History of Massage
In the 19th Century, massage was often used under the direction of GPs, with massage therapists receiving their training or industry inductions from medical practitioners. At the time it was considered an integral part of the after-treatment of traumatic injuries ofgreater or less extent.
Allied Health Professionals
Allied Health professionals are health professionals that are not part of the medical, dental or nursing professions, but are University-qualified practitioners with specialised expertise in preventing, diagnosing and treating a range of conditions and illnesses.
Joining the Massage Industry
Obtaining the qualification is the first step towards becoming a professional massage therapist. After graduation you will need to obtain insurance, join an Association, and apply for your Private Provider Numbers (if relevant).
Massage is a Physical Job
Please consider that massage can be a physically demanding job. Therapists are often expected to be on their feet for majority of the day, constantly moving and leaning over a massage table.
Getting Qualified
Before you enrol in a massage course, we recommend that you check that the course is Nationally Accredited (recognised Australia-wide), the units of competency match you passions and interests, and that you will be eligible for Private Healthcare Provider Numbers (if relevant).
A Career in Massage
With the ever-increasing focus on health and wellbeing, more and more individuals are now turning to complementary and alternative therapies. There seems to be a promising future for Massage Therapists.
Ready to get started
Please fill in the online enquiry form and one of our friendly Career Specialists will get back to you as soon as possible.
FAQs
What qualifications do I need to have to work professionally as a Massage Therapist and be able to offer clients Health Care rebates (Medibank, HCF, BUPA, etc).
To be eligible for all Major Health funds, you will need to complete the Diploma of Remedial Massage over a minimum of 12 months.
Do I need Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance to work professionally?
To work in a Professional capacity, it is important to ensure your insurance is kept up to date.
Do I need to join a Massage Association to work in a professional clinic or from home
We strongly recommend you join an association upon graduation. This will assist you with getting your Health Care Provider numbers as well as advertising your business.
What is required to offer health fund (Medibank/BUPA/HCF) rebates to my clients
You need to have a current Diploma of Remedial massage qualification with the 200 clinical hours performed onsite and be a member of a Massage Association that has approved you to be a provider for the specific health fund in question. All claims can then be processed through HI caps from that point on.
Can I start to work in the massage industry before I graduate?
You can start working in the Massage Industry as soon as your first practical assessment has been completed. This can be as early as 6 weeks.
What is the difference between being a “Relaxation Massage Therapist “and a “Remedial Massage Therapist”?
A Relaxation Therapist focuses on helping the body relax and rejuvenate. This can be done through a number of techniques such as Swedish Massage, Thai Massage, Reflexology, Deep Tissue.
A Remedial Therapist can do all of what a Relaxation Therapist can do, plus much more. They will focus more on specific problem areas. A Remedial Therapist will perform range of motion testing alongside Special Tests to figure out the cause of the problem. Once they have figured out if the cause is Muscle, Bone or Nerve related, they can then devise a treatment plan specific to the cause.
What is the difference between being a Remedial Massage Therapist and a Myotherapist?
Whilst a Remedial Massage Therapists works on “fixing” the problem a client presents with, a Myotherapy works on “Preventing” the problem in the first place. A Myotherapist will have all of the skills of a Remedial Therapist, plus much more in-depth knowledge of Pain management.
Can I specialise in Sports Massage or Maternity Massage or Oncology Massage
Throughout the Diploma you will learn skills specific to pregnancy and Manual Lymphatic Drainage. Should you wish to specialise in Maternity or Oncology Massage there are specialised courses available. You would need to complete the Diploma of Remedial Massage first.
If you are completing our Advanced Rehab and Sports program, you will be able to specialise in the sports world.
How much money per hour do you think you can earn as a qualified remedial massage therapist in a typical professional (multimodality) massage clinic together with Physio’s and Chiro’s?
It absolutely depends on the agreement of the contract. Are you taking a cut of the treatment cost? Are you paying rent for the room and taking full treatment cost instead? Etc. But you should be expecting a minimum of $60-80 per hour.
What can you earn if you work just as a relaxation massage therapist without private health care rebates?
Realistically you would be looking at around $40-$50 per hour
What can you earn if you have your own home or mobile clinic?
The options are endless. Having your own business, you can charge whatever people are willing to pay. You just need to remember to put away money for taxes and leave each week.
How can I afford to switch from full time work to part time in order to study.
Q Academy’s Diploma courses are eligible for Vet Student Loans. This means you won’t have any fees to pay whilst studying. The Diploma course is also recognised as Full Time Study and is therefore available for AuStudy payments through Centrelink.
The full time course is two days per week, so you will be able to work around your course schedule as well, should you wish to. You will also be able to start working with your Massage Skills from week 6 onwards of the course, providing assessments are passed during this time. Q Academy will be able to give you a letter of Readiness to supply to prospective employers.
Alternatively you can study online at Q Academy to fit in with your work requirements and complete your 200 hrs of clinical hours in block mode.
When can I start earning money as a student massage therapist and work evenings and weekends to make up for lost income studying 2 days a week?
You can start working as a Student Therapist from as early as 6 weeks. Providing assessments are passed during this time. We will be able to give you a letter of Readiness to supply to prospective employers.
Can I claim any Centrelink support for the days I am studying?
The Course is Centrelink approved, so you will be able to apply for AuStudy during your course. Centrelink approves students based on their personal circumstances as well as the course eligibility, so you would need to speak to Centrelink directly to 100% confirm your eligibility.