Amber Laris
Chiropractor and Osteopath INFORMATION SHEET
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Osteopathic Training and Certification in Australia
or people who may be considering undertaking a course of osteopathic treatment, it is useful to have an understanding of the training and certification an osteopath in Australia undergoes before they are qualified and registered to be able to treat patients. Osteopaths in Australia are classified as primary healthcare professionals. What this means is that an osteopath is qualified to diagnose and treat patients without the need for a prior referral from a general practitioner. In practical terms, this also means that private health insurance policies will pay ‘extras’ benefits for a member to undergo treatment in a registered osteopathic clinic. An osteopath in Australia is required to undergo a minimum of five years’ training, which consists either of a Bachelor degree followed by a Masters degree, or alternatively some training institutions offer Double Bachelor degrees. This may be followed by further research and the completion of a Doctorate in osteopathy. There
are currently three universities in Australia that offer training in osteopathy: Southern Cross University; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology; and Victoria University. As part of their training, an osteopath in Australia will undertake studies in a wide variety of disciplines. This includes training in medical diagnosis, anatomy and physiology, as well as osteopathic techniques. In addition, an osteopath is trained to under-
“Osteopaths in Australia undergo an extensive and rigorous training and certification process.” take medical examinations of the nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. A further integral part of the training is that osteopaths are also required to undertake supervised, practical treatment of patients to complement their theoretical learning.
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