P h y s io th e ra p y , S e p te m b e r 1982, v o l 38, n o 3 67 WOULD YOU MANAGE WITHOUT YOUR SOCIETY? S. H. I R W I N - C A R R U T H E R S , Nat. Dip. Physio, Dip. Physio. Ed. (U.P.)* A recent ed itori al in the S o u t h African Medical J o u r n a l reads as follows — “ There isn’t an or g a n iz at i o n in the worl d from the local society f or the s t u d y o f Afri can violets to the World He al th O r g a n i z a ti o n whose m em be rs h a v e n ’t at some time a sk e d ‘wha t does this society d o for m e’. To answer that qu estion, it may be wort hwh il e ch an g in g the wo rd in g to read: ‘I f my society d i d not exist, wha t woul d it m ean in my life?’ But to a n sw er th at question pr e su p po se s a kn ow le dg e o f what the society has do ne a n d is do in g, a n d alas m any m em b e rs o f societies have little idea o f w h a t goes o n . ” Alas, all to o m any p hy si o th era pi sts have little idea o f what J. goes on. P e r h a p s it is time to pa use a n d take stoc k of all the p ro bl em s a n d pitfalls which w oul d c o nf ro n t the individual p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t if th e S o u t h A f r i c a n S o c i e t y o f P h ys io th e ra p y did not exist. When w oul d you find time to pr e p ar e lengthy m e m o r a n d a co nce rn ing the fu tu re o f p h y s io th er a p y in S o u t h Africa? • Di d yo u k n o w th at the B ro wn e C o m m i s s io n o f E nq u ir y in to H e a l t h Services requ est ed the S o u t h African Society o f Ph y s io t h e r a p y to su b m it m e m o r a n d a deal in g with all facets o f the p hy si o t h er a p y pr of es sio n in the Republic? This m e m o r a n d u m , r e p re se n tin g weeks o f w o r k , was c o m pl e te d a n d s u b m i tt e d to the C o m m i s s io n by the due date. • Did you k n o w t h at , following tw o years o f neg otiatio ns, the So u t h African Medical a n d D e n t al C o un c il has a p p r o v e d the So ci ety ’s request (via the Professional Boa rd) f or a c h an g e in the ethical ruling in o r d e r to allow ph y si o th er a pi st s p r i m a r y c on ta c t ? This a m e n d m e n t still has to be a p p r o v e d by the M in ist er o f Health. When woul d y o u find tim e to neg oti ate with the au th o ri tie s o n salaries a n d c on d it i o n s o f service? • Di d yo u kn o w th at the Society has an ongoi ng c o m m i t m e n t to c o n ti n u o u s n e g ot ia tio n for impr ov ed salaries a n d c o n d it i o n s o f service? • Di d you k n o w th at the So ciety has been able to su bm it s e v e r a l m e m o r a n d a t o t h e C o m m i s s i o n o f A d m i n is tr a t io n c o n c e r n in g the recent e va l u a t i o n o f the profession? • Di d yo u k n o w t h at , because o f its a d v a n c e knowledge, the Society was able to b ri ef g r o u p s o f physiot her ap ist s t h r o u g h o u t the Rep ub lic in o r d e r th at a s o u n d a n d ac cu rat e reflection of the pro fes sio n c o u ld be given to the m em b e rs o f the C o m m i s s io n o f A d m i n is tr a t io n dur ing their interviews a n d as sessme nts in the different pa r ts of the c ou ntr y? • Did yo u k n o w that , largely as a result o f p re ssu re from the Society, pa rit y has been achieved for all th erapists excepting bl ack sen io r a n d basic g r a d e ph ysi ot herapists? — a n d th at the Society is c o n ti n u i n g to put pressu re on the a u th or it ie s f o r the ab o li t io n o f these last, rema ini ng th re a ds o f sa la ry d is cr im in ati o n ? • Di d yo u k n o w that a special i nte rd isc ipl in ary co m m itt e e has been f o r m ed to neg oti ate with the D e p a r t