Media Releases

26th September 2007
CARO PROFESSIONAL REIKI TREATMENT DELIVERY & BUSINESS SKILLS COURSE

Things are really starting to change on the Australian Reiki community horizon!

For years there has been talk of introducing 'standards' within the Reiki community to help overcome inconsistencies in the quality of Reiki treatments and courses.

The Council of Australian Reiki Organisations (CARO) was set-up in 2006 by a multitude of Australian Reiki organisations with the intention of supporting such standards through self-regulation.

Following on from the highly successful “Reiki ~ Unity in Community” National  convention in August 2007, CARO has just announced the completion of its first course to support the Australian Reiki community in standards development and training.


This course, Professional Reiki Treatment Delivery and Business Skills, should be available from 2008.

Whether you are a complete beginner, or have been working professionally for some time, this module will help you develop/re-inforce good client treatment and service skills.

Some of the areas covered by the course includes:
-How to start your practice, ensuring you comply with legal requirements at state and federal levels
-Pointers on administrative and book-keeping requirements
-Setting up and furnishing your practice premises
-Taking a thorough case history
-Maintaining client records and ensuring privacy and confidentiality
-Obtaining informed consent
-Communicating with your clients (being compassionate, objective, and realistic without getting personally involved)
-Treatment hygiene, for yourself and the client
-Occupational health and safety
-Explaining Reiki and giving a first treatment session
-Adapting treatment strategies to deal with client needs
-Scheduling subsequent sessions
-What to do if asked to liaise with other health professionals
-Post-treatment support - what is appropriate, and how much is too much
-How to deal with difficult clients
-When to refer a client elsewhere

The focus is on the practical aspects, with written resources provided for much of the business information.

The module is open to any person who has completed both levels I & II of Reiki, and will be delivered in many cases from within CARO member organisations. Open courses will be made available for non-CARO practitioners. For those who belong to a member organisation, your successful completion of the module entitles you to one year of CARO registration as a professional practitioner, in addition to a certificate of successful completion. Non-CARO members receive a certificate of successful completion.

Contact CARO at training@caro.org.au to find out more details and to keep updated on how CARO can support you.

15th May 2006
CARO - A NATIONAL BODY FOR REIKI IN AUSTRALIA 

Representatives of major Usui system of Reiki (USR) 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 USR practitioners Australia wide, and will provide registration, accreditation, and standards maintenance for the previously unregulated USR profession in Australia.

In an historic move, CARO has been created out of extensive negotiations directed at producing a new qualification for USR 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 USR profession have equal access to present and future qualifications, and to ensure that the professional practice of USR is managed responsibly and professionally".

Traditionally, USR 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 USR community about threats to USR from international moves to trademark key terminology and to redefine USR 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 USR.

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 USR member organisations and associations, will play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining national databases/lists, for public use, of endorsed USR 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 USR profession in Australia and to commence the work of bringing USR 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 USR profession with high standards and a credible voice in the promotion of USR as a therapy of choice for the wider public.

CARO is now calling for expressions of interest from USR 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 USR 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.

Current Member Organisations of CARO are:

Asia Pacific Reiki Institute 

Australasian Usui Reiki Association (AURA) Inc.

Australian Reiki Connection Inc. (ARC)

International Center for Reiki Training

International House of Reiki

Usui Reiki Network International

If you are an organisation, or a member of an organisation, who would like to find out more, please contact CARO at:

Email: Please email CARO via the Contact CARO webpage. 

Postal Address: The Secretary, CARO, PO Box 123, Oakleigh, Victoria 3166