Australia scores a first in chiropractic study
If you have ever experienced that beautiful “pop!” and felt the almost immediate relief of aches and pains at the hands of a qualified chiropractor, you will understand why the profession is thriving.
In response to the continuing interest in chiropractic and a global lean toward holistic therapies, CQUniversity Mackay last year became the only university in Queensland, and the first in Australia outside a capital city, to offer a Chiropractic Science degree.
After kicking off in February, the course has attracted students from near and far and of all age groups, each drawn to CQUniversity’s fresh approach to education, as well as its state-of-the-art facilities.
For student Taryn Romain, her path to Chiropractic has been a lifetime in the making.
“I feel I overlooked studying a natural health profession at first as I was so used to being around it,” Ms Romain said. “I thought everybody’s parents took them to see a chiropractor when they were sick. I grew up seeing a chiropractor and have known no other life.”
So from the back breaking desk work of a degree in journalism, to the back-cracking world of chiropractic, Ms Romain has set off on a new career path with a vision to share her positive experiences in natural medicine with others.
Initially attracted to CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) and Master of Chiropractic Science (to begin in 2014) for its focused learning environment, she can look forward to work-integrated learning for a truly practical, hands on approach to her studies. With CQUniversity being a major contributor in the field of Health and Medical Sciences, its professors are leaders in their fields and the recently appointed professor of chiropractic is certainly no exception.
Australian chiropractor of the year
Leading students by example, internationally recognised academic Phillip Ebrall was recently appointed CQUniversity’s Professor of Chiropractic.
Not only was he named Australian Chiropractor of the Year in 2009, but in the last 12 months Professor Ebrall has received the Meritorious Service Award from the Chiropractor’s Association of Australia (Victoria), the inaugural Distinguished Service Award from the Tokyo College of Chiropractic, and the 2011 Honour Award from the Japanese Association of Chiropractors.
Three times during his career he has won awards for authoring the most significant contribution to chiropractic literature in a particular year. He has published over 80 papers in peer-reviewed, indexed literature, and currently serves as an elected director of the peak body representing chiropractic in Australia, the Chiropractor’s Association of Austral his former home city of Melbourne.
Now Professor Ebrall has stepped in to his new role with gusto, finalising the design and managing the implementation of CQUniversity’s ambitious new chiropractic program, just as he has done previously in Melbourne, Tokyo, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. He has pledged to ensure that these chiropractic science programs are evidence-based, wellness-focused, and fully engaged with external professional accreditation bodies, meaning his students are now taking advantage of a curriculum enriched by expert chiropractic educators from around the world. To complement this, Professor Ebrall has created a strengthened work-integrated learning system for his students, with study tours to chiropractic institutions abroad and placement in their associated clinics, as well as mini study tours to Japan and Malaysia to build cross-cultural competence.
“This innovative approach to learning and teaching will ensure CQUniversity’s chiropractic program is a world-leader,” said Professor Ebrall.
As well as its enticing international offerings, this program is the answer to Queensland’s longstanding need for a chiropractic course especially tailored to regional communities.
Dr Simon Floreani, chiropractor and national president of the Chiropractor’s Association of Australia (CAA), said he welcomes the program.
“The new educational facilities at the Mackay campus will support high quality education tailored to the specific needs of regional communities, as well as for rural and remote populations,” he said. “This will equip graduates to deliver a high standard of care within their own practices, or in a multidisciplinary setting alongside other health practitioners, to improve patient outcomes in their community.”
CQUniversity’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Scott Bowman agrees, saying that this course will be an exciting addition to Mackay’s growing suite of Allied Health programs. For example, the university’s medical imaging and sonography program will offer chiropractic students the newest and best diagnostic imaging facilities and also supply professionals to Queensland’s rapidly growing population hotspots.
“CQUniversity recently opened purpose-built diagnostic imaging laboratories on the Mackay campus and these will support learning within several courses of the chiropractic program,” said Professor Ebrall. “For the first time, chiropractic students will learn alongside student sonographers for imaging soft tissue (muscles and tendons), as well as using state-of-the-art direct-to-digital imaging of the spine, including CT.”
With all of these disciplines housed together, there will be a number of research opportunities created around the new program, meaning a practical path for student progression. No matter what their career goals or preferred town or city to practice, CQUniversity’s program presents excellent prospects to its students who benefit from small class sizes, expert leadership and superb facilities.
“For the first time, chiropractic students will learn alongside student sonographers for imaging soft tissue (muscles and tendons)”