Angry mothers are demanding their money back from Infant Massage Information Service

A BABY massage business is under official investigation amid allegations it faked ­accreditation, overcharged students and falsely claimed ties to a leading hospital.

Sarah Swan

A BABY massage business is under official investigation amid allegations it faked ­accreditation, overcharged students and falsely claimed ties to a leading hospital.

Hundreds of mothers and therapists have paid up to $1500 for Infant Massage ­Information Service (IMIS) courses, encouraged by claims rubbing bubs can improve brain activity and even ease post-natal depression.

Training providers also rely on accreditations from other organisations to ­encourage enrolment. After removing two key accreditations from its promotional materials, IMIS recently added the “Agency of International Education” (AIE). What IMIS does not tell prospective ­students is AIE was registered just three months ago by IMIS founder Heidi McLoughlin’s family trust.

“That’s pretty unethical,” said Lawrence Ellyard, founder of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists, which accredits 350 groups.

Until being ordered to ­remove it two weeks ago, IMIS was using the IICT logo. Mr Ellyard said IICT had considered approving IMIS but decided not to.

“They didn’t have any kind of refund or grievance policy, which is one of our mandatory requirements,” Mr Ellyard said.

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Heidi McLoughlin has a local infant massage business and thinks infant massage can ward off post natal depression. With Ella Justic., 7 months.

The Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) stopped accrediting IMIS last year after analysing IMIS training and concluding it wasn’t fair because many ­students paid hefty extra fees to resit tests.

“There are some policies that are, in our opinion, misleading,” AMT secretary ­Rebecca Barnett said.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has banned IMIS from its grounds after IMIS made an advertisement for a “Royal Children’s Hospital Workshop”.

The workshop was not backed by the hospital, spokeswoman Jayne Dullard said. It considered the ad “misleading”.

According to its website, IMIS continues to enjoy accreditation by the Australian Association of Massage Therapists which is a ­separate entity to the AMT.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt NSW Fair Trading ­issued IMIS with a “substantiation notice” last week as part of a preliminary investigation into the Sydney-based business. IMIS must now provide the agency with proof of its claims or representations.

The investigation is ­largely the result of initial ­inquiries by Victorian Allan Cooper after his partner ­Ulrike Herzog, a massage therapist, paid $1500 for an IMIS course to be held at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

She later requested a ­refund, arguing the instructor was not up to the job and that she had been misled into ­believing the training was hospital-backed. She has not had her money returned.

Nor has Melbourne’s Sarah Swan been successful in seeking a refund of $350 she paid towards an April 2015 course. “I want other people to know to be careful,” Ms Swan said.

Ms McLoughlin declined to comment on the specific allegations.

She said in response to questions: “I do not propose to participate in what has all the hallmarks of a trial by media.”

A spokeswoman for NSW Fair Trading Minister ­Matthew Mason-Cox said the agency “urges any consumers who may have concerns about their dealings with this business to lodge a complaint’’.

A complaint can be lodged through Fair Trading’s website or by calling 13 32 20.