Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
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About Natural Therapy
You'll become
Average Salaries
Natural Therapy workers may earn between $44,000 and $88,000 per year
Harness the power of nature for healing and promote health and wellbeing by studying a natural therapy course.
You’re interested in health and wellbeing and have an open mind to exploring new things. Turn your curiosities into a career by studying a fulfilling natural therapy course.
A holistic and nature-based form of therapy, natural therapy refers broadly to a wide range of alternative forms of health treatment, including naturopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary coaching, homeopathy and massage. Aiming to treat and prevent the underlying causes of illness and injury, natural therapies deploys a range of plant-based and therapeutic remedies to treat the body and maintain health.
By studying a natural therapy course, you’ll unlock the secrets of ancient preventative health wisdom, and build the skills needed to help a diverse range of people with their health problems today.
A key alternative therapy for treating modern health problems like stress, pollution and poor diets, natural therapy remains relevant today, and is sought out as an alternative to modern medicine’s often-reactive approach to treating ill health. An alternative perspective, natural therapy offers a different approach to treatment, focusing on an individual’s holistic wellbeing and the context in which they receive treatment.
Considered a complementary and alternative medical practise, natural therapy nevertheless involves a broad range of physiological and biological sciences, including nutrition, psychology, and the practise of clinical diagnostic approaches used to inform investigations.
You may study a natural therapy course as a certificate or diploma course, as part of a bachelor’s degree in health science, or as a post-graduate certificate or diploma. After completing a natural therapy course, you’ll likely seek work as a naturopath, alternative health practitioner, massage therapist or lifestyle coach.
What do natural therapy graduates do?
Natural therapy course graduates usually work as naturopaths, consulting to clients in private settings in private practice or the home.
A consultation with a client usually takes about an hour, and may include an interview to understand the client’s condition, medical history, diet and lifestyle; performing diagnostic checks like testing the client’s irises, tongue and nails; taking samples to send for pathology testings; and the development of a treatment plan in consultation with the patient. The treatment plan may include advice on lifestyle, exercise, diet, and natural therapies to take, including homeopathic treatments and herbal medicine.
In addition to consulting with clients, a naturopath may administer therapies, such as:
- Homeopathy
- Acupuncture
- Bio-resonance
- Ozone therapy
- Colon hydrotherapy
In line with the discipline’s focus on client-centred care, the naturopath may also take on a coaching role with clients – supporting them to act in a key role in guiding their health and lifestyle. If you’re passionate about supporting people to succeed, studying a naturopathy course may be the best first step for your career.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
As natural therapy is considered a complementary and alternative form of medicine, practitioners do not need a medical degree to advise clients, and may work in a diverse range of industries outside of providing health advice. After studying a natural therapy course, you may choose to seek employment in the healthcare, hospitality, spa, retail and media industries.
Graduates of natural therapy courses usually pursue employment in private practice, salon or spa settings, or work independently, and may work as a:
- Holistic Wellness Coach
- Allied Health Assistant
- Community Wellness Officer
- Natural Therapist
- Retail Sales Supervisor
- Health and Wellbeing Consultant
- Naturopath
- Allied Health Worker
- Health Officer
- Western Herbal Medicine Practitioner
- Western Herbal Medicine Researcher
- Herbal Medicine Manufacturer
- Nutritionist
- Health Researcher
- Nutrition Advisor
- Product Developer
- Nutrition Counsellor
- Nutrition Assistant
- Non-clinical Nutrition Advisor
- Herbal Medicine Practitioner
- Homeopath
- Acupuncturist
- Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner
- Myotherapist
- Massage Therapist
- view all
Is natural therapy right for you?
You’ll enjoy studying natural therapy if you:
- Are passionate about health and wellbeing
- Enjoy working with people
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Can take initiative and work independently
- Are creative
- Have excellent organisational and time management skills
- Like helping people
- Are interested in alternative approaches
- Enjoy detailed work
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook describes the natural therapy profession in Australia as a small but growing industry.
Currently employing approximately 9,400 people, the sector is predicted to expand rapidly over the next several years, to employ approximately 12,400 people by the end of 2020. Job Outlook notes that over 47 per cent of all natural therapy practitioners in Australia work in New South Wales, indicating expansion in the profession may be concentrated in New South Wales.
Market research company IBISWorld states that Australia’s alternative medicine industry is now worth $4 billion annually – part of an estimated $88.5 billion dollar industry that represents a paradigm shift in medicine occurring across the Western world, according to the firm. IBISWorld also states that approximately two-thirds of Australians now use complementary medicines to manage their health.
Average Salaries
A naturopath in Australia can expect to earn between $44,000 and $88,000 per year, with most earning around $52,000, according to PayScale.
An aromatherapist can expect to earn between $32,000 and $132,000 per year, with most earning around $62,000, according to Indeed.
PayScale reports that a massage therapist may expect to earn between $27,000 and $71,000 per year, with an annual average salary of approximately $54,000.