Sources behind our remedial massage reference

Reference

Where our information comes from

We think a health page should show its working. This is every source cited anywhere in our remedial massage reference. There is nothing here you cannot open and read for yourself.

Two rules govern this list. Nothing goes on it that we have not read on the source itself, and anything that can change carries the date we last checked it. Where we could not verify something, we leave it out rather than soften it.

Research

Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and trials. Each links to its PubMed record.

Mak S, et al.. Use of Massage Therapy for Pain, 2018-2023: A Systematic Review. JAMA Network Open. 2024. PMID 39008297.
Establishes: Across 129 systematic reviews of massage for pain, no conclusion was rated high certainty.
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Ezzatvar Y, et al.. Which Portion of Physiotherapy Treatments’ Effect Is Not Attributable to the Specific Effects in People With Musculoskeletal Pain?. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2024. PMID 38602164.
Establishes: 88% of the immediate effect of mobilisation on pain was not attributable to the specific technique.
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Gross AR, et al.. Massage for neck pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2024. PMID 38415786.
Establishes: Low-certainty evidence overall, with a clinically important difference favouring eight or more sessions of 30 minutes or longer.
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Legislation and statutory instruments

The Acts, rules and orders that decide what may lawfully be paid, and by whom.

Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Rules (No. 5) 2025, Explanatory Statement. Federal Register of Legislation. 2025. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: Replaces the definition of excluded natural therapy treatment, commencing 1 July 2025.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme (Supports for Participants) Transitional Rules 2024. Federal Register of Legislation. 2024. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: The statutory definition of NDIS support, in force from 3 October 2024.
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Workers Compensation (Health Services) Fees Order 2025. WorkCover WA. 2025. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: Fixes maximum fees for eleven scheduled services in WA. Massage is not among them.
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Code of Conduct for certain health care workers (Western Australia), full clauses. Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (WA). 2023. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: The statutory code binding WA massage therapists since 27 July 2023, including the requirement to substantiate every efficacy claim.
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Government publications

Departmental circulars, schedules and fact sheets.

PHI 98/25: Eligibility of services for private health insurance general treatment benefits where they include elements of excluded natural therapies. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. 2025. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: A session advertised as, or delivered solely as, reflexology cannot lawfully attract a health fund benefit.
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PHI 51/25: Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Rules (No. 5) 2025. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. 2025. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: The instrument that re-included seven natural therapies from 1 July 2025.
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Natural Therapies Review. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. 2026. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: The review history, the seven therapies re-included and the nine that remain excluded.
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Changing coverage for some natural therapies. Australian Government Department of Health. 2019. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: The verbatim list of the sixteen natural therapies excluded from 1 April 2019.
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Waiting periods. privatehealth.gov.au, Australian Government. 2026. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: Extras waiting periods are set by individual insurers. The government caps hospital waits only.
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MBS Note AN.15.4: Allied health services under chronic condition management. Medicare Benefits Schedule, Australian Government. 2025. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: The complete list of allied health providers eligible under chronic condition management. Massage therapy does not appear.
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Notes for Allied Health Providers, Section One: General (clause 166(f)). Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs. 2026. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: DVA will not pay for massage unless it is performed as part of physiotherapy, chiropractic or osteopathic services by that practitioner.
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Peak bodies and health funds

Published criteria from the organisations that set them.

Information for Remedial Massage Therapists (NDIS). Association of Massage Therapists. 2025. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: The profession’s own peak body confirms remedial massage therapists are excluded from NDIS funding, and is lobbying to change it.
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Subscribed funds with new modalities. Australian Regional Health Group. 2026. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: Which ARHG member fund pays benefits on which modality, including the HBF and see-u split.
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Private Health Funds Guide, August 2025. Massage & Myotherapy Australia. 2025. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: Provider number rules, receipt requirements, and that third-party paid services such as gift cards are not eligible for rebate.
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Remedial Massage Cover. HBF. 2026. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: HBF pays benefits towards remedial massage only, and one benefit per consultation.
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Frequently asked questions. Australian Natural Therapists Association. 2026. Checked 18 August 2026.
Establishes: ANTA does not recognise qualifications delivered predominantly by distance, online or external mode, and nor do the funds.
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Spotted something out of date, or a source that has moved? We would genuinely like to know. Tell us and we will check it.