How Medical Acupuncture Is Taught in Australia

In Australia, The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) regulates medical acupuncture. Endorsement by the Medical Board of Australia requires the medical practitioner to complete an approved Course and pass the Part 1 Examination of the Australian Medical Acupuncture College (AMAC). The Australian Medical Council (AMC) has approved the Australian Medical Acupuncture College Part 1 Course against its standards.

Fully qualified Medical Practitioners and Dentists, who are not currently engaged in other post graduate courses are taught using a blended learning format, including online modules, webinars, face-to-face workshops, and clinical mentorship. Teachers in the Course are experienced medical acupuncturists, mostly Fellows of the College, or Members of the College with experience in teaching and mentoring. Non-physician acupuncturists are trained at Chinese Medicine Board approved courses in various Institutes of Technology, Colleges of Natural Health, Torrens University, and the University of Western Sydney.

"New analysis from the Australian Medical Association has confirmed, after years of Government neglect, Australia is facing a shortage of more than 10,600 GPs by 2031, with the supply of GPs not keeping pace with growing community demand." In Australia the demand for acupuncture is 1 in 10 adults, and an unmeasured number of children. The actual supply is 1 in 3,000 population, with qualified medical acupuncturists being 1 in 30,000. Solutions to these problems would require a change in Australian Government Policy which currently is to replace doctors with pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physician associates, and presumably medical acupuncturists would be replaced by Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncturists.

Medical and dental acupuncture in Australia is taught in a tightly regulated environment in an evidence-based fashion by committed medical practitioners with experience in the practice and teaching of the art and science of this multi-millennial long modality.