AACMA Newsletter - 29 August 2025
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29 August 2025
This Issue:
NEW RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: This new research from 11 August 2025 explored the evidence for acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain via 111 systematic reviews (SR), covering 35 musculoskeletal pain conditions. Overall, the evidence was very promising, with the large majority of SR finding acupuncture more beneficial than the control, which covered various treatments such as sham acupuncture, medications, usual care, no treatment, etc.
The only downside to the research was the low quality of the SR, prompting the authors to call for more rigorous research going forward. They noted that most research was undertaken in Asia, and encouraged the development of more research in geographically diverse locations. The evidence map the authors created may offer an interesting visual for your patients, showing the overwhelmingly positive research outcomes for short term pain relief across such a wide array of musculoskeletal conditions. Source: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1575226
MEET THE BOARD: Rose Pinter
“Being part of AACMA has provided me with an extraordinary cohort of fellow practitioners and knowledge resource. Members who love their profession and who love to collaborate and share their knowledge.”
Rose Pinter recently rejoined the AACMA Board as a Director, returning after previously serving from 2017 to 2021. With experience in the arts, community service and governance, alongside her longstanding dedication to Chinese medicine, Rose brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role. She has been closely involved in strengthening AACMA through projects such as rewriting the Constitution and Codes of Conduct, and she remains committed to supporting the profession and its future growth. How did you first come to acupuncture and Chinese medicine? What do you value most about being an AACMA member? Can you share a professional achievement you’re especially proud of? What inspires you in your clinical work? What excites you most about the future of AACMA and the profession?
Playing Music in Your Clinic? Understand the Copyright Rules with OneMusic Recently, some members have been contacted by OneMusic regarding the need to obtain a licence when streaming or playing music in their clinics. We know this has raised questions about copyright obligations, music licensing requirements, and whether these requests are legitimate. To help clarify, we’ve included two resources below: Music Licensing 101 for Businesses and Myth Busting OneMusic & Music Licensing Myths. These articles explain what OneMusic is, when a licence is required, and clear up some of the common misconceptions so you can feel confident about your obligations as a business owner.
Music Licensing 101 for Businesses
Did you know that if you play music that is protected by copyright in your business, (whether you’re a clinic, medical practice, bar, restaurant, retailer, etc.) without a licence or permission you risk infringing the copyright? Many Australian businesses are unaware that almost all commercially-available music is protected by copyright and playing that music comes with legal obligations under the Copyright Act 1968. These obligations apply no matter whether that music is played from:
How do I get a licence to play copyright-protected music in my business? OneMusic is a joint music licensing initiative between the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA). Prior to OneMusic, APRA AMCOS and PPCA issued separate music licences to business, so in 2019 OneMusic was established to simplify that process and make it easier for businesses and individuals to legally play music at their business, event or venue. OneMusic not only gives businesses the ability to legally play the vast majority of the world’s most popular music, it also ensures businesses remain compliant with Australia’s copyright laws when they do so. Even if music is played from a paid digital music streaming service or through YouTube, the radio, or a CD, a business will still need to pay for a music licence for the public performance of that music. Prior to OneMusic, APRA AMCOS and PPCA issued separate music licences to business, so in 2019 OneMusic was established to simplify that process and make it easier for businesses and individuals to legally play music at their business, event or venue. OneMusic not only gives businesses the ability to legally play the vast majority of the world’s most popular music, it also ensures businesses remain compliant with Australia’s copyright laws when they do so. Even if music is played from a paid digital music streaming service or through YouTube, the radio, or a CD, a business will still need to pay for a music licence for the public performance of that music. You can easily obtain the correct licence by using the licence selection tool. A music streaming subscription is different to a music licence. Subscribing to a music streaming service (paid or free) or even just turning on the radio doesn’t automatically give you the legal right to play that music in your business. The most popular streaming services that most of us use every day are only for our personal use (take a look at your music streaming service’s Terms of Use to see this in play). More importantly, to play music that is protected by copyright ‘in public’ (that is, in your business), you need to get permission from the owners of the copyright in that music. When your business has a OneMusic licence, you have the right to play the vast majority of popular and well-recognised music from around the world. Where does the money from licence fees go? All money generated from OneMusic licences goes back to music creators as ‘royalties’ from APRA AMCOS and PPCA, minus administration costs. APRA AMCOS reported that 62,000 of their members earned royalties in the last financial year, much of that from licence fees paid by OneMusic’s customers. How does OneMusic know what music I play to pay the music creators? OneMusic keeps track of what music is being played in Australia from data regularly drawn from radio and television stations, live performance reporting, streaming services, music recognition technology, like Audoo, and from background music suppliers. Licensed businesses also have the option to install an Audoo Audio Meter for free. It’s a small plug-in device that recognises music played at your business. It ‘fingerprints’ songs and that data plays a role in helping to accurately get royalties to the creators of the music actually played. What happens if I play copyright-protected music in my business without a licence or permission? Playing music that is protected by copyright in a business without permission is likely to be an infringement of copyright, which could lead to legal action and significant costs to that business. A court proceeding can result in your business having to pay, not only the licence fees that would have applied, but additional costs such as ‘damages’ and legal fees. What are my options to play music that wouldn’t need a OneMusic licence? If you want to play music in your business, and would rather not take out a OneMusic licence, there are a few options. For more information on music licensing, head to OneMusic’s website.
