The growing acceptance of complementary medicine is one of the reasons course coordinator Charles Fogliani believes student numbers have increased, with demand now so great that CSU has introduced a Master of Complementary Medicine degree in 2002.

“Complementary medicine is much more accepted now than when we started three years ago, but the rise in student numbers is also because the industry recognises we provide a high standard of education, ensuring high quality professionals are working in the community,” Mr Fogliani said.

More than 250 applications were received to study the Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine) course in 2002, which is studied by distance education. The course is approved by the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS) Accreditation Board.

A number of agreements with overseas institutions have also been reached, which will see students from New Zealand, Canada and the UK studying the course this year. 

An agreement with the Michener Institute in Canada will result in approximately 20 students enrolling each session, while students from the UK-based College of Naturopathic and Complementary Medicine will be able to upgrade their studies to degree level under an agreement signed at the end of 2001.

The College of Naturopathy and Complementary Medicine has training centres in London, Manchester, Exeter, Belfast, Dublin and Galway, with in excess of 500 students.

Under the agreement, 30 UK students will enrol in the Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine) in 2002 and 60 in 2003. Following this, the annual intake will be 40 students.

A partnership with the South Pacific College of Natural Therapeutics in Auckland resulted in 60 students enrolling with CSU in 2001 with a further 63 enrolling in 2002.