Reflexology in Australia

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi Setanta,

Congratulations on the move to Oz later this year - i hope you'll be very happy in your new life.

With regards to the reflexology, i can't say much, although i know a few people from Oz and they say that there is a naturopathic doctor to match every modern medicine Doc, so that's a good holistic starting point.

I do believe that Australia is a very holistically minded country anyway, so I think you'll find it fairly easy to fit in and find a job - or maybe even start up one of your own, depending on the conditions of your emmigration.

Good luck with the Australian Association of Reflexologists - ITEC is an international qualification, so i wouldn't have thought there would be any probs.

Zoe x

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi Setanta

If you are doing an AoR Rx course may I suggest you contact the AoR and see what advice they have - both Oz - not sure which organisation - and the AoR are members of the ICR and may have some kind of networking system. As a student member of the AoR you couldput a post on the discussion forumand see if anyone else has had experience.

I understand there are similarities with training and of course, even if you have to apply when you get there you will have lots of evidence and outcomes of your training. If you contact the ABC, you could obtain a copy of the specification taught on AoR accredited courses which you could take with you; this will have details of what was taught / covered on your course and what outcomes had to be achieved in order for you to pass.

I heard of an AoR reflexologist who moved to a scandinavian country and they were able to identify the differences between the two countries and what would be required to bridge the gap using the ABC spec and help to move forward meeting that countries requirements.

I am curious, are you study reflexology with both ITEC and AoR and doing two exams!?? PHEW!

Good luck with your new life all that sunshine and laid back approach to life eh!

Best wishes
GG

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Setanta,

Have just returned from Oz, visiting my daughter who is a Physio out there.

Arranged a number of massages whilst there. Lots of holistic therapy business and reflexology is included. Many Doctor's practices have holistic therapist working within the practise. They are much more switched on to the benefits than we are in UK.

Good luck,
Ken

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Thanks a million for your replies guys.

It's good to see that Australia is open to complementary stuff. I suppose everywhere is opening to a wider appreciation of wellness but it's comforting to know that I'm not going to be ploughing a lonely furrow. Having made my decision to leave the quest for commercial world domination behind 🙂 it's good to know that I won't starve. (Helpful also that my wife is an accountant).

Thanks for the good advice too. I suppose I'm lucky in that I'll have all my case studies in order and that the knowledge and exam cramming will be fresh should I need to resit exams out there. I think that the AOR curriculum is pretty comprehensive and they require a pretty significant amount of both class time and case study/practical work so I hope I'll be OK. I'll contact the AOR and see how that goes. (Don't know why I didn't think of that before either.)

Yes I'm doing both ITEC and AOR. It's the same class time and case work just 2 sets of exams which are around the same time so its the same study time really just different emphases. I'll let you know if it's a good idea when the results come out but so far, so far.

Thanks for your good wishes too. some days its scary to think about transplanting 2 kids to the other side of the world particularly when we've got a good situation here but if not now, then when. It's not the length of life that's important, it's the width.

Be good

Setanta

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi Setanta,

we are moving to Adelaide in 5 months time, and I understand with most trade skills in australia you need to get a licence, back to school again.
I have found these sites which are useful for any type of question that you might need to ask. hope it helps you.

1. [link= http://britishexpats.com/ ]http://britishexpats.com/[/link]

2. [link= http://www.virtualtourist.com ]http://www.virtualtourist.com[/link]

hope you find them useful, they have been very useful to me.

farideh

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Thanks for those Farideh.

Best of luck with your move. Exciting times!

Are you going to pracitce as a reflexologist out there?

Setanta

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi setanta,

I like to, but I know if you start your own business over there you have to employ 2 australians, I dont know how big is mobile business or working from home.
so i guess i've got to work for somebody else, do you know any thing of how the system works out there?

farideh

RE: Reflexology in Australia

You only need to employ 2 australians if you are migrating to Australia on a Business Skills Visa.