Myth Busting OneMusic & Music Licensing Myths
Find out the truth behind common music licensing myths in Australia. Learn how OneMusic works, what a music licence covers, and why your business may need one. Myth buster 1: Doesn't my Spotify subscription already cover music use in my business? No - subscribing to a streaming service (paid or free) or even just turning on the radio doesn’t automatically give you the legal right to play that music in your business. Firstly, the most popular streaming services that most of us use every day are only for our personal use (take a look at your music streaming service’s Terms of Use to see this in play). More importantly, to play music that is protected by copyright ‘in public’ (that is, in your business), you need to get permission from the owners of that music copyright. When your business has a OneMusic licence, you have the right to play the vast majority of popular and well-recognised music from around the world. Where do music licence fees go? Myth buster 2: Is OneMusic a scam? No - OneMusic is a genuine music licensing organisation that has issued hundreds of thousands of ‘public performance’ music licences to businesses, individuals and organisations throughout Australia since 2019. You can easily confirm OneMusic’s legitimacy by checking with various official websites, such as The Australian Business Licence and Information Service and the Australian Copyright Council. Myth buster 3: Do music creators really get paid? Yes - music creators, including songwriters, composers and recording artists rely on income generated from royalties to keep on creating songs and playing music. All money generated from OneMusic licences goes back to music creators as ‘royalties’, minus administration costs. APRA AMCOS member and music creator Emma Greenhill Myth Buster 4: "I don't need a music licence if the music is royalty free" Is royalty-free music really free? Not always – it is sometimes the case that music that is marketed as ‘royalty-free’ still needs permission or a licence before it can be played ‘in public’. Even if the music is free to use, the song itself or the recording of that song might still be protected by copyright and playing that in your business without a licence can be a breach of copyright law. Also, while you may think that ‘royalty-free’ is a cost saving, finding high quality licence-free music that fits your venue can take a lot of time, and your options will likely be limited. Learn more about alternatives to OneMusic. Myth buster 5: "Musicians don't get any royalties from OneMusic licences" ‘Royalties’ are what is paid to music creators when their copyright-protected music is used, particularly by other people. For instance, by radio stations, on TV or when played ‘in public’ by a business. OneMusic keeps track of the music being played in a huge database that has been collected from music users across Australia, including from radio stations, TV broadcasts, music streaming services and live performances. OneMusic then pays APRA AMCOS and PPCA the licence fees it collects so that they can pay ‘royalties’ to help music creators continue their work. Myth buster 6: "Nothing will happen if I don't get a OneMusic licence" What happens if a business doesn’t pay for a music licence? Playing music that is protected by copyright in a business without permission may be an infringement of copyright, which may lead to legal action and significant costs. A court proceeding can result in your business having to pay, not only the licence fees that would have applied, but additional costs such as ‘damages’ and legal fees. Myth buster 7: "My business doesn't need a music licence" Music licensing is what gives a business permission from the owners of the music (such as, the songwriter, or recording artist) to play that music work ‘in public’, for instance in a store or at an event. In general, business owners need to license the playing of most commercially available music in their bars, restaurants, cafes, retail stores and events (like food and wine festivals) because usually that music is protected by copyright and those businesses are playing it ‘in public’. All industries from radio and digital streaming services to hospitality, retail and fitness benefit from music licensing, as it allows them to play the music they want any time without worrying about whether they are breaching copyright in that music. Find out more about licence types. Myth buster 8: "I don't need a music licence to play classical music" Do I need a music licence if I’m playing classical music in my business? If you’re planning on adding a touch of classical music to your retail store, restaurant, or place of business, it’s important to keep in mind that even really old music from people like Beethoven or Mozart is sometimes still protected by copyright and so may need a licence when played ‘ in public’. It is the case that the music of 18th century classical composers is no longer protected by copyright, but copyright can still apply for new recordings of those old compositions. Copyright would also still apply when old music from the classical period is reworked into a modern version, or when ‘classical’ music is created by a modern composer. Myth buster 9: "I don't play music to the public, I only play it for myself and staff" What’s a public performance licence? Under Australia’s copyright law, music that is protected by copyright can’t be played ‘in public’ without first getting permission from the copyright owner. For a restaurant or cafe, playing music ‘in public’ includes playing music for customers, but also if playing it just for staff. In a gym, playing music ‘in public’ includes playing it to