m e n t o f Na tio n a l E d u c a ti o n c on c e r n in g the role o f thera pis ts in special schools? *Senior L ect u re r, Uni ve rsi ty o f Stellenbosch. Wh en w o u ld y o u find time to e ns u r e th at inf rin ge m ent of the sc op e o f p h y s i o t h e r a p y by o t h e r pr of essions do e s not be co m e a n es tablishe d fact? • D i d you k n o w th at a m e m o r a n d u m was s u b m i tt e d t o the Def enc e F o r c e c on c e r n in g the relative roles o f the p h ys i o t h er a p i st a n d the physical e du cat io na lis t? • Di d y ou k n o w that, at the request o f the H u m a n Sciences Re se arc h Co u n cil , a m e m o r a n d u m was s u b m i tt e d to th em c o n c e r n in g the role o f p h ys io th era p ist s in e d u ca ti o n , b o t h c o n v en t i o n al a n d special, at all levels? • D i d yo u k n o w t h a t , follow ing the su bm iss io n of m e m o r a n d a a n d di sc ussion with a d e p u t a t i o n fro m the Society, a challenge m a d e by a n o t h e r h e a l t h profession c o n ce r ni n g the sc ope o f ph y si o t h e r a p y has been d r o p p e d from the ag en d a o f the So u t h African Medical a nd D e nt al Counc il? • Di d yo u k n o w th at the Society h a s m ad e re p re se n ta ti on s to the S.A. Medical a n d Den tal Counc il to prevent the r eg ist ra tio n o f physical ed u ca tio n ist s as remedial g ym nas ts? Wh ere w o u ld you find time to an alyse d r a ft legislation which may affect the st a tu s o f ph y si o t h e r a p y a n d the p h ys i o t h er a p i st in the Republic? • D i d yo u k n o w th at the Society su b m i tt e d a lengthy m e m o r a n d u m to the M in is te r o f Health c o nc e r n in g the 1981 D r a f t Bill to p r o v id e for c h ir o p r a c t o r s a n d o th er as soc iated heal th professions; a bill which was w it h dr aw n in its original form? W h er e w ou ld y ou find time to e n su r e a high s t a n d a r d of pract ice t h r o u g h o u t the c o u nt ry ? • Di d y o u k n o w that the So ci ety ’s r e c o m m e n d a ti o n s c o n c e r n in g mini mal s t a n d a r d s for basic degrees a nd a d d i t i o n a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s w e r e a c c e p t e d by the Professional B o a r d f o r Ph y s io t h e r ap y a n d the S.A. Medical a n d Den tal Co uncil? • D i d y ou k n o w th at a special s t a n d in g c o m m i tt e e o f the Society screens foreign qu alifica tions , as well as i n d i v i d u a l t h e r a p i s t s , a n d m a k e s th e ne c c ss a r v r e c o m m e n d a ti o n s to the Profe ssional Board? • Di d yo u k n o w th a t a special g r o u p of the Society is c o n ti n u a lly en ga ge d in u p d a ti n g the u n d e r g r a d u a te syllabus? At this m o m e n t , follow ing a req ues t f r om the D e p a r t m e n t o f He alt h , they are l o ok in g into the role o f the p h y si o th er a pi st in psy chiatric hospitals a nd are m a k i n g r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s for inclusion o f cour ses in the u n d e r g r a d u a t e s y l l a b u s w h i c h w o u l d e q u i p the p h y si o th er a pi st m o r e ad eq u a te l y for wo rk in the psy chiatric field. W hen w o u ld yo u find time to p r e p a r e the a r g u m e n t for su b m iss io n to the T a r i f f C o m m i t t e e to ne gotiate for a d ju s tm e n ts to the S t a t u t o r y T a r i f f o f Fees? • D i d yo u k n o w th at a d e p u t a t i o n fro m the Society successfully ne g ot ia te d the recent a d ju s tm e n t? • Did you k n o w th a t they a r e alr ead y eng age d in neg ot ia tio n s for the next ad ju s tm e n t? W her e w o u ld y o u find time