Slowly, slowly – back to Business as Usual …

Monday – 18th May, 2020

This will be the last update on this page because clinic is open again. I have been back for 3 weeks now – and business has been very, very busy … booked out solid each week! Jacob is coming back this week as well … Kat & Tash are preparing to come back … but Kate has decided not to return to clinic.

From this week, between Jacob & I clinic will be back to ‘almost normal’ Open Hours …

We will both resume our old regular rosters, with just 2 minor changes – My Thursday will remain an AM shift, and Jacob will hold off on his Monday shift for a few more weeks to come, so between us clinic will be open :

Tuesday’s – 8am through to 9pm

Wednesday’s – 1pm through to 9pm

Thursday’s – 8am through to 4pm

Friday’s – 1pm through to 9pm

Saturday’s – 8am through to 4pm

Sunday’s – 8am through to 4pm

Monday’s – Clinic will remain Closed

Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings will open up again when Kat comes back … probably around June/July.

If you have been following this page for clinic updates concerning the Covid-19 Health Crisis, please know that now that some of us are back in clinic i won’t be adding to this page any more … Any and all questions can be asked directly to clinic.

Please remember that if you are trying to make an appointment – your best options will continue to be through our Online Booking and Client Portal (links available on both our website and FB page … or potentially in an old email from Alison).

Thank you all again – very much – for working through this with us, we appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you in clinic soon.

Kind regards,
Tony, Kat, Jacob, Tash & Alison.
The Hands From Heaven Remedial Massage Team

Monday – 4th May, 2020

Good Morning everyone … May the Force be with you on this Star Wars Day 2020.

This will possibly be the last update on here because as of last week we have been allowed to return to clinic. It hasn’t been as long of a closure as I thought it could have been, and that deserves a ‘tip of the hat’ to all Queenslanders for contributing to our Communal Recovery by observing directions given by our Chief Health Officer.

As many are likely aware by this stage – the relaxation allowing Remedial Massage to re-open in Queensland was given on Thursday April 23rd, and while it did take a few days for us to take action, we re-opened clinic Thursday last week and the response was great. The appointment diary booked out within 36 hours, and more appointments continue to be made into future weeks … Thank you so very much for you support – it is humbling for me to see business kicking back in so quickly.

And so – how does clinic look moving forward?

At this point in time, I (Tony) am the only therapist available in clinic … the rest of the team have their own decisions to make, based on their own personal circumstances, and they will return when they are ready. We will keep you all informed of future developments with the team as they are known – please keep an eye on our Social Media platforms (FB & Insta) for updates.

When the green light was given to re-open, I made the decision to start back with reduced time so I could gauge how busy it might be … and with 2 weeks booking out in just 36 hours I saw that many, many, many of you are keen for treatment – so while I will continue with just 3 days only for this week, from next week (Tuesday 12th May) I will be available for my old regular 40 hours across 5 days …

Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday 8am-4pm & Wednesday/Friday 12-8pm.

(Yes – the online booking is already updated with this, and the times continue to fill fast … thanks again)

Of course – until further advised by the Chief Health Officer, and very likely for the next couple of months I guess – we need to observe increased Infection Control & Social Distancing measures as much as practically possible and that means 2 things specifically:

1. All appointments will have an automatic 15 minute buffer period between them (no more back-to-back appts until further relaxations are given). This allows time to thoroughly sanitise the Treatment Room between clients, and helps reduce the potential for clients sharing space in Reception during ‘cross-over’; and
2. All clients will need to sign a Covid-19 Liability Declaration before treatment can be provided – this helps everyone contain the virus and avoid potential contamination and cross-infection via this clinic. Especially now, we ask everyone to be mindful of their own health and if you are feeling any symptoms of any viral infection – please stay home until you are better.

Please understand that as Professional Health Care Providers, we reserve the right to refuse you treatment if you do present to clinic demonstrating any signs or symptoms of being unwell.

Just quickly too …

If you are trying to phone clinic, please remember that especially while I am the only one here, I cannot always be available to answer the phone when it rings … The OGM has been updated to advise we are open again, but if you don’t leave a message, I can’t call you back.

If you are trying to make an appointment – your best options at this stage will be through our Online Booking and Client Portal (links available on both our website and FB page … or potentially in an old email from Alison), or otherwise I might be more able to respond to an email between clients rather than a phone message …

Thank you all again – very much – for working through this with us, I appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you in clinic soon.

