In this post
- What is a naturopath?
- How to become a naturopath
- Naturopath Salary & Job Growth
- Naturopathy industry on the rise
- Where do naturopaths work in Australia?
- So… what is naturopathy?
- An typical appointment with a naturopath
- Naturopath Success Stories
- What skills do you need to be a good naturopath?
- Browse What is Naturopathy? How to Become a Naturopath in Australia Results
What is Naturopathy? How to Become a Naturopath in Australia
In this post Show
- What is a naturopath?
- How to become a naturopath
- Naturopath Salary & Job Growth
- Naturopathy industry on the rise
- Where do naturopaths work in Australia?
- So… what is naturopathy?
- An typical appointment with a naturopath
- Naturopath Success Stories
- What skills do you need to be a good naturopath?
- Browse What is Naturopathy? How to Become a Naturopath in Australia Results
What is a naturopath?
Naturopaths treat health concerns and promote long-term wellbeing. They combine natural treatments and science to treat the whole person, rather than individual symptoms.
The practice of naturopathy is based on the principle of supporting the body’s own healing processes.
They take a holistic approach to health, looking at many aspects of your life.
Physical
Mental
Lifestyle
Spiritual
Naturopaths work in both primary care and preventative health. They will often recommend a combination of therapies. These might include lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, massage, counselling and nutrition.
Tasks
- Assess and diagnose health problems
- Draw up treatment plans
- Evaluate and document the patient’s progress
- Refer patients to other health professionals
- Apply physical treatments to patients, such as massage & acupuncture
- Provide counselling and lifestyle advice
- Keep up to date with industry knowledge and natural health research
How to become a naturopath
Get a qualification
To become a naturopath, there are two main naturopath qualifications in Australia:
Bachelor Degree in Health Science (Naturopathy)
Advanced Diploma of Applied Science (Naturopathy)
Available from universities, colleges, naturopathic medical schools, and naturopathic schools.
Get your checks
Arrange a working with children check, and a first-aid certificate.
Get registered
Register yourself with the Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH).
Naturopath Salary & Job Growth
$67k
Median F/T Salary
66%
Work Part-time
$67k is the median F/T salary for a naturopath with 5 years experience, in Sydney $52k – $88k salary range.
Source: payscale.com
There’s a higher than usual part-time working arrangements in this job. This can allow for a flexible schedule and work-life balance.
Source: joboutlook.gov.au
Naturopathy industry on the rise
Natural, alternative and complementary therapies are gaining acceptance in the health world.
Though the status of some natural therapies is still in dispute, other practices have actually influenced mainstream Western medicine.
5 Careers in Natural Therapies
Natural therapies encompass a broad range of disciplines. Here are a few of the more popular ones for you to consider.
Where do naturopaths work in Australia?
Orange = more naturopaths.
Hover or tap the interactive map to see how many naturopaths work there.
Source: Job Outlook.
So… what is naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a complete health care system. It uses a range of therapies to prevent and treat internal health issues. It is based on a set of principles rather than one particular technique or set of tools.
Some naturopaths, known as “naturopathic physicians,” have medical training as well as naturopathic knowledge. They use an evidence-based approach when possible. They may combine naturopathy with a medical practice.
Others practice less mainstream, alternative medicines. Example are homoeopathy, Ayurveda and iridology. These practices often draw on traditional knowledge.
Good naturopaths practice natural medicine to complement Western medicine. This approach is known as complementary medicine.
This means it’s quite possible to see a GP and a naturopath at the same time, depending on the nature of your concern.
The basic concepts behind naturopathy
Doctor as a teacher
A practitioner should not only treat their patients, they should also teach them. They aim to empower people to proactively manage their own health.
Healing power of nature
The human body has a natural capacity for self-healing. It will eventually return to balance, if nothing it stopping it. The physician’s purpose is to help this.
Find and treat the cause
Look for the underlying reasons for disease, rather than trying to treat the symptoms themselves. Symptoms are just that: evidence of a deeper problem that must be treated.
First do no harm
Symptoms are a part of the healing process. Treatment should work with the natural healing process, not eliminate symptoms while leaving the causes untreated.
Treat the whole person
Living beings are complex. We are made up of genetic, social, emotional, spiritual, environmental and mental aspects. Wellbeing requires that these aspects all work together in harmony. So, naturopaths take a personalised and comprehensive approach.
Prevention
Rather than waiting for a disease to happen, naturopaths take steps to prevent problems in the future. Rather than curing disease, the focus is on building health.
What kinds of concerns does naturopathy address?
- Gut health
- Skin conditions
- Mental health
- Menstrual problems
- Energy levels and sleep
- Joint and muscle issues
An typical appointment with a naturopath
- Clinical and laboratory diagnostic testing
- Clinical nutrition
- Herbal medicine
- Nutritional supplements
- Prevention and lifestyle counselling
- Physical medicine / manipulative therapy
- Hygiene Clinical nutrition
- Counselling
- Public health
- Homeopathy
- Acupuncture
- Natural childbirth
- Prescription medication
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Nature cure
- Hydrotherapy Iridology
What techniques and modalities does naturopathy include?