t o lob b y at i n te r n at io na l level agai nst is olation o f S o u t h Africa in the p h y s i o t h e r a p y world? • Di d y ou k n o w th at it is largely as a result o f the efforts of the Pre siden t o f the Society, b a c k e d by the So ci ety ’s policy, th a t S o u t h Africa re m a in s a m e m b e r o f the W or ld C o n f e d e r a ti o n for Ph ys io th er ap y ? • Di d y ou k n o w th at S o u t h Africa was, in fact, n o m in a t e d R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) 68 F isioterapie, S e p te m b e r 1982, dee! 38, n r 3 M IN IS T E R DF H E A LT H R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) p h y s io th e ra p y , S e p te m b e r 1982, vol 38, n o 3 69 f o r ele ction as T h i r d Vice-President a t the recent meeting o f the W.C .P .T . You w o u l d n ’t be able to find the time, w o ul d you? Nor, most p r o b a b ly , all the i n f o r m a t i o n r e qui re d, n o r the expense involved. I nc ide nta lly , di d yo u k n o w t h at , in terms of Notice No. R2028 o f G o v e r n m e n t G a z e t t e No . 5323 o f 29 O c to b er 1976, the S o u t h A fr ic a n Society o f P h y s io t h e r a p y is the only as soc iat io n re cog ni zed by the G o v e r n m e n t as being r e p res en tat iv e o f the pr o fes si o n o f ph ys io th er a py ? It is a sad fact t h a t so m e p h y si o th er a p is ts seem p r e p ar e d to pay e x o r b it a n t a n n u a l fees to their go lf o r y a c h t club s bu t resist the m u ch m o r e m o d e ra te fee to th eir professional or g a ni s at io n. C a n yo u af fo rd not to be a m e m b e r o f the So u t h African Society o f Ph ys io th e ra p y? Reference S. A fr. M e d J ., 60, 759 (editorial). W H E E L C H A I R S E L F - D E F E N C E W he e lc h a ir t ec hni que s o f self-defence b as ed o n several fo rm s o f m art ial arts hav e been de ve lo p ed by two ve teran police officers — J i m Bu llard, self-defence i n st ru ct or , a n d Steve Red dish, a pa raplegic himself. F u r t h e r details av ailab le from: Steve Red dish , P a r a -M e d i a P r o d u c t io n s , 2080 S h a r o n Lane, M e m p hi s , Tenne ssee 38127, U.S.A. W OR KIN G IN T H E U N I T E D S TA TE S H e al t h Pr ofessio nals I n t e r n a ti o n a l is a firm willing to assist p h ys io th er a p is ts wishing to o b t a i n e m p l o y m e n t in the U.S.A. F o r f u r t h e r p ar ticu la rs, c o n t a c t T h e A p p o i n t m e n t s Sec ret ary , S.A.S.P., P.O. Box 11151, J o h a n n e s b u r g , 2000. THE HISTORY OF THE LECTURERS’ GROUP OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY OF PHYSIOTHERAPY (A fr. D0SENTEGR0EP) T he L e c tu r e r s ’ G r o u p o r i g in a t e d as a result o f a meeting between lectu rin g st a ff o f the Universities o f C a p e T o w n an d the W it w a t er sr a n d , th e P r e to r ia College a n d the Schools o f P h ys io t h e ra p y o f the Kin g E d w a r d VIII Ho sp ita l a nd the O ra ng e Fr ee State. Miss M a rg a r e t R o p e r , H e a d o f the D e p a r t m e n t o f Ph y s io t h e r a p y , Un iv er si ty o f C a p e T o w n , was largely resp ons ible for the meeting. T h e m eet ing was ch aired by Miss J e a n Blair, C h a i r m a n of the So u t h African Society o f Ph y s io t h e r a p y a n d was held at the Medical School o f the University o f N a t a l on 6 July 1964. As a result of this meeting the fol low ing re so lu tio n to the 5th Cou nc il Meeting ,'was carried: T h a t ph y si o th er a pi st s en g ag ed in the t r ai n in g of p hy si o th er a pi st s fo rm a su b - g r o u p within the So ut h Afr ica n Society o f Ph ys io th er ap y. The T e a c h e r s ’ G r o u