Kind regards,
Tony, Kat, Jacob, Kate, Tash & Alison.
The Hands From Heaven Remedial Massage Team

Thursday – 23rd April, 2020

I received an email yesterday from my Professional Association (Massage & Myotherapy Australia) giving the latest update concerning Remedial Massage Therapists returning to work in Queensland. In that email there was a link to the latest Direction from The Department of Health – Chief Health Officer (Dr Jeannette Young) in accordance with emergency powers arising from the declared public health emergency … dated – and taking effect from – Tuesday, 21st April 2020. (follow the link to read the full direction)

A brief history of that Direction:

1. On 29 January 2020, under the Public Health Act 2005, the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services made an order declaring a public health emergency in relation to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The public health emergency area specified in the order is for ‘all of Queensland’. Its duration has been extended by regulation to 19 May 2020.
2. On 1 April 2020, via email from our Professional Association (MMA), we were advised – “As of Tuesday 31st March, we have been advised that massage is considered a non-essential services in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Victoria, and therefore remedial massage therapists in those states should cease face to face practice immediately.
3. On 21 April 2020, the previous Direction (#5 – dated 9th April) was officially replaced, and the restrictions concerning Remedial Massage in Queensland are now eased under specific conditions.  While business restrictions remain in place (ie: A person who owns, controls or operates a non-essential business, activity, or undertaking in the State of Queensland, including operating at a private residence, must not operate the business, activity or undertaking during the period specified in paragraph 5), Remedial Massage has been granted exemption and allowed to re-open – “subject to the exceptions set out in Column 2 of the Definitions table at paragraph 8.”

Those conditions are:

• Massage therapy for the management or prevention of a disease, injury or condition, provided by a qualified massage therapist, with social distancing observed to the extent possible.

The definition of ‘Qualified Massage Therapist’ is defined as:

• Qualified massage therapist means a massage therapist who:

1. Holds a relevant qualification (minimum AQF level 5 (Diploma)) under the Australian Qualifications Framework … Example – Diploma of Remedial Massage or Bachelor of Health Science (Myotherapy); 
2. Is a member of a professional organisation within the meaning of section 10 of the Private Health Insurance (Accreditation) Rules 2011 (Cwlth); and
3. Holds approved provider status with one or more private health funds.

All of this means that clinic can re-open immediately, but of course it remains every individuals choice as to whether they feel comfortable and/or safe attending clinic … and we would like to remind you all that this covers not only you – our valued clients – but also each of us in clinic. It must be remembered that Covid-19 is still active in our community and continues to pose a substantial risk that can be brought into our own homes.

Infection Control remains an extreme priority, and so therefore this relaxation allowing clinic to re-open will not be reckless and carefree. The initial steps towards returning to business will be measured and monitored – likely to be only 2 days per week initially, then adjusted according to demand.

Not all of our team will be returning straight away – some have children they will be home schooling for at least another 5 weeks, others of us live with elderly parents who remain in the ‘Very High Risk’ category of our wider community.

I recognise that the last few weeks/months have been very stressful for so very many of us, and I also understand how helpful Remedial Massage can be to help us all cope with circumstances beyond our personal control, so at this stage I (Tony) am looking to return in the next week or so, probably for 2 days/week – depending on demand … exact days and hours to be advised.

Please stay tuned to our Social Media platforms (Instagram & Facebook) for more information as it develops … and please know that we will all be back and available again as soon as we can be.

Kind regards,
Tony, Kat, Jacob, Kate, Tash & Alison.
The Hands From Heaven Remedial Massage Team

Friday – 17th April, 2020

I received an email today from my Professional Association (Massage & Myotherapy Australia) giving the latest update on the governments decisions concerning Remedial Massage Therapists returning to work … As the Federal Government has indicated, each state of our country is enforcing measures and restrictions for their local communities and so the latest release is not a blanket decision for the whole of Australia.

For clarity of communication, I have copied from my email and pasted below :

Latest COVID-19 Update on States and Territories

Since our first joint statement on 26 March 2020, the landscape continues to be ever changing. The joint Associations have been working tirelessly together in order to provide all members the facts and will continue to seek clarity from both Federal and State Governments as to the directions for therapeutic, remedial massage and myotherapy services in each individual state.

As of today, 17 April 2020, the following is a summary of what has been received in writing from the different states and territories:

The following states and territories have confirmed that remedial massage and myotherapy members are permitted to provide professional services at this time:

• ACT
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Victoria
• Western Australia

The following states have confirmed that remedial massage and myotherapy members are not permitted to provide professional services at this time:

• Queensland
• Tasmania

We continue to seek clarification from South Australia.

