Taroona resident Selena Hagan was recently appointed the president of Massage & Myotherapy Australia, Australia’s leading not-for-profit professional body for massage, remedial massage and myotherapy, representing thousands of qualified practitioners.
“I didn’t take this role lightly,” Selena said.
“After seven years on the Massage & Myotherapy Australia board (four years as vice president) and 25 years in the profession, it felt like the next step.”
Selena’s priority as president is to continue the work of the association, advocating for its members and ensuring it remains in the health system.
Selena said a common misconception she faces is educating the public that massage therapy is separate to other massage services.
“I’ll still be addressed as a masseur or masseuse, so I correct them by saying that I’m a massage therapist,” she said.
“There’s a difference.
“Qualifications, for one thing.”
Massage therapy, along with some other healthcare professions such as speech pathology and dietetics, is not regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which ensures Australia’s registered health practitioners are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise.
Instead, professions such as massage therapy must be self-regulated.
Following the introduction of the Private Health Insurance (Accreditation) Rules 2011, which were reviewed in 2019, massage therapists must be members of an accredited association to gain Approved Provider Status with individual private health funds.
Massage & Myotherapy Australia has gained accreditation with various health funds, allowing eligible members to be registered automatically as a provider.
“It’s all come down to the very hard work of the association and others to raise the profile of professional massage therapists and educate the public on what to look for,” Selena said, noting that members of the association must have the necessary qualifications and up-to-date insurance, as well as demonstrate an ongoing commitment to professional development.
In addition to her presidency, Selena runs her own massage clinic, Restore Remedial & Relaxation Therapies, out of the old Taroona shopping village at 148 Channel Highway.
She is also the lead massage therapist for the Tasmania JackJumpers.
Selena has always had an interest in the healthcare industry.
“I come from a sporting background,” she said.
“I studied sport science at uni and played a lot of sport myself.
“Then I worked as a personal trainer for a few years, but it didn’t really do a lot for me.”
While Selena was travelling overseas her mother saw an ad for a massage course in the newspaper and offered to sign her up.
“The moment I walked into the room I knew this was what I wanted to do,” Selena said.
Selena commented that she was very grateful to her parents for kickstarting her career in massage therapy, not only to her mum for signing her up to the course but also to both parents for fronting the cost of her very first massage table.
Selena then went on to work in a range of different places, including a gym at 35 Redwood Road, Kingston, that was later replaced by Diamond Dance Studio.
“I needed to find a new place, so I asked on my Facebook if anyone had rooms in a doctor’s surgery or physiotherapy clinic,” Selena recalled.
“One of my neighbours said, what about the old Taroona shopping centre?”
It turned out to be the perfect space for Selena.
“It’s quiet, clients can hear the birds, and it contributes to the Taroona community as well because we don’t have a lot of businesses here,” Selena said.
“I’ve worked three or four days a week here for the past 10 years now.
“I try to support local athletes and businesses, donate to raffles and things like that as much as I can because I’ve been supported by a lot of people over the years.”