p , as it was then called, met agai n at the time o f the 5th Counc il M e e tin g in W el ko m in 1965, bu t it was not until the t h ir d meeting, held in S e p t e m b e r 1966 in Pretoria, p ri or to the 6th Cou nc il Meeting, th a t the first Office Bearers were elected a n d a S u b - C o m m it t e e a p p o in t e d to d ra w u p a C on st i tu t i o n . T h e first Office-Bearers were: Mr Ja ck S t o c k to n ( C h a ir m a n ) , Miss A n n e H e n d r y ( H o n o r a r y Secretary) a n d Miss J o h l y n e Cr e w e- B r o w n ( H o n o r a r y Treasurer). Miss de Bruin succee ded M r S t o c k to n in O c t o b er 1969 a n d was C h a i r m a n for a d e ca de befo re being succeeded by Mrs J o h l y n e B e e n h a k k e r (nee Cr e w e- B ro w n ) in 1979. Miss I r w i n - C a r ru t h e r s to o k ov er as H o n o r a r y Secretary when Miss H e n d r y resigned in 1970. The first C o n s t i t u t i o n a p p e a r e d in 1968 a n d the G r o u p was r e n am ed the A s so c ia tio n o f Te a ch e rs o f Ph ys iot he rap y. Fol lo wi n g an a m e n d m e n t to the So ci ety ’s by-laws in 1971, the n a m e was c h an ge d to the L e c tu r e rs ’ G r o u p . The m em be rs elected t o re tain this d e si gn ati on when the by-laws were a m e n d e d agai n t o allow the use o f the n a m e association. T he C o n s t i t u t i o n was extensively revised in 1979 in o r d e r to br in g it in to line with t h a t o f the p a r e n t Society. It is interesting to not e t h a t at the very first mee ting in 1964 it was ag re e d to r e c o m m e n d th at the Society sh o u l d write to the So u t h Afri can Medical a n d D e n t a l Coun cil , offering to act as the e x am i n in g b o d y f o r quali fy in g e x a m i n a t io n s in phy sio th era py . This r e c o m m e n d a ti o n , which, if accepted, might have m ad e m em b e rs h i p o f the So u t h African Society o f P h y s i o t h e r a p y c o m p u l s o r y f o r all p r a c t i s i n g ph y si o th era pi sts , c a m e to na ugh t. F r o m the ou tse t the G r o u p c on ce r n ed itself with a c o n ti n u o u s review a n d u p - d a ti n g o f syllabi, thu s the syllabus for the N a t io n a l D i p l o m a in P h y s io t h e r a p y was revised several times in the en su in g 16years. M i n i m u m s t a n d a r d s for degree courses were first discussed in 1969, a n d in 1980 the So u t h Afri can Med ica l a n d D e n t a l Counc il a cc ept ed the mini mal s t a n d a r d s r e c o m m e n d e d by the G r o u p . W h e n the G r o u p was first f o r m e d , only o n e university (the W it w a t e r s r a n d ) offered a degree course. All seven courses offered at present are f ou r - ye a r deg ree courses. T he first M a s t e r ’s De gr ee in P h ys io th e r ap y was offered by the University of the W it w a t e r s r a n d in 1972. T h e first two successful c a n d id at e s were a w a r d e d th ei r M a s t e r ’s Degrees in 1981. M.Sc. c ou rse s a r e n o w off ere d by the Universities of Ca pe T o w n , the O r a n g e Free State, Stellenbosch a n d the W it w a t e r sr a n d , whilst the University o f D u rb a n - W e st v i ll e offers an M. P h y s io t h e r ap y degree. O t h e r registrable p o s t ­ g r a d u a t e courses n ow av ailab le are the D i p l o m a in A d v a n c e d P h y s i o t h e r a p y o f th e U n i v e r s i ty o f the W i t w a t e r s r a n d , the D i p l o m a in R e s p i r a t o r y T h e r a p y o f the University o f D u r b a n - W e s t v i ll e a n d the D i p l o m a in Intensive Ca re Phy sio th e ra p y o f the University o f C ap e To wn . R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )