Learn to assess the health status of patients, including physical, socio-economic and psychological aspects.

The Master of Health Science (osteopathy) equips you with the diagnostic skills and capabilities required by primary health-care practitioners. You will also have the ability to formulate and prescribe a suitable and safe treatment program.

Graduates who successfully complete this course will be eligible for:

• registration with the Osteopathy Board of Australia
• registration as an Osteopath in all other Australian states
• membership with the Australian Osteopathic Association

The Master of Health Science (osteopathy) is accredited by the Australian and New Zealand Osteopathic Council (ANZOC). 

For further information about registration requirements for health practitioners, please visit the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

• Location:
  City Flinders
• College:
  College of Health and Biomedicine
• Study mode:
  Full Time
• Delivery mode:
  On campus
• Course code:
  HMOS
• Duration:
  2 years
• This information is for Australian residents.
  Click here for the international version of this course

How to apply

• registered osteopath

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

The aims of this course are to equip graduates with:

• the diagnostic skills required by a primary health care practitioner;
• the ability to assess the health status of the patient, including physical, socio-economic and psychological aspects and refer appropriately;
• the ability to formulate and prescribe a suitable and safe treatment program;
• skills in a full range of osteopathic techniques;
• an awareness of the application of osteopathic principles relevant to patient management;
• the ability to interact with other health care providers and advisers for the benefit of the patient, including an awareness of the need to gain informed consent;
• communication skills related to the patient and other persons, to maintain inter-professional co-operation and respect;
• an awareness of the cost effectiveness of osteopathic treatment;
• an awareness of the support systems that are available and an ability to take part in a multi-practitioner research program;
• an awareness of the need for continuing self education;
• clinical proficiency and an ability to manage all aspects of osteopathic patient care; and
• an awareness of their professional and personal responsibilities and an ability to effectively organise and manage their working environment.

The course is offered over two years on a full-time basis.

• Clinical Diagnosis and Management 5

  Unit code

  HHD4185

  Credits

  12

• Research 1

  Unit code

  HHL4181

  Credits

  12

• Osteopathic Science 7

  Unit code

  HHO4187

  Credits

  8

• Psychology and Social Sciences 3

  Unit code

  HHS4183

  Credits

  8

• Clinical Practicum 7

  Unit code

  HHU4187

  Credits

  8

• Clinical Diagnosis and Management 6

  Unit code

  HHD4286

  Credits

  12

• Research 2

  Unit code

  HHL4282

  Credits

  12

• Osteopathic Science 8

  Unit code

  HHO4288

  Credits

  8

• Clinical Practicum 8

  Unit code

  HHU4288

  Credits

  8

• Pathology 5

  Unit code

  HHY4285

  Credits

  8

• Clinical Diagnosis and Management 7

  Unit code

  HHD5187

  Credits

  12

• Research 3

  Unit code

  HHL5183

  Credits

  12

• Osteopathic Science 9

  Unit code

  HHO5189

  Credits

  12

• Clinical Practicum 9

  Unit code

  HHU5189

  Credits

  12

• Clinical Diagnosis and Management 8

  Unit code

  HHD5288

  Credits

  12

• Research 4

  Unit code

  HHL5284

  Credits

  12

• Osteopathic Science 10

  Unit code

  HHO5280

  Credits

  12

• Clinical Practicum 10

  Unit code

  HHU5280

  Credits

  12

Clinical Practicum
Clinical practicum is direct student/patient contact supervised by registered osteopaths and medical practitioners. In order to register as an osteopath, students must complete the minimum attendance requirements for clinical units over the full five years of the combined Bachelor of Science-Clinical Sciences and Master of Health Science-Osteopathy courses. This will be achieved cumulatively by an increasing commitment of time to clinically based learning as students progress through the course and their clinical skills increase.

As the teaching clinics are required to operate 50 weeks per year, in order to maintain a public service and provide essential continuity of patient care, students will be expected to supplement any deficit in clinical practicum hours outside semester hours. The arrangement of clinical hours will be flexible and may vary from year to year dependent upon resources, patient availability and student development.

During the clinical practicum students will develop and enhance the following skills within the supervised clinical setting: interpersonal and communication skills; history taking; general observation; clinical methods; general medical and osteopathic examination; data analysis and interpretation; pathological diagnosis; radiological diagnosis; special investigations; osteopathic treatment and management; and professional behaviour and ethics.

• Year 12: To qualify for admission to the course applicants must have satisfactorily completed the HBOP Bachelor of Science - Clinical Sciences and have successfully completed the selection interview. Students will be required to undergo a Victoria Police check before commencing clinical placement units. Police checks need to be conducted annually throughout the programme. Prospective and continuing students should be aware that not passing relevant police checks may restrict access to clinical placements necessary for graduation. At the commencement of the course students must have completed the Level 2 First Aid Certificate update.
• International: Applicants will need to have completed the Bachelor of Science (Clinical Sciences) at Victoria University to gain entry into this course. Applicants are expected to have obtained an IELTS (academic module) result of 6.5 (no band less than 6) or equivalent; provide a Police Check from your usual country of residence before starting practical placements. Applicants may also be required to attend a selection interview during which their suitability for entry into the course will be further assessed.
• Mature: The same requirements as for Year 12 applicants.