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Massage New Zealand Case Report Contest

As part of its organisational objectives, Massage New Zealand (MNZ) aims to:

• Encourage high standards of knowledge and competency amongst members;
• Encourage the dissemination of research in massage therapy.

To help fulfil these aims, MNZ offers an annual national Case Report Contest.

The purpose of the MNZ Case Report Contest is to increase the emphasis massage therapists in New Zealand place on writing case reports. By creating a climate of critical thinking and evidence-informed practice among New Zealand massage therapists, case reports have the potential to have a positive influence in advancing the profession by helping to gain acceptance of massage therapy within the mainstream health sector, increasing awareness in the government sector and promoting the benefits of treatment and outcomes to the public.

Case reports play an important part in helping massage therapists develop and apply critical thinking skills, cultivate research and academic writing skills, and gain a greater understanding and appreciation of evidence-informed practice as it applies to clinical work with clients. Case reports can contribute to growing the range of scientific literature in the field of massage therapy by providing data which may be the foundation for higher level research.

The contest is an opportunity for New Zealand massage therapists to showcase their clinical work, analytical thought processes and to actively participate in the profession, helping to increase awareness of the profession's value in modern, evidence-informed health care.

The contest is open to:

• Current MNZ RMT, new graduate and student members;
• Non-MNZ member massage therapists;
• Non-MNZ student members studying massage therapy in New Zealand at one of the NZQA accredited providers.

Contestants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a massage therapist working in New Zealand with either New Zealand citizenship, residency or a current valid work visa; AND
• Hold a NZQA accredited qualification in Massage Therapy (Level 5-7), or equivalent (must have proof of recognised prior learning (RPL) from MNZ if the qualification was gained overseas); OR
• Be actively enrolled and attending a massage therapy program (Level 5-7) at one of the NZQA accredited providers in New Zealand, as listed on the MNZ website.

The deadline for 2021 is 5 PM on Friday 17th December. Winners announced early the following year and published in the first issue of the MNZ Magazine.

Winners will be selected by a panel of three independent judges which includes MNZ Magazine Research Update columnist Ruth Werner, an experienced international judge, author and past President of the Massage Therapy Foundation. To ensure independence and impartiality of the panel, none of the judges will be current tutors, or have monetary or other affiliations with any the training institutions teaching Massage Therapy in New Zealand.

Thanks to the support of some of our key preferred suppliers, prizes will be awarded for the top three case reports:

1st Prize winner - Gold sponsor: Bizcover

• Receive a voucher to the value of $600 from sponsor, equating to two years premium for the MNZ professional liability scheme;
• Awarded a one year RMT Membership, valued at $195;
• Receive a certificate as proof of the award;
• Have their achievement announced via MNZ social media, website and MNZ Magazine;
• Have their case report published in MNZ Magazine and on the MNZ website.

2nd Prize winner - Silver sponsor: Performance Linen

• Receive a voucher to the value of $200 from sponsor, redeemable for Performance Linen products;
• Awarded 75% discount off the RMT Membership, valued at $146.25
• Receive a certificate as proof of the award;
• Have their achievement announced via MNZ social media, website and MNZ Magazine;
• Have their case report published in MNZ Magazine and on the MNZ website.

3rd Prize winner - Bronze sponsor: Tui Balms

• Receive a voucher to the value of $150 from sponsor, redeemable for Tui Balm products;
• Awarded a 50% discount off the RMT Membership, valued at $97.50
• Receive a certificate as proof of the award;
• Have their achievement announced via MNZ social media, website and MNZ Magazine;
• Have their case report published in MNZ Magazine and on the MNZ website.

MNZ may also require some or all of the winning contestants to present their case reports at the following MNZ National Conference (paid for by MNZ - decided on case by case scenario), submit to an academic peer reviewed international journal, e.g. the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB) and an international case report repository (CaseRe3).

Further detailed information can be found in the below documents:

• Case Report Contest Information and Guidelines
• Marking Rubric
• Contestant Declaration Form
• Client Informed Consent for Publication of Case Report Form
• Case Report Cover Sheet
• Case Report Checklist
• Case Report Contest Poster 2021
• Case Report Contest Poster 2021 with print margins

Additional information can be obtained from MNZ Executive Administrator.

Case Report submissions to be emailed to MNZ Executive Administrator.

MNZ Executive Administrator
admin@massagenewzealand.org.nz