FORMAL SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Meditation Teaching Scope

Currently, in Australia, meditation teacher registration is based on the verification of initial and continuing competence through the professional body, Meditation Australia (MA). Some meditation teachers will hold additional qualifications that complement the scope of meditation teaching, which will permit such practitioners an extended Scope of Practice. Examples may include being a registered psychologist, physiotherapist, doctor, naturopath, psychotherapist, counsellor or teacher. Such extended scope is beyond normal meditation teaching practice and is to be regulated by the scope and codes of the professional registering body of other such disciplines. The duty of care of a meditation teacher is to ensure the safety of a student at all times and to refer to a more appropriate therapist or medical practitioner when the student presents with symptoms outside the expertise of the teacher.

A meditation teacher has qualifications, specialised skills and knowledge in the application of meditation.

A meditation teacher is qualified to work from a meditation educational framework and therefore can:

Work within the scope of a meditation teaching qualification with a variety of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health presentations.

Offer an integrated set of practices aligned to the needs of the individual and according to meditation models for which the meditation teacher has received appropriate training, certification and registration.

Meditation Teaching may occur in the following settings:

Individualised meditation teaching that occurs in a one to one setting.

A group meditation class consisting of people with a variety of conditions.

A meditation teacher is qualified to liaise with other health professionals to:

Receive and provide referrals from and to other appropriate healthcare providers.

Be part of a multi-disciplinary team when necessary.

Engage with medical or allied health professionals, when appropriate and use best practice referral/ feedback processes to optimise client health and wellbeing outcomes.

A meditation teacher is qualified in an appropriate understanding of health and health systems to:

Be informed by diagnosis provided by other health professionals qualified to do so.

Have a basic understanding of transference and counter-transference.

A meditation teacher (unless otherwise suitably qualified) is NOT qualified to:

Advise about other health treatment modalities other than referring clients to appropriate personnel or services.

Request diagnostic tests or procedures.

Interpret raw diagnostic test results.

Prescribe medication, nutritional supplements or herbs from Western or traditional medical methods such as Chinese or Ayurveda medicine

Advise about ceasing prescribed medication.

Perform any invasive procedures.

Judge or make recommendations about any other form of advice or treatment from another healthcare professional.

Work with clients presenting with issues outside the individual teacher’s areas of competence.

Advertise themselves as competent beyond the scope of meditation teaching unless they hold other qualifications.

Diagnose a medical condition.

Make false claims about the potential therapeutic or healing capacity of meditation.