Broaden your knowledge of caring for and treating children.  You will study the theoretical, practical and clinical practice of neonatal and paediatric patient care.  There is an emphasis on advanced assessment and treatment techniques, including manual therapies for common conditions affecting babies and children.

Areas of study include:

• embryology
• neonatal and infant development
• birthing and potential complications
• common conditions amenable to manual therapy
• orthodox and manual therapy examination, assessment, diagnosis and management techniques
• medico-legal and ethical considerations and referral requirements essential to paediatric clinical care

The course ensures that graduates can demonstrate:

• an understanding of advanced embryology and foetal development; the birthing process and the main potential complications; common neonatal and infant conditions amenable to manual therapy
• a comprehensive range of assessment, diagnostic, treatment and management techniques appropriate to common neonatal and infant conditions amenable to manual therapy
• an awareness of medico-legal and ethical responsibilities, and the requirements of referral to other health professionals as part of clinical care

• Location:
  City Flinders
• Other locations:

  Learning will also take place in the students' own clinical practices, with regular case reports forming an important part of assessment.

• Faculty:
  Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
• School:
  School of Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Study mode:
  Part Time
• Delivery mode:
  Burst Mode, On campus, On-line and Working in the Workplace
• Course code:
  HTPO
• Duration:
  1 year
• This information is for Australian residents.
  Click here to search for courses available to non-residents

How to apply

• neonatal care
• paediatrics.

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

This course is designed to introduce osteopaths and other manual therapists to advanced assessment and treatment techniques appropriate to paediatric patients.

The course will ensure that graduates can demonstrate:

• An understanding of advanced Embryology and Foetal development; the birthing process and the main potential complications; common neonatal and infant conditions amenable to manual therapy;
• A comprehensive range of assessment, diagnostic, treatment and management techniques appropriate to common neonatal and infant conditions amenable to manual therapy;
• An awareness of medico-legal and ethical responsibilities and the requirements of referral to other health professionals as part of clinical care.

Eligibility The course is available to Osteopaths, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists currently registered in all states and territories of Australia, plus New Zealand registered Osteopaths who would be eligible to register in Australia under the terms of the Trans-Tasman Agreement. Applications from other practitioners will be considered, but may be restricted to only those who have successfully completed a 5-year professional training program in the field of manual therapy at university level.

Contact hours A large part of the course will be delivered online, so contact hours listed here are nominal. It is anticipated that each theory element will be the equivalent of 36 hours of face-to-face teaching, and each practical element will be 24-36 hours of actual contact time, subject to the available case mix. Practical teaching will utilise the resources of the technique teaching laboratories and the VU Paediatric Teaching Clinic

Mode of delivery All theory elements will be delivered online, via a mixture of Blackboard notes and presentations/podcasts. Practical classes on assessment and treatment/rehab techniques will be in burst mode at VU, over a total of 2-4 weekend sessions, each of either 12 hours (2 sessions over both Sat. and Sun.) or 6 hours (4 X 1 day sessions on Sat.) A final decision on this split will be made after further consultation as to time availability with those prospective students who have already expressed interest in the course. Sessions will be recorded and made available either on DVD or by podcast for revision purposes.

Assessment Theory elements will be assessed by a mixture of written assignments and online multiple choice tests.

Practical elements will be assessed using a mixture of in-class formative assessment, an end-of-unit practical examination held at VU and a series of case reports from the students’ own clinic cases.

• Birthing and Infant Development

  Unit code

  HOP5200

  Credits

  12

• Neonatal and Infant Assessment

  Unit code

  HOP5201

  Credits

  12

• Neonatal and Infant Diagnosis

  Unit code

  HOP5202

  Credits

  12

• Neonatal and Infant Management

  Unit code

  HOP5203

  Credits

  12

The Graduate Certificate in Neonatal & Infant Paediatric Manual Therapy is four (4) unit of study (48 credit point) postgraduate qualification available in part-time study mode via online learning and burst mode residentials. Students can complete this course over one year part-time study.

• Year 12:

  The course is available to osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors currently registered in any state or territory in Australia, and who are currently in clinical practice. Osteopaths in New Zealand who are eligible to register in Australia under the terms of the Trans-Tasman Agreement are also eligible. Applications from other practitioners will be considered, but may be restricted to only those who have successfully completed a 5-year professional training program in the field of manual therapy at university level. Evidence of qualifications, registration, and appropriate professional indemnity insurance cover will be required.

• Other:

  Applicants may need access to external clinic patients for assessment purposes.

Special admission requirements

Applicants may need access to external clinic patients for assessment purposes.