Welcome to our next Member Spotlight!

In March 2000 Ailsa Patterson B.Sc M.Chiro, became the owner and principal Chiropractor at City Centre Chiropractic, in Brisbane. Her qualifications include 1996 Bachelor of Science from The University of Queensland and a 1998 Master of Chiropractic from Macquarie University in Sydney. She has previously worked in clinics in Perth and South East Queensland, before settling in Brisbane City.

Prior to becoming President of the Queensland Chiropractors' Association of Australia (2002-2005), she served for several years as an Executive member of the Queensland Chiropractors' Association of Australia, (2000 2006) holding the portfolio of Public Education. She was appointed by the Health Minister for a four year term on the Chiropractors Board of Queensland (2006-2010).

During her time with the association she held a general interest in health promotion and the media. For nine years Ailsa nurtured a relationship with a local television program, Brisbane Extra, on Channel 9, until its final episode aired 2009, regularly appearing to promote healthy spines / lifestyles and chiropractic. The Public Education Campaign has also seen her contribute to print and radio mediums and other various television shows across the three commercial channels.

While she was a member of the Registration Board, she focused on continuing professional development via her heavy involvement with the production and execution of seminars, both local and regionally for the Chiropractors Board of Queensland.

FTCA: Congrats on your board appointment, tell us more about it!

AP: I have recently been appointed to the Chiropractic Registration Board of Australia as the practicing Queensland Member. My first meeting is in September, so I shall know more about what exactly is involved then. The Chiropractic Board of Australia was established under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). The Board’s role is to regulate chiropractors in Australia under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme). Board members are appointed by the Australian Workforce Ministerial Council. Chiropractors are one of 14 health professions in the National Scheme.

The functions of the Chiropractic Board of Australia include:

registering chiropractors and students
developing standards, codes and guidelines for the chiropractic profession
handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings
assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia; and
approving accreditation standards and accredited programs of study

FTCA: Have you set any goals for yourself while serving on the board?

AP: Under section 37 of the National Law, the Chiropractic Board of Australia has established a number of standing and ad-hoc committees and working groups to help manage the work of the Board. The committees currently in place are:

Immediate Action Committee
Registration, Notification and Compliance Committee
Accreditation, Assessment and Education Committee
Communications and Relationships Committee
CPD Committee
Governance, Finance and Administration Committee
Standards, Policies, Codes and Guidelines Committee

I have expressed an interest in working on a few different committees which would fulfil my goals of holding registrants responsible for their actions. However, as the newbie, it seems more likely I will be delegated positions.

In a perfect world, and based experience from previous roles my picks would be, the CPD (continuing professional development) Committee, as I believe some recent CPD seminars have not met legislative standards. The Registration, Notification and Compliance Committee, essentially the complaints departments, and finally, the Communications and Relationships Committee which is a liaison with various groups including the stakeholders of the profession (Chiropractors’ Association of Australia and the newly formed Chiropractic Australia).

Chiropractors who work in Australia must be held accountable to the legislation that governs all health professions.

FTCA: What advice do you have for a student who wants to follow in your footsteps?

AP: Get involved and find a mentor, don’t worry if over time you out grow your mentor, find another and progress. Be true to your own beliefs and moral code.

FTCA: What, in your opinion, is the biggest obstacle to practicing in Queensland?

The lack of access to the public health system. The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of the public that chiropractors claim to want to serve are hidden behind a medical firewall which can only be breached by teaching ourselves, that communication between health professionals is paramount and the only ethical option.

FTCA: How do you balance your personal and professional lives?

AP: Often I run between places, I am not sure that is balance but it works. I can’t run 10 kilometers but I can in my work clothes carrying a bunch of my stuff and my child’s, somehow run and be all places on time.

I run my chiropractic business, my household (which includes; 3 people, 2 Labradors, 2 guinea pigs and a flock of wild sulphur crested cockatoos that drop by in the late afternoon for a feed) my child’s life, and I am also a military wife. Since my son’s birth, he is now 6 and in year 1, my availability in the clinic has reduced, however I have chosen not to employ a nanny as I feel some of those mundane family tasks, like packing lunchboxes and helping with homework are important – my choice.

I have a CBD (central business district) clinic so we start early and finish for school pick up, and all those errands after school brings, homework and sport. Importantly I have learnt not to compare myself to the ‘boys’. Back in the day, I was the first female Queensland President of the CAA, so I have always had lots of male colleagues who seem to like talking patient numbers, now, I am totally comfortable with the income I can derive from my clinic on part time hours.
Every week we have a family dinner at a local sushi train, which never seems to get old if you are six.

My favorite down time of the year is our annual family holiday to Fiji.

FTCA: What organizations would you suggest people get involved in?

AP: An evidence based chiropractic group / professional association. CDI (see below)

Any other community group that piques interest, as you never know who you will meet or what you might learn.

FTCA: What helped to shape the way you practice?

AP: Being involved with the Chiropractic Association, and the Queensland Registration Board has allowed me to glimpse what the public and the other health professions think of chiropractic, which has allowed me to adjust (intended) how I practice.

I also discovered Chiropractic Development International (CDI) and it was these seminars that opened my eyes to the evidence base, and showed me how useful chiropractic can be when you understand the basic science and can communicate that to your patients and other health professionals. Over the years they founders of CDI have become part of my clinical “brains trust”.

Additionally, nine years ago, I had a knock at the door from another city chiropractor wanting to share my office space. I was a little hesitant at first, as he was a Buddhist and his children (like all good chiropractors) were unvaccinated, but I figured I could change him. And that is how Douglas John Scown and I became business partners. We have had a wonderful partnership, and it has been invaluable to work alongside a like-minded clinician, discuss cases, workshop ideas, laugh and rant.

FTCA: What is chiropractic to you?

AP: I somewhat like the idea that chiropractic is handmade health care, that does not mean chiropractic is all things to all people all of the time.

In my mind chiropractic diagnoses and treats functional conditions of the spine and nervous /nerve system, enabling people to move without pain have a productive life and use ‘exercise as medicine’.

FTCA: What’s the best part of your day?

AP: In the clinic, I enjoy solving the clinical puzzle of a new patient. At home, cuddles and talks with my boys.

FTCA: How long do you take with each patient?

AP: 15 minutes for a regular treatment and 45- 60 minutes for a new patient.

FTCA: How has being a member of the FTCA been beneficial to you?

AP: The collegiality.

I had given a lot of my time and myself to my profession over the years as an Executive Member and President of the Queensland branch of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia. I resigned from the CAA when I felt things were going downhill. My mentors even told me I was wrong to think the way did about our profession.

Turns out I found a group within my profession who thinks like me.