Overview
Duration
4.5 YEARS
Scholarship
YES
Fee
AU $35,800 PER YEAR
Intake
FEB, JULY, NOV
Take a holistic approach to clinical care with a Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) at Victoria University (VU).
Get qualified for a rewarding career building ongoing relationships with clients, alleviating pain, optimising mobility and function, emphasising preventative care and promoting healthy lifestyle changes.
VU’s unique degree is the only course in Victoria that allows you to become an osteopath accredited with the Australiasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC) in just 4.5 years and at a masters level.
During your degree, which covers both undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, you’ll study:
*anatomy*
*osteopathic principles and techniques
*physiology
*pathology
*population health
*evidence-based practice.
*Anatomy includes studying cadaver specimens at our St Albans Campus anatomy lab.
You'll also benefit from extensive work experience, with hands-on practice at our professional clinics.
Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible for accreditation to practise as an osteopath, with the skills to:
*assess and diagnose a range of conditions
*develop safe treatment programs
*perform soft-tissue techniques
*perform joint mobilisation and manipulative techniques
*provide exercise rehabilitation programs.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
*Justify their professional, ethical and legal position as an osteopath within the scope of practice of an osteopath and the broader Australian healthcare system;
*Critically appraise scholarly healthcare literature to integrate the best available evidence into practice to continually improve practice;
*Design a patient-centred, culturally safe and evidence-informed management plan based on sound clinical reasoning, appropriate use of medicine, scientific evidence and patient/client preferences to inform decision-making;
*Exemplify relevant leadership, ethical behaviour, prioritisation of resources, and appropriate communication on all aspects of the care process within a collaborative clinical setting including peers, inter-professional colleagues, supervisors, and a diverse range of patients;
*Implement inclusive, culturally safe, patient-centred care for a diverse range of patient populations across the lifespan, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
*Advocate for patients and the community by promoting health through effective communication, collaborative practice, inter-professional practice, health education and evidence-based management;
*Evaluate patient progress using standardised outcome measures, and document and appropriately communicate information about patient care;
*Design and undertake a scholarly piece of work related to the osteopathic profession; and
*Critically reflect on theoretical concepts, professional capabilities, self-care, personal and clinical experiences, and embrace lifelong learning to inform and continually improve practice.
Course structure
To attain the double award of Bachelor of Health Science (Osteopathy) / Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) students will be required to complete:
*432 credit points of core studies
Careers
As a highly-skilled osteopath, you can enjoy the independence of running your own private practice, or choose to provide healthcare in settings such as:
*private clinics
*multidisciplinary health clinics
*sporting groups
*community organisations.
