Announcing Australia's first national Reiki body, CARO, the Council of Australian Reiki Organisations - bringing Australian Reiki organisations together
The International House of Reiki is proud to be a Member Organisation of the newly founded Council of Australian Reiki Organisations.
We believe that this pioneering move of bringing Reiki organisations together under one national Reiki Council, will ensure high professional standards for Reiki teachers/practitioners and students/clients throughout Australia with many other benefits to follow.
Below is CARO's Media Release 15th May 2005
Representatives of major Reiki organisations recently formed the Council of Australian Reiki Organisations Ltd (CARO). CARO, through its Member Organisations (consisting of associations, schools, incorporations and networks), currently represents approximately 22 500 Reiki practitioners Australia wide, and will provide registration, accreditation, and standards maintenance for the previously unregulated Reiki profession in Australia.
In an historic move, CARO has been created out of extensive negotiations directed at producing a new qualification for Reiki practitioners, conducted under the aegis of the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CSHISC).
CARO Director and Chairperson, Ms. Sue Lake-Harris explains that: "Our actions have been undertaken in a spirit of active co-operation. Our intent is to ensure that all members of the Reiki profession have equal access to present and future qualifications, and to ensure that the professional practice of Reiki is managed responsibly and professionally".
Traditionally, Reiki organisations have been characterised by a need for independence and a reluctance to accept formalisation. However, recent government support for the development of qualifications for alternative and complementary modalities (in particular, the development of a Certificate IV and Diploma for Reiki professionals), has resulted in an acceptance of the need to provide professional and recognised service to the public.
There has also been concern amongst senior members of the Reiki community about threats to Reiki from international moves to trademark key terminology and to redefine Reiki to serve limited vested interests.
CARO has been formed to address these issues. In addition, it is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the teaching, practice and traditions of Mikao Usui, the Japanese founder of the system of Reiki.
CARO supports high standards of teaching and practice, uses a code of ethics and practice, and supports research and the development of new training courses. It supports the development of quality Certificate IV and Diploma Reiki qualifications. In addition, CARO, in consultation with existing Reiki member organisations and associations, will play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining national databases/lists, for public use, of endorsed Reiki Masters/Teachers and Registered Practitioners, Member Organisations, and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) offering courses relevant to teacher/practitioner professional development.
An important role for CARO is to provide a unified voice for the Reiki profession in Australia and to commence the work of bringing Reiki into wider public acceptance as a valid and effective means of therapy for many conditions. Community recognition and a much greater involvement of Reiki practitioners in a wide range of contexts, including orthodox as well as complementary health care settings, is a key focus for CARO.
The directors of the Council of Australian Reiki Organisations Ltd. (CARO) look forward to a future which is amicable and constructive and which provides the Reiki profession with high standards and a credible voice in the promotion of Reiki as a therapy of choice for the wider public.
CARO is now calling for expressions of interest from Reiki organisations throughout Australia interested in joining forces and seeking admission as members. Please note that individuals cannot join CARO. To be recognised by CARO as an endorsed Reiki Master/Teacher and/or registered Professional Practitioner, individuals will need to belong to a Member Organisation of CARO.
Organisations representing other energy-based modalities will not be eligible for membership of CARO, however CARO would encourage them to form their own criteria for recognition and professional association development.
