Osteopathy in Australia: How to Become an Osteopath
- MPR Health
- October 12, 2022
How To Become An Osteopath in Australia: The Ideal Student Guide
Australia is home to many different healthcare professionals, and osteopathy is one of them. If you’re interested in becoming an osteopath, there are a few things you need to know. First, you need to complete an accredited undergraduate degree in either human biology or health science. After that, you’ll need to complete a two-year Masters in Osteopathy or finish a Double Bachelors Degree.
To become an osteopath in Australia, you need to first complete an accredited undergraduate degree in either human biology or health science.
If you have a passion for helping others and want to enter a career in healthcare, then becoming an osteopath may be the perfect path for you. In Australia, osteopaths are primary health care practitioners trained in diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal conditions. To become an osteopath in Australia, you need to first complete an accredited undergraduate degree in either human biology or health science. Upon graduation, you will then need to complete a two-year full-time Master’s Degree or Double Bachelors Degree in Osteopathy.
After that, you need to complete a two-year Masters or Double Bachelors Degree in Osteopathy.
There are many reasons why you might want to become an osteopath in Australia. Maybe you’re interested in working with the elderly or with athletes, or maybe you’re attracted to the idea of a holistic approach to injury. Whatever your reason, if you’re thinking about becoming an osteopath, there are a few things you need to know. First and foremost, it should be noted that osteopaths are gaining popularity all over the world (including Australia). In order to practice you must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a holistic approach to health care. Rather than simply treating symptoms, osteopaths focus on the relationship between the skeleton and the muscles that move it; from this understanding, they help restore body function and reduce pain.
Osteopaths treat the entire body rather than just single symptoms — which means that, when you have back pain, we will consider what could be causing your back pain (such as tight muscles or pelvic issues) along with other factors that might be affecting your overall health (like physical activity or stress levels). But our treatment goes beyond treating symptoms: it can also help patients improve their mobility after an injury or increase their range of motion.
An osteopath treats patients with issues ranging from painful necks, backs and joints. Osteopaths aim to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in these areas while improving your overall mobility, posture and strength throughout the body.
Why become an osteopath?
Becoming an osteopath is a rewarding career that can help people of all ages and with many conditions. They treat back pain, neck pain, headaches, and musculoskeletal issues amongst many things. The most rewarding aspect of the job is seeing a patient improve after receiving treatment. After being unable to do so due to illness or injury, it is wonderful to see people make full recoveries and return to their healthy levels of independence
What does an osteopath do?
Osteopaths are medical professionals who treat the musculoskeletal system and its related functions. They look at the whole body, considering all of its parts when treating a patient. This approach means that osteopathy can be beneficial for various conditions, from arthritis to migraines.
Osteopaths also treat patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. Their training allows them to deal with many types of pain and injuries affecting the body’s structure and function—whether an older person is suffering from back pain or a child with colic pains in their legs.
Here’s the thing: chiropractors and osteopaths are both practitioners who treat very similar injuries. But they approach their practice differently, which can mean significant differences for anyone who goes to them for treatment.
Osteopathy focus on treating the joints, muscles, and bones of the body and associated areas. They may be likely to look further than just the pain in your lower back. Chiropractors tend to believe that misalignment of your spine can lead to other health problems, so they tend to focus on spinal manipulation on adjustments as their main form of treatment.
As you might expect, physiotherapists and osteopaths are very different. Physiotherapists are physical therapists and therefore tend to focus on the exercise rehabilitation component of therapy. Their treatments also take place in different environments; physiotherapy is delivered in a hospital or clinic setting. Osteopathic treatment generally takes place in private clinics.
Osteopathic therapy tends to focus on manual therapy and hands-on techniques when compared to physiotherapy. Additionally, Osteopaths do prescribe exercise however it tends to be one part of a holistic unit.
What university degrees do you need to become an osteopath?
To become a fully-qualified Osteopath, you must complete one of these routes:
- 3-year undergraduate degree in Clinical Science
- 2-year Master in Health Science
- Double Bachelor’s degree in Health/Clinical Science
In Australia, below are some of the ideal programs you can take if you want to become an osteopath:
What will you learn?
You’ll learn about anatomy, physiology, pathology, and osteopathy’s role in healthcare.
You’ll also learn a broad range of theoretical and clinical skills. In your first year, you will undertake core subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. You will also complete electives such as nutrition and pharmacology.
Becoming an osteopath is a worthwhile career choice.
Becoming an osteopath is a rewarding career. You’ll be in high demand and enjoy regular work and excellent pay rates. Your training will give you valuable skills that can be used in various settings, including private practices, sports centres, and medical clinics amongst many places. Osteopathy can be especially appealing to students who want to help people but also enjoy flexibility in how they do so.
Conclusion
Becoming an osteopath can be a rewarding career with excellent pay rates and flexible hours. It’s also a great choice for students who want to help people but also want flexibility in how they do so. The training itself is long and challenging, but it will give you valuable skills that will serve you throughout your working life.
We're ready when you are
Our North Shore Osteopaths are here to help you with your pain so you can get back to living your best life without worrying about pain.
In the spirit of reconciliation, MPR Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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