University of Queensland establishes first Centre of Complementary Health Practice

The University of Queensland is to establish Australia's first Centre of Complementary Health Practice within a traditional health science faculty at an Australian University.

The Centre is expected to be located in a Brisbane community health centre and will take a major role in educating the community about the use of complementary medicines.

It will be started with $500,000 sponsorship from Australian international healthcare company, F H Faulding & Co Limited (Faulding), which also includes funding for a PhD in research activities. Faulding is Australia's leading provider of complementary medicines, with brands such as Cenovis?, Golden Glow? and Nature's Own?.

Professor Peter Brooks, Executive Dean of Health Sciences at the University of Queensland, said a key focus of the Centre would be to look into many of the social trends and research claims of complementary medicines.

"The Centre will have the expertise to make a real difference in the way we look at complementary medicines, including the social considerations that drive people to take them.

"We envisage it will play a major role in research and in working with relevant government organisations, providers of care and the community, regarding the use of complementary medicines.

"The Faculty of Health Sciences is also set to take a lead in Australia by making complementary medicines part of the learning and teaching process," Professor Brooks said.

The Centre has a mandate to be involved in some challenging research projects. Professor Brooks and his team will look at many of the assumptions behind traditional models for analysis of complementary medicines such as clinical trials.

Dr Ed Tweddell, Faulding Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, said up to 73% of Australians may currently take complementary medicines.

"It is important for health professionals and their patients to recognise complementary medicines are a mainstream health treatment.

"The establishment of a Centre of Complementary Health Practice will go a long way to dealing with conjecture regarding complementary medicines and assist in the acceptance of them as a mainstream health practice.

"Ultimately our investment in the Centre is to help provide more information and raise awareness about the safety and efficacy of complementary medicines.

"As a leader in healthcare delivery we have a duty to help provide the highest quality health care outcomes for the community," said Dr Tweddell.

Australia's complementary medicine market is estimated to be worth $A600 million annually.

For more information

- Professor Peter Brooks, Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland (07 3365 5103)
- David Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Faulding Healthcare (08 8408 3225)
- Released through: Neville Sloss, Michels Warren 02 9957 4233