Broaden your scope of practice with confidence in paediatric patient care, manual therapy management, clinical research, and critical evaluation of published research.  The Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Manual Therapy is a postgraduate programme designed to introduce osteopaths and other manual therapists to advanced assessment and management approaches appropriate to paediatric patients in the age group from 2 years to puberty.

The Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Manual Therapy is part of a nested programme where students can exit from the Graduate Certificate in Neonatal & Infant Paediatric Manual Therapy.

The course enables graduates to demonstrate:

• an understanding of childhood development - anatomical, physiological and psychological - from age 2 to puberty, and a knowledge of how this development is assessed and monitored.
• an understanding of common health problems and injuries in patients of this age group, how they are assessed and diagnosed, and which of them would be considered amenable to treatment using manual therapies.
• an ability to manage those conditions amenable to manual therapy, including relevant assessment and diagnostic skills, technique skills, an understanding of relevant contraindications and safety issues, medico-legal issues, and liaison with other health practitioners
• an understanding of research methods used in clinical research, and an ability to apply that knowledge to be able to critically read and evaluate published research in the field.

• Location:
  City Flinders
• 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:
  HGPO
• Duration:
  2 years
• This information is for Australian residents.
  Click here to search for courses available to non-residents

How to apply

This course enables graduates to work in:

• 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 management approaches appropriate to paediatric patients in the age group from 2 years to puberty.

The course will ensure that graduates can demonstrate:

• An understanding of childhood development - anatomical, physiological and psychological - from age 2 to puberty, and a knowledge of how this development is assessed and monitored.
• An understanding of common health problems and injuries in patients of this age group, how they are assessed and diagnosed, and which of them would be considered amenable to treatment using manual therapies.
• An ability to manage those conditions amenable to manual therapy, including relevant assessment and diagnostic skills, technique skills, an understanding of relevant contraindications and safety issues, medico-legal issues, and liaison with other health practitioners
• An understanding of research methods used in clinical research, and an ability to apply that knowledge to be able to critically read and evaluate published research in the field.

These four units consitute the content of the first part of the course - the HTPO Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Manual Therapy. Exit at this point is possible, or students may complete the full 8 units and exit with the Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Manual Therapy.

• 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

• Early Childhood Development

  Unit code

  HOP5204

  Credits

  12

• Common Childhood Conditions

  Unit code

  HOP5205

  Credits

  12

• Introduction to Clinical Research

  Unit code

  HOP5206

  Credits

  12

• Management of Common Childhood Conditions

  Unit code

  HOP5207

  Credits

  12

The Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Manual Therapy is an eight (8) unit of study (96 credit point) postgraduate qualification available in part-time study mode via online learning and burst mode residentials. Nominal duration of study is one semester full time equivalent, but students may complete this course over one year part-time, and it is anticipated that many practitioners working full time will take this option. The course constitutes the second part of a three part nested programme in Paediatric Manual Therapy, and includes/follows on from the HTPO Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Manual Therapy course. Successful completion of the HTPO course or a substantially equivalent course is a requirement for direct entry into the HGPO course as a stand-alone qualification. Alternatively, students may enrol in the HGPO course and have the option of exiting the course with a Graduate Certificate after completion of the four units which make up the HTPO course, or of completing the additional HGPO units and exiting with a Graduate Diploma qualification.

• Year 12: 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. Applicants must have completed the HTPO - Graduate Certificate in Neonatal and Infant Paediatric Manual Therapy - course at VU, or an equivalent postgraduate qualification in paediatrics. Applicants must be able to provide evidence of current registration, and of current professional indemnity insurance cover which covers them for both medical negligence and public liability when working in their own practices, and includes cover for treating children. Students will also need to have direct access to paediatric patients in order to complete HOP5207 Management of Common Childhood Conditions.