Master of Health Science (Osteopathy)

VU course code: HMHO | CRICOS: 090621C | Level of study: Postgraduate

Duration

1.5 years full time

Delivery mode

In person

Location

City Campus

Applications closed

Overview

Become a skilled healthcare professional, eligible to practise and register as an osteopath, with a Master of Health Science from VU.

This course will equip you with the knowledge and diagnostic skills to confidently begin your osteopathy career.

VU offers one of only three accredited osteopathy programs in Australia. This masters follows on from the Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy). Together, the courses provide eligibility for registration to practice as an osteopath.

Our highly regarded course has an extensive work-experience program, with hands-on practice at our professional clinics.

You’ll graduate skilled in formulating suitable and safe treatment programs, including soft-tissue techniques, joint mobilisation and exercise rehabilitation. You’ll have the diagnostic skills and graduate capabilities for osteopathic practice required by primary healthcare practitioners.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Justify their philosophical position as an osteopath within the profession and broader Australian healthcare system;

Critically appraise and apply scholarly literature related to osteopathic philosophy and practice, as well as the broader healthcare field/area;

Design a patient-specific and evidence informed management plan based on the interpretation of physical, neurological, orthopaedic and osteopathic examination findings and clinical experience;

Resolve patient concerns as a flexible, reflective and consultative practitioner;

Implement osteopathic manual techniques to specialised patient populations (E.G. elderly, adolescents, athletes) as well as patient groups with specific cultural and religious needs;

Engage patients and the community by promoting health through effective communication, education and appropriate management based on evidence from osteopathic and public health principles;

Evaluate patient progress using standardised outcome measures, and modify treatment accordingly considering current available evidence and when indicated, explore new treatment approaches;

Design a research project relevant to their own professional practice, drawing on current evidence and study design protocols;

Critically reflect on theoretical concepts, practical activities and personal and clinical experiences to inform practice and embrace lifelong learning as an osteopath.
: VU is held in high regard in the industry for our hands-on approach and extensive clinical placements.

Treating patients at our Osteopathy Clinic, as well as external community clinical engagements, ensures you have a diverse clinical experience.

Our osteopathy teaching clinic operates 47 weeks of the year. As part of our masters program, you’ll attend clinical sessions on a rotational basis. You’ll gain real-world experience working with paying patients.

These clinics also run outside of semester hours, to maintain a public service and provide continuity of patient care.
: When you study osteopathy at VU, you’ll be part of the bigger College of Sport, Health and Engineering. This college supports its students with international industry contacts, world-class research centres and a Dean’s lecture series by leaders in the health profession.

Osteopathy students study at our City Campus. The convenient location makes studying easier and the surrounding laneways, cafes and restaurants add to its appeal.
: Study this course via our award-winning VU Block Model®, where you complete one subject at a time over four weeks, rather than juggling several at once.

Learning in workshop-style classes, you’ll develop strong connections with your peers and practical skills for your future career.

You’ll also get fast feedback on your assignments, helping you to improve quickly as you progress through your course.

Learn more about the VU Block Model®

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your education, work experience, current skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a different course. We call this a ‘pathway’.

For PhD applicants, we offer a related ‘Integrated PhD’ which allows you to establish relevant skills before beginning your research.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

Entry criteria

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course Structure

To attain the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy), students will be required to complete 144 credit points in total consisting of Core Studies.

Units

Fees & Scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Fees

Scholarships

CAREERS

Our Masters of Health Science (Osteopathy) qualifies you to register as a practising osteopath.

With our dual-qualification in osteopathy, including the Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy), you can gain the following registrations and memberships:

registration with the Osteopathy Board of Australia
registration as an osteopath in all other Australian states and in New Zealand
membership with Osteopathy Australia.

For further information about registration requirements, visit the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Many osteopaths have their own private practice. Osteopaths can work in a variety of healthcare settings:

private clinics
hospitals
maternal health centres
community organisations.

Salaries

Visit Jobs and Skills Australia to see the average salary for osteopaths in Australia.

Accreditation

This course, in combination with the Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy), is one of only three Osteopathy dual-qualification programs accredited by the Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC).

The AOAC is an independent organisation that assesses and accredits osteopathic education programs. Accreditation from the AOAC allows graduates to register as an osteopath in Australia.

Our course meets the AOAC accreditation standards. This ensures that the knowledge, skills and professional attributes we teach match best-practice national healthcare expectations.