IFA35
BUSINESS
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AROMATHERAPISTS MARKS 35 YEARS
T
The IFA’s Lauren Allen looks back at 35 years of progress… HIS October, the IFA is celebrating
Authority (PSA) for Health and Social Care. The
to work in a safe environment, supporting the
35 years as a leading membership
PSA is an independent body accountable to
wider wellbeing of the populations at large.
association for aromatherapists. It’s
Parliament and oversees the UK’s nine statutory
Annually, the IFA charity donates funds, time and
a time which has seen the modality
health and care regulatory bodies, including
expertise to initiate projects and raise awareness
grow from a small band of enthusiasts to a hugely
the General Medical Council and Nursing and
to support those in need. The IFA hold a Guinness
popular form of holistic therapy that is now offered
Midwifery Council. It launched its Accredited
World Record for the most amount of hand
in many hospitals worldwide to aid patients’
Register programme under the Health and Social
massages to the elderly. We have a portfolio of
relaxation as well as health and wellbeing.
Care Act 2012, accrediting voluntary registers of
over 50 charitable causes.
The IFA will be recognising the efforts made
professionals working in a variety of health and
The IFA are very proud of its achievements
by dedicated IFA members, staff and volunteers
social care occupations that are not currently
over the past 35 years and the loyalty from its
to bring aromatherapy to a wider audience. As
statutorily regulated. Patients and GPs need to
members who, in turn, have felt a strong sense of
founding member Patricia Davis recalled, “It
be assured about the competence of practitioners
ownership towards their association. Members,
was a time of enthusiasm, excitement, idealism
when choosing the services of a professional
volunteers and staff alike look forward to
and a sense of pioneering. Before the IFA’s
Aromatherapist and PSA accreditation of the
continuing all the best traditions of the IFA and the
inception, aromatherapists had no organisation or
IFA register provides external assurance that
strong sense of purpose, caring, enthusiasm and
representation at all”.
IFA registered Aromatherapists meet that high
commitment, which inspired its establishment. n
When the IFA was established in 1985, aromatherapy was barely known. The IFA
standard. As an international body, the IFA is committed
championed the profession, promoting the
to its global responsibilities. IFA aromatherapists
therapeutic value of essential oils in both the
have provided assistance during international
media and institutions. The IFA introduced the
crises including the Japanese Tsunami of 2011,
nationwide Aromatherapy Awareness Week
the 9/11 terrorist attacks and, more recently,
Campaign which continues to run annually in
during the Coronavirus pandemic. The IFA also
June. Due to increasing numbers of reputable
provided PPE equipment to enable their members
i
The IFA regulates and accredits standards in aromatherapy for both
practitioners and qualification providers. Discover more at
www.ifaroma.org
research trials and subsequent media coverage, the public now has greater awareness and confidence in the efficacy of aromatherapy especially in the areas of mental health, back pain, cancer and palliative care. One of the IFA’s most ground-breaking projects started in 1988. The UK wide ‘Aromatherapy In Care’ project was launched from within the NHS and evolved into a package designed to introduce aromatherapy treatments to the medical profession. IFA volunteers offered free treatments to terminally ill or bed-bound patients. This inspired many nurses and midwives to choose to train in Aromatherapy and, ultimately, led to a range of paid employed Aromatherapy positions within the healthcare sector today. This year, the IFA was approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards
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