designed by Claudia Iacovella Graphic Designer Email: [info@claudesign.com.au](info@claudesign.com.au) [M: 0417 073 383](M: 0417 073 383) © Association of Massage Therapists Ltd This material is copyright © Association of Massage Therapists Ltd (AMT) . You may download, store in cache, display, print and reproduce the material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice, or links toit where they appear) for non-commercial use or use within your organisation. You may not deal with the material in a manner that might mislead or deceive any person. You may not reproduce this material without acknowledging AMT's authorship. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests for further authorisation should be directed to: Association of Massage Therapists Ltd PO Box 1022 Glenquarie NSW 2564 P: 02 9211 2441 E: [info@amt.org.au](info@amt.org.au) CONTENTS Acknowledgements 2 | About AMT | 4 | | --- | --- | | Massage Therapy Code of Practice-Delivering quality care to Australian consumers | 6 | | AMT Standard-Complaint Handling | 13 | | AMT Standard-Professional Boundaries | 17 | | AMT Standard-Social Media | 21 | | AMT Standard-Draping | 27 | | AMT Standard- Informed Consent | 30 | | AMT Standard-Breast Massage | 34 | | AMT Standard-Privacy and Confidentiality | 37 | | AMT Standard-Record Keeping | 41 | | AMT Standard-Issuing Receipts | 45 | | AMT Standard-Advertising | 48 | | AMT Standard- Infection Control and Hygiene | 52 | | AMT Standard-Work Health and Safety | 55 | | AMT Standard-Dry Needling | 60 | | AMT Standard-Treatment of Minors | 64 | ABOUT AMT The Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) is a national, not-for-profit association representing qualified Massage Therapists and Massage Therapy Students. Established in 1966, AMT is the oldest association in Australia to represent massage therapy in its own right and the premier representative body for professional therapists. Vision Australians have access to safe, ethical and evidence-informed massage therapy treatment within the Australian health care system. Our mission is to: ● Support our members ● Professionalise practice ● Educate and inform the public and other healthcare professionals AMT values Best practice We support our members to deliver evidence informed, skilled and ethical care Participation We encourage our members to connect and engage with colleagues Leadership We have set the agenda for industry advocacy since 1966 Openness We strive for the highest standards of transparency and accountability Client focus We put quality and safety of careat the heart of our agenda code of ethics As a member of the Association of Massage Therapists, I commit myself to the highest standards of practice: I will: • care for the health, wellbeing and comfort of my clients with the utmost skill appropr

FAQs

What is the purpose of this Code of Practice for massage therapists?

It provides a formal framework for safe and ethical massage therapy in Australia and helps practitioners apply risk management policies and procedures in their clinic or workplace.

How does the Code define duty of care?

Duty of care refers to the massage therapist’s ethical and legal obligation to avoid acts or omissions likely to cause harm to clients through appropriate and responsible application of professional knowledge, skill, and integrity.

What counts as professional misconduct under the Code?

Professional misconduct is defined as a violation of the ethical standards, meaning a failure to meet or a breach of the Code of Practice.

Sep 17, 2026

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