Treats imbalances of energy flows through the body by assessing the whole person and using techniques and methods such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage, diet, exercise and breathing therapy. Registration or licensing may be required.
What’s it like to be a Chinese Medicine Practitioner?
Chinese medicine practitioners treat disorders and illnesses through the
application of traditional Chinese medicine practices such as Chinese herbal
medicine, acupuncture and tui na (remedial massage).
How much can I expect to earn?
Earnings data based on the Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union
Membership survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is either unavailable
or unpublishable (typically for privacy reasons).
Personal requirements
good communication skills
good analytical skills
patient, tactful and compassionate
interest in health and wellbeing.
This job also involves:
Mainly indoor work
Workers performing these jobs would usually be expected to spend more than
three-quarters of their day indoors, in an office, factory or other enclosed
area protected from the weather.
Reading or writing
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may
be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as
letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or
writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and
symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing
skills.
This occupation offers jobs at the following skill levels:
Para Professional Jobs
Jobs in this group usually require completion of secondary education and/or
completion of some further study of a vocational nature, such as a Diploma or
an Advanced Diploma.
Professional Jobs
Jobs in this group usually require completion of a recognised Bachelor Degree,
or extensive relevant experience. Some jobs also require post-graduate study,
such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master Degree.
Study requirements
At school, you can study these subject(s) to get a good foundation for this
occupation:
Biology
School subjects that include some aspect of BIOLOGY provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a biology-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Duties and tasks of a Chinese Medicine Practitioner
Chinese medicine practitioners may perform the following tasks:
diagnose health problems through discussions with the patient, checking the patient’s pulse and tongue, and observing abnormalities in sleep, appetite, perspiration and body temperature
formulate traditional Chinese medicine treatment plans based on the patient’s diagnosis
prescribe medicinal substances derived from roots, flowers, seeds and leaves in the form of teas, capsules, tinctures or powders
advise on dietary and lifestyle choices
apply other therapies such as acupuncture, cupping (applying a heated cup to the skin to create suction), tui na, and exercise and breathing therapy.
Specialisations
Acupuncturist
An acupuncturist treats disorders and illnesses by inserting fine, sterile
needles into specific points on the skin to stimulate the body’s defence
mechanisms.