A Naturopath is a health practitioner who provides alternatives or complements to conventional medical practices by using their knowledge of natural remedies. They aid in the care and promotion of wellbeing in their patients by assessing their health and providing a course of natural remedies designed to help them maintain a healthier lifestyle. Naturopaths provide patients with therapy plans by using their understanding of aromatherapy, herbalism and homoeopathy. The principles of Naturopathy are based on assessing each patient as an individual and treating the whole body, not just the affected area, to promote homeostasis.
If you have a passion for healing and natural remedies, here are the steps you need to take to become a Naturopath in Australia.
Step 1: Do an accredited course.
A nationally accredited course of study will offer you up-to-date knowledge, skills and insights into naturopathy, and is necessary to become a registered practitioner of alternative medicine and therapies.
Step 2: Select a specialised role in naturopathy.
Naturopaths have a variety of career paths open to them, allowing them to tailor their professional journeys. They may focus their studies in a particular area of complementary and alternative medicine. Aromatherapists specialise in the healing properties of essential oils, using scent as a means of therapy. They tailor their recommendations to suit the specific health needs of their clients. Homoeopaths prescribe natural therapeutic medicines and extracts, based on the belief that the body can heal itself with the correct stimulation. Finally, Herbalists have a thorough understanding of plant life and the therapeutic and medicinal qualities they contain. They prescribe natural plant-based remedies and medicines to patients looking for alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs.
Step 3: Become a registered practitioner.
After completing your studies, you will need to contact the Australian Traditional Medicine Society or Australian Natural Therapists Association to become a registered practitioner of alternative medicines and therapies.
Step 4: Start your career as a Naturopath.
Put your training to good use and get the best professional head start in your naturopath career. Emphasise your personal strengths and achievements in your resume and target your cover letter to the job description listed. Future employment growth for naturopaths is considered to be high. This is thought to be because of an increased public profile and awareness of alternative medicine.
What does a Naturopath do?
Naturopaths provide their patients with alternatives to treatments based on western medicine. They communicate with patients to identify their ailments and perform physical assessments of symptoms to prescribe appropriate treatments. Naturopaths can provide advice about diet and exercise, herbal treatments and supplements, aromatherapies and other treatments. Clients can approach naturopaths for help treating a range of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual ailments.
Tasks
Skills for Success
Naturopaths need excellent communication skills so they can talk to their patients about risks and benefits of any proposed treatments. They need to have a sound understanding of how their treatments will mix with any other medications patients may be taking. Thorough knowledge of how traditional techniques and natural remedies will affect the body’s functions is also necessary.
Skills & Attributes
How much does a Naturopath earn?
The average annual salary for a Naturopath in Australia is around $53,091 – this is an indicator only from Payscale 02/18
Min: $40,244 – Max: $77,917
Kickstart your career in Naturopathy by enquiring about a course in natural therapy today!