What is Naturopathy? How to Become a Naturopath in Australia [Updated 2019]

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.

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.

Symptoms are a part of the healing process. Treatment should work with the natural healing process, not eliminate symptoms while leaving the causes untreated.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!