Kiwi studying Acupuncture in Aus? Advice.

[healthyhips]

Hi there, I am currently in New Zealand looking to study acupuncture in either Australia or New Zealand.

Given I am a graduate and have already spent five years at University I would like more information from those practising before committing myself for another four years!

1) Studying Acupuncture in Australia
Everyone has told me Sydney is the place to study acupuncture. I am looking at studying Melbourne. Any recommendations on which school?

How about changing states? I read on this forum that even if you change states in Australia you have to sit exams For example study in NSW and then move to VIC. Is this still the case?

Any New Zealanders who have studied in Australia. Were you able to apply for aus study? any advice????????????????

2) Studying in New Zealand
Anyone studied in New Zealand and now working in Australia? Did you encounter any problems?

I know so many questions but this is a great place to get answers. Thankyou to all that respond!!!!

[mrpin]

Kia ora,

Yes, for the last few years there seems to have been some kind of ongoing weird feud or cultural misunderstanding between NZRA and AACMa making cross Tasman mutual recognition of qualifications obsolete, unfortunately this is to the detriment of the profession really, however you probably would be best to ask the NZRA directly to get the whole story.
If you are already in practice its pretty disgusting, especially when you consider that the majority of TCM information provided in the NZ system has been derived from Australia UNI/ colleges, so the materials are pretty much the same last time I looked. A very petty situation.
Until both sides are happy this will remain an ongoing time wasting and expensive thorn in the side for practitioners going either way.
As a practitioner, to be quite frank you are financially far better off staying in NZ while you still have ACC cover.
If you really feel the need to cross the ditch, maybe consider just doing a two years masters at RMIT melbourne, or UWS as this should be available as a post grad option if TCM is not your undergraduate degree?.
Moving to Vic is still a problem due to registration not recognising all uni courses. However this should be resolved in 2012 when registration goes national. As for Cross Tasman, they should hold their heads in shame.

[healthyhips]

The RMIT has a grad diploma (2 yrs) and masters (3 years). Does this mean you can practice acupuncture in any state in Australia after completing these courses? or just VIC?

NZ has just introduced a degree in acupuncture. All institutions are changing to this now. But the interesting thing is most of the NZ institutions offer the degree as 4 years duration but others offer it as 3 years! (What the?)

Still doesnt make sense to me

[healthyhips]

It would be great to find out more from anyone who has completed masters in acupuncture at RMIT melbourne, or UWS? Which course? Any problems registering VIC or other states?

I understand you can only register in Australia if you have done the masters (with the 2 year graduate diploma you cannot register)

Thanks

[mrpin]

If you study in Vic you can move to any other state, if you study outside of Vic you may not practice in Vic unless your degree is recognised for registration there. Many degrees completed outside Vic are not recognised as they don't want to pay admin fees to get them covered (it could also be that they are a bit strange south of the border too - them mexicans.... similar to the north south NZ situation )
To top it off, having spent 5 years at UNI doing your undergraduate followed by three - post grad masters. If or when you decide to move back to NZ, the NZRA has the cheek to make you pay for and sit a test to make sure you know how to do TCM!
Aw... Do Osteopathy instead it pays better.