It’s a stressful world out there and more people are turning to massage to live happier, healthier, pain-free lives. Massage courses can do wonders for your life too. You could work in a luxury resort or day spa, on a cruise ship, with professional athletes, alongside physiotherapists and chiropractors, or even in your own private practice. And the flexible hours make it an ideal full-time career, or one to fit around family and other commitments.
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Hands-on massage skills and qualifications
Whether you’re interested in Remedial Massage, Sports Massage, Shiatsu or another style, it’s important to choose a course that offers a nationally recognised qualification. That way, you’ll open yourself up to far more exciting career opportunities, both here in Australia, and overseas.
Above are certificate and diploma massage courses from leading TAFEs and colleges. They’ll give you the knowledge, techniques, practical experience, business acumen and accreditation you need.
Plus, you can choose from online and in-class study options – because just like a good massage, learning today is about more flexibility, less stress and working to the client’s needs.
Massage Courses
A qualification in massage therapy can allow you to help people in a meaningful way through your own personal touch. If you’ve ever had a relaxing massage or a treatment that’s relieved you of aches and pains, then you’ll know exactly how rejuvenating and beneficial the experience can be. This is one of the main driving reasons massage therapists commence a career in the industry.
The field of massage therapy is now widely recognised as a treatment going beyond a relaxing experience in fancy spa. Massage is now considered an important healing method with many hospitals, clinics and health centres employing the services of qualified massage therapists.
When a massage therapist is not working on the soft tissues, muscles, tendons and ligaments of their clients, they may be assessing a client’s condition and history, managing their own clinic and staff, or undertaking administrative duties associated with running their own business.
Career Outcomes
A career in massage therapy could see you working within several areas, all with the aim of healing and helping others, depending on your qualifications.
- Massage therapist
- Remedial massage therapist
- Bowen therapist
- TCM remedial massage practitioner
- Reflexologist
- Shiatsu therapist
- Aromatherapist
- Osteopath
- Chiropractor
- Sports medicine masseur
- Sports massage
- Age-specific massage
- Resort masseuse
- Wellness clinic massage
- Own massage business
- Post-operative massage
- With physiotherapists
- Luxury resort employment
Job Outlook for Massage Professionals
If you’re considering a career within the field of massage, here are some figures that will be relevant to you from the Australian Government Job Outlook Initiative:
- Employment for Massage Therapists has grown by a rate of 31.6% over the past 5 years and is expected to grow very strongly through 2017
- Total employment growth over the past 5 years Massage Therapists, employed part-time and full-time is 3,300
- Average Salary: Massage therapist: 47,000
- 52% of Massage Therapists are females working part-time
Types of Massage Courses
There are a number of educational pathways you can take to become qualified in the world of massage therapy, depending on the area you wish to specialise in.
Certificate IV
A Certificate IV massage course provides you with the fundamentals required to understand the practise of relaxation and therapeutic massage. These courses incorporate clinic-based learning with hands-on experience with real clients in a practice setting. Graduates of this course may be employed as a therapist in the areas of massage, remedial or Bowen therapy and able to work in their own clinic or practice in health care settings such as aged care facilities, health services, spa centres, hospitals or palliative care facilities. This is the ideal massage course for those looking to launch their career as a therapist in this field.
Diploma
For those wanting to specialise in a particular area of massage, then a Diploma is essential. Delivered online, this massage course is slightly more in depth and tends to be for a longer period. There’s a strong emphasis on the anatomy and physiology as well as client communication, clinical medicine and business management. This course is perfect for those wanting a change of job, re-entering the workforce, starting a career or wishing to add to their existing professional skill set.
Undergraduate
An undergraduate course such as a Bachelor of Health Science provides a broad overview of healthcare, and is suited to both clinical and non-clinical health careers. Delivered over a period of three years full time, an undergraduate degree is designed to train you to become a fully qualified healthcare practitioner. Graduates from this course can apply for accredited memberships with professional associations, and will require a bachelor degree to apply.
Massage Courses Online
Most of the massage courses at university and TAFE level, in both massage and associated therapies, are available to students online, providing flexible study options. Many courses are also offered both part or full-time.
Is Massage Therapy right for you?
Massage therapy is a highly rewarding and satisfying career, as you experience first-hand the improvement of a client’s health and wellbeing. For those who love working with their hands, appreciate the art of holistic therapies and are comfortable dealing with people, a career as a massage therapist could be perfect.
As a massage therapist you may work in a fancy spa or hotel providing a relaxing, rejuvenating experience for a client. You may be treating athletes with sports injuries or serious pain problems, and preventing these debilitating issues from returning again. This can make a massive difference to both physical and emotional wellness of your client.
A career in this industry can also provide flexibility suiting many lifestyles. Most massage therapists work part-time, either in their private practice or with a team in a health spa, clinic, hospital or aged-care facility. This can provide you with plenty of variety, not only in your workplace but also your clientele.
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