Osteopaths diagnose and treat tissue strains, stresses and dysfunctions which impede normal neural, vascular, and biochemical mechanisms, and provides advice on preventing these disorders.

Skill Level

1

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Osteopath is Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council Limited (AOAC). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must hold either:
  • A current and full (unconditional) practicing certificate as an Osteopath from the Osteopathy Board of Australia
  • You have completed a recognised, registrable, entry-level qualification at a University in Australia
• If the Applicant does not hold either of the above, AOAC requires you to complete an assessment for registration in Australia
  • Standard Pathway
    • Qualification – Applicants must have completed a program of study that the AOAC has deemed equivalent to an Australian osteopathy program
    • Registration – Applicants must be currently registered, licensed or officially recognised and in good standing as an osteopath in the country in which they trained or practiced
    • English Language Skills à Applicants must have completed their secondary education and osteopathic qualification in English or achieved the minimum scores in one of the following English Language Tests
      • IETLS – minimum overall score of 7
      • PTE Academic – minimum overall score of 65
      • TOEFL iBT – minimum total score of 24 (24 in listening and reading, 27 in writing and 23 in speaking)
      • Please note: AOAC does not accept the OET English Language Test
    • Competent Authority Pathway
      • Applicant must have successfully completed an eligible program of study; and
      • Applicant must hold current registration with the General Osteopathic Council
  • There are five stages in the Standard Pathway Assessment
    • Desktop Assessment – submission of required documents that are evidence of qualifications, registration, and English skill level
    • Written Examination – three-hour exam with questions on two focus areas: safe osteopathy and evidence informed treatment and management
    • Online Practical Assessment – completion of 2 simulated osteopathy patient consultations
    • Face to Face Practical Assessment – applicants are required to demonstrate their knowledge of safe and effective osteopathy practice to assessors
    • Open Book Examination – designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of professional, cultural, and legal issues within the Australian healthcare system
  • There are two stages in the Competent Authority Pathway
    • Desktop Assessment – submission of required documents that are evidence of qualifications, registration, and English skill level
    • Open Book Examination – designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of professional, cultural, and legal issues within the Australian healthcare system

Diagnose and treat physiological and mechanical disorders of the locomotor system and tissue strain, stress and dysfunction that impede normal neural, vascular and biochemical mechanisms, and provide advice on preventing these disorders.

Tasks

• Administering a variety of neurological, musculoskeletal and functional tests to identify and assess physical problems and ailments of patients
• Planning and discussing effective management of patients’ dysfunction
• Designing, reviewing, monitoring, assessing and evaluating treatment programs
• Assisting and improving the function of all body systems such as musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine and genitourinary systems
• Recording detailed patient medical histories, treatments delivered and the patients’ responses and progress to treatments
• Referring patients to specialists and liaising with other Health Professionals in relation to patients’ problems, needs and progress
• Educating patients, their partners, family and friends in therapeutic procedures, such as home exercises and lifestyle changes, to enhance patients’ health and wellbeing

Skill Level

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing is required.

Occupations in this Group

• 252111 Chiropractor
• 252112 Osteopath