Bachelor Of Health Science (Western Herbal Medicine)

Western Herbal Medicine is the use of medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes. A degree in Western Herbal Medicine is ideal for those who want a career incorporating herbal medicine practice as part of a holistic and scientifically based health plan. It is a holistic form of medicine which not only treats the symptoms but addresses the underlying causes of the condition

This three-year TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency) approved degree provides a holistic clinical environment where you will be trained to identify individual properties of different herbs, how to prepare them and how to prescribe them. Herbal medicines are prescribed in the form of liquid extracts, infusions, powders, tablets, capsules or external preparations such as lotions, creams and ointments.

Our Bachelor of Health Science (Western Herbal Medicine) is:

• An AQF level 7 qualification
• Provided by Australia’s longest-standing school of complementary medicine with an industry-wide reputation for outstanding quality of education
• Provides outstanding clinical training facility with multi-modality onsite clinic and access to one of Australia’s best complementary medicine libraries

This course meets the professional standards of the following industry associations:

• ANTA (Australian Natural Therapists Association)

Students may also be eligible to join:

• National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)
• Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
• Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)
• Australian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA)
• Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM)

What you will learn

Throughout the degree, you will be educated and trained in:

• Biological and social sciences
• Research
• Western herbal medicine and clinical studies
• Alongside study in herbal manufacturing
• Properties of herbs and herbal pharmacology
• History and philosophy of herbal medicine.

Students will gain hands on experience atThink Wellbeing Centre under the guidance of experienced practitioners in a clinical setting treating public patients. This prepares graduates to confidently and successfully commence practice in the community.

A day in the life

Day-to-day a Western herbal medicine practitioner experiences:

• working with a variety of patients and conditions
• taking detailed case histories
• diagnostic assessments
• health prevention
• tailoring herbal medicine treatment plans to provide optimal health
• conducting further research on a patient’s condition and treatment

Career prospects

As a graduate of the Western Herbal Medicine degree, there are a number of career opportunities available to you. There is a continually growing demand for skilled practitioners to work as a Western Herbal Medicine practitioner in a number of settings such as:

• Private practice
• Complementary clinics
• Medical clinics
• Health retreats
• Health food stores
• Research and education
• and Self employment.

Furthermore many students have gone on to set up their own successful clinics, undertaken post-graduate study, worked overseas, published journals and books, and worked voluntarily to give something back to the community. All of our degrees meet industry association requirements in their chosen areas, so students can register to become a member of professional associations and with private health insurance providers.

Assessment Methods

Each subject you complete includes 3 assessments on average. Assessments are mapped to specific subject learning outcomes and may include quizzes, written assignments, presentations, reflective journal, case analysis, literature review, practical exams and written exams.