Obtaining the facts as they stand on a day-to-day basis has been achieved as a result of the efforts of the combined Association initiative between the Australian Natural Therapy Association (ANTA), Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), Massage & Myotherapy Australia (MMA) and Myotherapy Association Australia (MA). We thank you for continuing to support the work that your association is doing at this time, and stay united as a community of health care providers.

We all agree that the times we are living in continue to be a challenge for most of us, and we at HANDS from HEAVEN want to get back to clinic as soon as we can but our hands remain tied.

Heavy fines remain in place for therapists found to be treating before the restrictions are lifted, and Health Fund Rebates for Remedial Massage and Myotherapy treatment claims have been suspended until the restrictions have been lifted.

I believe that as 5-of-8 States/Territories of our country have lifted their restrictions, the end should not be too far away … however, our Premier is focused on the situation in Queensland specifically & solely (as is completely appropriate of course) and has not ruled out continuing with our restrictions until the Health/Medical evidence indicates the danger has passed.

Therefore … we remain closed for now, but hope is on the horizon and we will be ready to hit the ground running as soon as we can. Please stay safe and healthy – maintain social separation as instructed – but particularly, be kind to yourself and those around you and take some care for your mental health as well.

We continue to apologise for any disappointment or distress the closure of clinic might cause you … Please know that we are doing our best to open again, and we will the moment it is safe to do so.

Kind regards,
Tony, Kat, Jacob, Kate, Tash & Alison.
The Hands From Heaven Remedial Massage Team

Monday – 6th April, 2020

At 7:30am this morning, we published this week’s blog article –

Blog#18  –  Coronavirus and Self Care … by Tony

In this article you can read about some strategies to help care for yourself while living with the current Social Distancing & Isolation restrictions imposed to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections across our country.

We understand that everyone is most likely frustrated with all the restrictions placed on our wider community at present … some sectors in our community are over-worked right now, while many others are lost with nothing to do because of Social Distancing and Isolation restrictions … but you still need to look after yourself so you are ready for the other side when all the panic is over.

Clinic continues to fall into the ‘non-essential services’ category and will remain closed for very likely the next few months, but this weeks blog will help guide you towards practices you can do for yourself – at home – to help support & boost your own Immune System … the most important ‘Front Line of Defence’ for each & every one of us.

If you would like further guidance – and/or clarification for anything connected with how Clinic is dealing with – or affected by – Covid-19, please watch this space or reach out to us through our social media platforms … Please remember that our telephone and email are not monitored everyday while clinic is closed.

We continue to apologise for any disappointment the closure of clinic might cause you … Please know that we are doing our best to open again, and we will the moment it is safe to do so.

Kind regards,
Tony, Kat, Jacob, Kate, Tash & Alison.
The Hands From Heaven Remedial Massage Team

Wednesday – 1st April, 2020

At around 8am this morning, members of Massage & Myotherapy Australia (our Industry Professional Association) received an email confirming where Remedial Massage lies with relation to ‘essential services’ and the impact of Covid-19 in Australia.

“As of Tuesday 31st March, we have been advised that massage is considered a non-essential services in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Victoria, and therefore remedial massage therapists in those states should cease face to face practice immediately. Victoria has advised that it considers myotherapy a non-essential service and therefore myotherapists in Victoria should also cease face to face practice immediately.”

We were also urged – “Until absolute clarity can be demonstrated such as in Queensland and Victoria please co-operate with any instructions from Police and do not put your business or self at further risk.” … and so this information confirms that the decision we made to close clinic last week was the correct and socially moral thing to do at this time.

As a Team – we are all very keen to return to clinic and resume treating, but unfortunately there seems to be no recognised time-line yet allowing us to do that. Updates will continue here – and on our Social Media platforms – so that we can let you know as soon as we know when we can re-open. This is a challenging time for everyone, and we thank you all – very much – for your understanding and continued support.

Thursday – 26th March, 2020

In accordance with the Prime Minister’s Press Release from Tuesday 24th March, our clinic will close until such time as it is safe for us to re-open. We are hoping to re-open as soon as possible but will need to be guided by any future developments concerning the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and any implications regarding social distancing connected to potential infection.

We apologise for any disappointment this closure might cause you … Please know that we are doing our best to open again, and we will the moment it is safe to do so.

All the best,
Tony, Kat, Jacob, Kate, Tash & Alison.
The Hands From Heaven Remedial Massage Team