Banned ‘health educator’ Barbara O’Neill under investigation after event at Cairns church

A complaints commission has confirmed it is investigating a banned health educator who told Cairns churchgoers at two ‘sold out’ events to reject medical diagnoses.

Health educator Barbara O'Neill is permanently banned from providing health services in various Australian states, including Queensland. Picture: Instagram

A complaints commission has confirmed it is investigating a banned health educator who told Cairns churchgoers at two ‘sold-out’ events to reject medical diagnoses.

The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission said it was aware of the events and was reviewing information after self-described health educator, naturopath and nutritionist, Barbara O’Neill, spoke at the services at the Freshwater Church in Brinsmead on Sunday, July 13.

Ms O’Neill is permanently banned from providing health services in a paid or voluntary capacity following a 2019 decision by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission.

A HCCC spokesman confirmed Ms O’Neill’s ban was enforceable in Queensland and included a prohibition on providing health education services.

In its statement of decision on the ban, the NSW HCCC said its investigation found Ms O’Neill had “limited qualifications” in nutrition and dietetics and “does not recognise that she is misleading vulnerable people (including mothers and cancer sufferers) by providing very selective information”.

“The misinformation has huge potential to have a detrimental effect on the health of individuals ... the commission is satisfied that Mrs O’Neill poses a risk to the health or safety of members of the public,” the statement said.

Two events held in Cairns were at full capacity, with a Facebook event advertising her sessions advising they were both ‘at capacity’.

During the 10am service at Freshwater Church, Ms O’Neill advised churchgoers to distrust the medical system and reject medical diagnoses.

Barbara O’Neill speaking at the Freshwater Church on Sunday, July 13.

“If you’ve been given a diagnosis, please reject it or please just say, ‘I’ll consider this’. You don’t need to take it on because it’s not necessarily so,” she said.

Ms O’Neill also said she didn’t believe in auto-immune diseases “because God didn’t design the body to eat itself”.

“It almost seems to be a name that’s given when they’re not sure what it is. So please reject,” she said.

A HCCC spokesman said the commission was aware of Ms O’Neill’s talks.

“The commission is aware of the event and is reviewing information as part of its monitoring activities. No further comment will be provided at this time,” the spokesman said.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Nick Yim urged Cairns residents with medical concerns to speak to a trusted medical professional.

“It is disappointing to hear that individuals with zero medical training can provide medical advice in a public forum to audience members that can be vulnerable,” Dr Yim said.

“Doctors and other health professionals train for decades to help people using holistic and evidence-based medical care.

“Millions of lives are saved every year by trained health professionals and modern medicine.

Ms O’Neill’s books being sold after the morning service.

“AMA Queensland urges any Cairns residents with medical concerns to speak to their regular GP.”

Ms O’Neill’s husband, Michael O’Neill, said her event “was a church service that gave Christian spiritual insights into health, healing and the dangers of a changing mainstream medicine system”.

He said Ms O’Neill was “swamped” with positive testimonies, and said “many also shared their horror stories of pain and health decline from mainstream treatment they had put their trust in”.

Freshwater Church did not respond to requests for comment.

Originally published as Banned ‘health educator’ Barbara O’Neill under investigation after event at Cairns church