the gym’s members. Generally, unless you are playing music for your own ‘personal and domestic’ use, such as at home or in the car, when a business plays music that is protected by copyright, it is playing that music ‘in public’ and therefore needs permission. A ‘public performance licence’, such as is available from OneMusic, is a type of music licence that provides legal permission for business owners to play the vast majority of commercially available music ‘in public’, including for their customers, their members, their staff or ticket holders to their events. Myth buster 10: "I don't need OneMusic, they don't supply the music I play" OneMusic is not a music supplier, it is a business that issues music licences on behalf of music creators from Australia and all around the world. Music creators from around the world give music rights management organisations, like APRA AMCOS and PPCA, the rights they have in their music so that they can get paid ‘royalties’ from businesses that want to use that music. To make music licensing even easier for business and to ensure they can play music without having to get permission from each individual music creator, APRA AMCOS and PPCA started OneMusic, which is a ‘one stop shop’ that gives businesses permission to play the vast majority of the world’s repertoire of music for a simple one off or annual fee. Find out more about OneMusic and how to licence your business here.
Understanding GST for Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Practitioners Webinar
Are you sure that your services are GST-free? What about pills, teas, or ointments you provide? When can you and when should you register for GST? GST can be complex but getting it right can be beneficial for you. In this practical, easy to understand webinar, Australia’s leading independent GST advisor Ken Fehily (who was involved in writing the GST laws and ATO rulings) will explain what every acupuncture and Chinese medicine practitioner needs to know. You’ll learn:
Whether you’re just starting out or reviewing your GST position, this session will give you the clarity and confidence to get it right—and stay compliant. Date: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Learn with Beyond Blue: Webinar in the Lead-Up to R U OK Day 2025
For many people life feels quite complex and there are several external forces that are influencing how we live and feel every day. Having your own strategies and knowing where you can reach out to for support, are fundamental. This Beyond Blue webinar will explore how this complex world impacts ours and what resources, tools and tips, Beyond Blue provides to help you along this way. We will consider cost of living, small business ownership and strategies that are easy to adopt to your needs. Date: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
1. Stay on the right side of Ahpra’s advertising requirements. Navigating the rules around health service advertising can be a minefield, but getting it wrong could mean serious penalties. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) sets strict requirements under Section 133 of the National Law, which apply to all regulated health professionals. From websites and social media through to flyers and signage, every communication must be accurate, evidence-based and transparent, with fines of up to $60,000 for breaches. This article breaks down what is and isn’t allowed, including restrictions on testimonials, misleading titles, gifts and inducements, and exaggerated claims of treatment outcomes. It also outlines the responsibility health practitioners hold for ensuring all advertising — even when created by marketing professionals — complies with the law. If you advertise a regulated health service, understanding these requirements is essential to stay compliant and protect both your practice and patients.
2. Can I Say Sorry? Receiving a complaint can be one of the most stressful parts of running a business but the way you handle it makes all the difference. Guild Insurance draws on over 60 years of experience to share why listening, staying calm and documenting interactions are essential steps in managing complaints before they escalate. Knowing what not to do, such as offering quick fixes, compensation or reacting defensively, can help avoid turning a difficult situation into something far more serious. But what about saying sorry? Many professionals fear that an apology equals an admission of liability. The good news is that under civil liability legislation across Australia, saying sorry is not considered admitting fault. In fact, a genuine apology can go a long way in de-escalating complaints and showing empathy. The article explores how to frame apologies in the right way, acknowledging a person’s feelings without assuming blame, and why demonstrating sincerity can lead to better outcomes with both clients and regulators.
Moving or Adding a New Clinic?Please contact our membership team with your new clinic details by email at aacma@acupuncture.org.au so they can apply to the health funds for new provider numbers.
Health fund deadlines to be aware of
Details required when Adding an Additional Clinic:
If you miss the above deadlines, please refer to the below: Reporting Cycle for Health Funds
Ceased practicing at a clinic, please provide the address and the ceased date so we can advise the health funds to remove your details. To check your workplace details or membership go to our website https://www.acupuncture.org.au/ then
If you have issues logging in or setting up a password, please don’t hesitate to contact the membership team 07 3457 1800 we are happy to assist you.
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