Chiropractic care is essential for the health and wellbeing of thousands of Australians, and millions the world over.  Masses of families in Australia, including children of all ages, rely upon Chiropractic care every week. The removal of Chiropractic care for under-12s in Australia would be a giant step backwards in healthcare for the people of this free country.  

Chiropractic care for children is very safe.  A comparison of the adverse effects of Chiropractic care in infants and children versus other common healthcare modalities demonstrates an exemplary track record of safety.  Chiropractic care encompasses a wide range of methods for assessment and technique application, of which one application is spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation does not represent the whole package that a Chiropractor will use in taking care of an infant or child.  Nonetheless, the risk of adverse events resulting from spinal manipulation in children are extremely low, and this is documented in the peer reviewed literature.

Chiropractic care for children is being shown to be increasingly effective.  A growing body of evidence indicates the efficacy of Chiropractic care for children in a wide range of health conditions, primarily neuromusculoskeletal.  Removing Chiropractic care as an option for parents who seek help for their children leaves a very narrow field of options for parents to then choose from, mostly dominated by those which fall under a Western medical model. This model, including pharmaceutical intervention, has its own documented challenges and concerns relating to adverse events and safety.  Chiropractic is the most accessed and utilised ‘alternative’ modality in the Western world. Chiropractic for infants and children is recognised, regulated and practiced around the world, with growing utilisation as a first approach for neuromusculoskeletal care, and has been safely and successfully consumed here in Australia for decades. As the body of evidence for safety and efficacy grows, it could be suggested that Australian Chiropractors are now safer and more effective than ever.

Chiropractic care for children is backed by a significant level of parent satisfaction.  Here and across the world, consenting parents consistently report a high level of satisfaction with the Chiropractic care their children receive.

We, the people of Australia, deserve and wish to preserve the right to access safe, effective, evidence-based and patient-centred Chiropractic care for our children.  Now, and in the future.

Resources for further information and research:

https://chiropractors.asn.au/

https://chiropracticaustralia.org.au/