Consult
An extended (45min-1hr) introductory consultation, where they ask you detailed questions about your health, mental state and lifestyle, and any problems or symptoms.
Treatment plan
They work with you to formulate a treatment plan to improve your overall health and eliminate the root cause of any problems.
Schedule follow-up
Schedule a check-up in the near future to evaluate your progress and make adjustments if necessary.
Naturopath Success Stories
Rebecca Winkler
QUALIFIED NATUROPATH
SURF COAST, TORQUAY & JAN JUC, VIC
10+ YEARS OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
What's the best thing about working in naturopathy?
Amongst the many wonderful things naturopathy provides, the one that stands out to me on a daily basis, is helping patients navigate their health from a holistic perspective. The recognition that the body is an intricate puzzle. We recognise the influence the physical, hormonal, nutritional, mental and emotional health have on ones overall wellness.
We also respect the body’s inherent capacity to find its way back to good health using natural medicines, herbs, diet and lifestyle modification. I help women and their families uncover their best health using a combination of both western and naturopathic considerations, frequently referring to local GPs for further investigation and complimentary management.
We also provide the opportunity for people to be heard and validated in how they feel.
What advice would you give someone considering studying naturopathy?
Firstly, be prepared to study hard. The 4 year degree is not an easy undertaking. The first 2 years are predominantly Biochemistry, biology, human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and nutritional medicine providing a solid platform for your case direction and differential diagnoses.
Essential qualities include being compassionate with a desire to help people. I also wish we were given more guidance with regards to running a business as helping people us wonderful, but they must find their way to you first! Consider additional study in small business (I completed a 6 month course in small business once I finished my degree and it put me in great stead).
Recognise that you are always learning and that research emerges and changes, be prepared to commit to ongoing education professional development.
Most of all, a genuine love and appreciation for Mother Nature is something I continually recognise.
Chelsey Costa
QUALIFIED NATUROPATH, NUTRITIONIST, MEDICAL HERBALIST PERTH, WA
What's the best thing about working in naturopathy?
Every day I get to go to “work” and help people overcome health issues they had either lost hope on or have been struggling with for years. I get to educate my patients on how to live their best and healthiest life without having to rely on medication or even supplements for the rest of their life.
Being a naturopath is the most rewarding job I can imagine doing and I thank my lucky stars for finding Endeavour College and making the decision to study naturopathy. I know I have found my calling.
What advice would you give someone considering studying naturopathy?
Following your passion is the best thing you can do! There are so many opportunities out there in this field waiting for you. If you immerse yourself in the field, find a mentor and give your studies everything you’ve got then you can take this qualification wherever your heart desires.
Why I love being a naturopath in Australia
I began studying for an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy, Nutrition and Western Herbal Medicine in 1999 before taking a long hiatus to have my children. Facing the real risk of losing my existing qualifications if I did not continue, the fire within me was reignited and I decided to go back to study part-time via correspondence whilst working full time in an extremely large and very busy Pharmacy.
Working as a Pharmacy Assistant in charge of the natural health care department gave me wonderful practical experience whilst studying. I learnt what the most common prescription medications that the pharmacy dispensed were used for, what nutritional supplements were complementary for that particular health condition and what were the contraindications. I thrived on interacting with the patients, listening to their general health concerns and then making some alternative and complementary therapy recommendations. I was essentially gaining work experience conducting 1 on 1 consultations – which I loved!
I graduated in 2014 and consider this to be one of my greatest achievements that I am most proud of personally. I immediately opened my own Clinic and naively believed that the clients would just start lining up at my door. This was my biggest lesson that if I could give any advice to new graduates would be – all good things take time! Don’t be a general Practitioner, find your niche by learning what areas are your strengths and weaknesses and specialise in whatever lights YOU up! It takes a while to build up your client database but just keep going.
If you love what you are doing it is an extremely rewarding and fulfilling career path – helping clients transform their health through your healthy diet and lifestyle recommendations with the addition of practitioner only medicines (which are extremely high quality in Australia) is an amazing feeling.
I am absolutely passionate about natural health care and I know it is such a cliché to say that being a naturopath is not what I do, it’s who I am, but I feel it is my true calling. Being my own boss also has its challenges but the positives of working in a career that I love far outweigh any negatives!
What skills do you need to be a good naturopath?
73%
Reading Comprehension
68%
Social Perceptiveness
64%
Active Learning
63%
Critical Thinking
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration O*NET
Loving the idea of a holistic approach to health? Does the idea of helping people make meaningful changes to their quality of life energise you?
Don’t wait to make your next move. See what naturopathy courses are on offer now!
Browse What is Naturopathy? How to Become a Naturopath in Australia Results
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30121
Dive into a realm filled with potential and growth with our CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, tailored for those eager to make a significant impact on children’s early years. This certification encapsulates the vital role...
IT Career Starter Pathway
Why choose the IT Career Starter Pathway? Our IT Career Starter Pathway helps you to learn the critical skills that employers need to launch your career in IT. The pathway features two courses that provide certifications for multiple job roles and toge...
