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What is Homeopathy?
Homoeopathy is a safe and effective system
of medicine based on the principle of “like
cures like”. This principle was first
formulated by a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann
in 1796. Hahnemann’s extensive research
and clinical studies proved that diseases
can be cured by small doses of substances
that produce in a healthy person the same
pathological effects that are symptomatic
of the disease.
Homeopathy is a holistic therapy that treats
not just the symptoms but the person as
a whole. The ingredients used to manufacture
homeopathic medicines are taken from plants,
animals and minerals. These substances are
broken down and reduced to the ratio of
one part of substance to 99 parts of water,
releasing healing properties through dilution.
Virtually any condition can be treated
with homeopathy. Again however, it is important
to remember that homeopathy treats the person
and not just the ailment. There could be
ten different people with the same cold
or flu virus but they all express their
symptoms in different ways. Their lifestyles
are different, their perceptions of their
symptoms are different, and the stressors
they are affected by are different. It is
this individual perception that the homeopath
examines before deciding on the remedy that
best suits the individual.
Studying Homeopathy in New Zealand
and Australia
With increasing numbers of people becoming
aware of homeopathy as a therapy, the demand
for quality homeopathic education is on
the rise. New Zealand and Australia are
two of the world’s leading countries
providing high quality homeopathic education
to students all over the globe. The niche
market homeopathic colleges provide world
standard curriculums delivered by highly
qualified and experienced tutors using the
latest delivery techniques.
Voted one of the world’s finest
cities in which to live, Sydney is fast
becoming a destination for international
students. Sydney’s breathtaking panoramic
harbour views, adventure activities, and
easy-going cosmopolitan culture have much
to offer visitors and students alike. New
Zealand cities such as Auckland, Christchurch,
and Tauranga are also in the highly preferred
list of destinations chosen by international
students. Known as the City of Sails, Auckland’s
pacific culture is an inviting location
in which to live, study and work. For a
pastoral seaside experience, Tauranga, with
its clean, golden sandy beaches wins hands
down, and the beautiful city of Christchurch
in New Zealands South Island is an ideal
location for the adventurous student, with
its ski fields only an hour drive from the
city centre.
Whether it is fun, adventure, or a serene
environment that you are after, these two
countries, with their beautiful natural
surroundings and rich cosmopolitan ambience,
give students the optimum environment in
which to study and emerge as innovative
professionals.
Accredited Qualifications
Throughout Australasia homeopathic students
undertake an extensive training period of
at least four years studying with government
accredited homeopathic colleges. After satisfactory
completion of the coursework and clinical
training, the student is awarded a diploma
or advanced diploma qualification and is
eligible to become a registered practitioner.
In New Zealand and Australia, government
approval is given to qualifying colleges
and their courses through NZQA and VETAB
respectively.
Government accreditation is important
as it ensures course quality and standard
along with both national and international
recognition of qualifications.
For instance, there are students from
Japan, Hong Kong, India, USA, and UK, who
choose to obtain their Diploma in Homeopathy
in Australasian colleges, with the comforting
thought that their qualifications will enable
them to practice in New Zealand and Australia
as well as their home country.
Says Amalendra Taluker, a second year international
student at the Auckland campus of New Zealand’s
Bay of Plenty College of Homeopathy, “It
is an enjoyable and enriching experience
to study in New Zealand.” My goal
is to graduate and practice as a homeopath
back home in India.”
Degree Pathway
Most of the Australasian Homeopathic colleges
now offer a degree pathway to students wanting
to further their tertiary education. Charles
Sturt University and the University of New
England are two of Australasia’s leading
providers of degree pathways for the homeopathic
colleges. Students may continue studies
to complete a Batchelor of Health Science.
Typical Course Structure
A typical diploma course structure may
include:
- Philosophy
- History and development of homeopathic
medicine and the underlying principals
- Understanding of human health and
diseases
- Familiarity with and critical examination
of classic writings on homeopathy
- and modern homeopathic philosophy
- Theory & Methodology
- · Case taking
- · Case recording
- · Case evaluation and analysis
- · Choosing the appropriate
remedies
- · Case management
- · Homeopathic pharmacy
- Materia Medica
- In depth study of homeopathic medicines
with their characteristic indications.
- Therapeutics
- The study of diseases and associated
homeopathic remedies
- Medical Sciences
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Pathophysiology
- Practical Applications and Clinical
Training
- The use of paper, video and live
cases to illustrate practical applications
of philosophy and theory
- Assessments and Examinations
Study Options
There are attractive options available
to aspiring students wanting to study homeopathy
in New Zealand and Australia:
- Full time college attendance
- Weekend intensives
- Distance learning
Whilst full-time college attendance may
be difficult or sometimes impossible for
many students who hold a day job, alternatives
such as weekend intensives and distance
learning are gaining widespread popularity.
Distance Learning - a popular choice
Homeopathic colleges in Australasia report
increasing popularity in distance learning
courses. An average of 20% per year increase
has been recorded in the last four years.
This is mainly due to the increased flexibility
which allows students to study in their
own time, at their own pace, from virtually
anywhere in the world. The integrated multimedia
programmes now available for distance learners
offer an exciting and stimulating way to
study. Digital format using DVDs allow students
to enter the virtual classroom from the
comfort of their own home.
Choosing the appropriate college
To get the highest standard of homeopathic
training it is vital to choose a college
specializing in homeopathic education with
a proven track record. It should have nationally
accredited courses offering both a diploma
and a degree pathway. The curriculum needs
to include a careful balance of both academic
and practical subjects. The course lecturers
should be qualified, experienced homeopaths
and teachers with national registration.
There are many complimentary therapy colleges
offering a range of courses. Homeopathy
can be studied as part of a Naturopathic
course but the quality and depth of training
is not to be confused with the standard
of the niche Homeopathic colleges.
There are several colleges in New Zealand
and Australia that are dedicated to providing
a high standard of homeopathic education.
The Sydney College of Homeopathic Medicine
in Australia and The Bay of Plenty College
of Homeopathy in New Zealand are two of
Australasia’s leading providers of
homeopathic education offering nationally
accredited diploma courses and degree pathways.
Vision for Homeopathy
Susanna Shelton, a longtime homeopathic
educator and college principal, shares her
vision for homeopathy: “To give the
finest standard of homeopathic treatment
to the greatest number of people at a reasonable
cost to the consumer and with a professional
remuneration for the practitioner.”
In the broader sense, it is the vision
of Australasia’s niche homeopathic
colleges to not only train homeopaths but
to inform people about homeopathy and increase
public awareness of homeopathy as a health
choice. A common ideal shared by many homeopaths
is that the title “homeopath”
become as well known as the term “GP”
– an ideal that the Australasian colleges
are turning into a reality.
The homeopathic world is your oyster; Australasia
invites you to embrace it.
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