Accredited PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner 6th Edition Course
PRINCE2® (an acronym for PRojects INaControlled Environment series 2) is a de facto process-based method for effective project management. The PRINCE2® method is in the public domain, and offers non-proprietorial best practice guidance on project manag...
Cisco CCNA and CCNP
This course bundle is ideal for anyone looking to establish their Cisco networking career. It consists of one Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification, and two Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) certifications. Although there...
IT Support Technician Certification Bundle
This course is aimed at anyone looking to gain entry into the IT field as an IT Support Technician. Support Technicians are the backbone of any IT department. They ensure the smooth running of the IT within a company or organisation and offer guidance...
IT Technician for Beginners
If you’ve ever considered working as an IT Technician, but felt you lacked the knowledge or skills to launch your career, this might be what you’re looking for. This course bundle is aimed at absolute beginners to IT who want to start a career as an IT...
Accredited PRINCE2® 7 Foundation & Practitioner
PRINCE2® (an acronym for PRojects INaControlled Environment series 2) is a de facto process-based method for effective project management. The PRINCE2® method is in the public domain, and offers non-proprietorial best practice guidance on project manag...
Certified Cisco Networking for Beginners (With Simulators)
If you’ve ever considered working as a Cisco Networking Engineer or specialist, but felt you lacked the knowledge or skills to launch your career, this might be what you’re looking for. This course bundle is aimed at absolute beginners to IT who want t...
Certified Cisco Networking for Beginners
If you’ve ever considered working as a Cisco Networking Engineer or specialist, but felt you lacked the knowledge or skills to launch your career, this might be what you’re looking for. This course bundle is aimed at absolute beginners to IT who want t...
Cyber Security for Beginners (With Simulators)
If you’ve ever considered working within the cyber security industry, but felt you lacked the knowledge or skills to launch your career, this course might be what you’re looking for. This course bundle is aimed at absolute beginners to IT who want to s...
Cyber Security for Beginners
If you’ve ever considered working within the cyber security industry, but felt you lacked the knowledge or skills to launch your career, this cyber security for beginners course might be what you’re looking for. This course bundle is aimed at absolute...
AI for Beginners – Microsoft AI Engineer Certification
If you’ve ever considered working within the AI industry, but felt you lacked the knowledge or skills to launch your career, this course might be what you’re looking for. This course is aimed at absolute beginners to AI who want to start a career in Ar...
Certificate III in School Based Education Support CHC30221
The CHC30221 Certificate III in School based Education Support offers the best of both worlds: the flexibility of online learning, with a practical 140 hours of work placement in a real classroom of your choosing, so you can practice and perfect what y...
Certificate III in Individual Support (Perth Only) CHC33021
Certificate III in Individual Support, this qualification reflects the role of workers in the community and/or residential setting who follow an individualised plan to provide person-centred support to people who may require support due to ageing, disa...
AAT Qualified Bookkeeper Pathway
You’re well on the road to success once you have this course under your belt. You’ll become a professional AAT Qualified Bookkeeper where you’ll learn to balance the books, prepare BAS returns and prepare business accounts, plus then use the prestigiou...
AAT Accounting Pathway Program
How to get your accounting career really moving. This is the program for those who love to take bold steps to champion their career. This program is unique to The Career Academy and specially designed for those working, or who have worked in an entry t...
Administration Pathway Program – Business Admin
It’s one of the most highly awarded administration courses you could take. This program is for those working in or seeking a Business Administration role. You’ll complete the Certificate in Business Administration, followed by an Advanced Certificate i...
Advanced Certificate in Child & Youth Counselling
How to change people’s lives for the better. This is a course where you can make a world of difference for children and young people. It’s a fascinating and highly detailed course where you’ll learn about theories of childhood development that include...
Dual Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication + Diploma of Social Media Marketing B40820, 10904NAT
Join a revolutionary industry! With the double whammy of social media and marketing, you can pave the way towards a ground-breaking marketing career. Combining the revolutionary world of social media marketing and fundamental marketing activities, this...
Dual Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business + Diploma of Business BSB40320, BSB50120
Become a business dynamo! It’s time to get serious about your career in business. And with this formidable dual qualification course, you can. Combining the necessities of starting and running your own, or workplace’s, business with effective ways of p...
Online courses also available
Latest Articles
How to Apply for Work Placement: Tips & Resources
Congratulations! You’re about to embark on an exciting journey where you will practise and develop t...
11 Hobbies That Can Make You Money: Use Your Passion for Profit
Hobbies often get a bad rap. They’re seen as just a way to kill time, a mindless escape from t...
Is The Job You Hate Killing You? Why You Need to Make a Change
Do you hate your job? Studies show that staying in a job you hate has negative health effects and ev...
Want to read more?
How to Become a Life Coach
The life coaching industry is booming in Australia, discover how to become a Life Coach here and hel...
A Practical Guide to Setting Up Your Reflexology Business
If you’re studying a course in reflexology (or considering it!), you may be thinking about setting u...
What is an Animal Carer and How Do You Become One?
Animal carers are responsible for the care and well-being of animals. Job duties include daily clean...