If you are migrating under the points system then you're free to set up any business you want and you can just fire away on your own, subject to all the usual stuff, insurance etc.

If you're travelling on a business Skills visa, that's the one where you have to employ the 2 Aussies and have a turnover of £x grand after 2 years etc etc, and your partner is setting up that business I think that you can set up on your own as well because your partners business will satisfy the Business Skills criteria.

i'm no expert on all this but I'm pretty sure that that's the case, particularly the first bit. Once you satisfy the points criteria and get your visa you can work in any area.

Hope this is good news.

Good luck

Setanta

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi setanta,
we are going under point system, so thats good news, oh so much to do, before we go such big headach.
Have you been in touch with any insurance company over there.
I've also been told to take my tools like massage table extra with me as it is very expensive over there.
If i find more information I let you know, I guess i'll there before you.
i'll let you know how it works out there.

farideh x

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Glad to give good news.

We're not going til the end of August so I haven't started to do anything concrete yet, just building the fires of anticipation/anxiety in the pit of my stomach. I'm going to ship all my stuff anyway so the table just goes in the container as well.

I'd love to know how you get on and any of your experiences in getting your qualifications ratified and all that stuff.

Best of luck.

Be Good

Ruairi

RE: Reflexology in Australia

We're also heading over there later this year, but haven't set a date yet. We are going over on the point system and my husband is the skilled person, so I have no limitations thank goodness.

I haven't decided what to do yet, start up my own business, work for someone, go back to my old job or even give something else a go. I looked a bit into whether or not my ITEC quals would be recognised and found it all a bit vague. I could get insurance & that seems to be the main thing. I didn't look into the reflexology side of things, cause I didn't have the qual at the time, but I do think there is no umbrella organisation as there is here in the UK. Don't be fooled ITEC is not as international as you might think, although they did say they could help me out with paperwork etc! But as I say I found out I could get insurance so if you are setting up on your own that should work.

It would be great to keep in touch, and share our expereinces. I'm heading off to Melbourne.

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hiya Angelfish

Well it's comforting to know that I'm not the only one diving off the high board.

I checked out the ITEC qualification scene and I think that youre right about it not being all that international which is why I took the option of studying AOR and ITEC combined in that I figure that you can't have too many qualifications, particularly when you've no experience!

I've made the decision that I'm leaving the old job/career/life behind and want to head in a totally different direction. My wife is an accountant and she's going to provide the financial security from now on.

Hopefully.

There are a couple of organisations, I believe but I'll have to start my research in earnest now. We're off to Melbourne too so I'd love to keep in touch and share whatever I find out. If you want, send me a PM and we'll keep in touch that way.

Be good

Setanta

RE: Reflexology in Australia

hello,

am interested in, maybe, going to australia too, one day.

where do you start looking, researching wether you could be given a visa under the points system?

so far, looking at the skilled trades new zealand welcomes - friends going there - I am not welcome at all. I have a few university diplomas but still, I am not an accountant, a doctor, a dentist or an engineer.

any advice would be great. thanks.

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Well it would be great to keep in touch. I've PMed you.

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Check out this is the Australian Immigration Department and all the info is on there. You don't have to go in on your own and you might be surprised at what your points add up to, depending on your qualifications and experience etc.

Good luck, it is a bit of a slog getting through everything though. Best tip is don't leave it until you are over 35 years, you start loosing points rapidly.

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi Fadette

The link from Angelfish there is the Australian Immigration Service. There are LOADS of agents who will guide you thru the process for a fee. A lot of them do free on-line first stage assessments to see if you are eligible. If you are, they'll plague you but you can always say no. It can be a good way of seeing where you stand. A portal type site with loads of these guys is .

Good luck

Setanta

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi Angelfish

I tried to PM you back with my email address but you're not set up to receive PM's (in settings I presume).

Setanta

RE: Reflexology in Australia

We also used a consultant I think the fees were a good a couple of thousand pounds. He was specific to my husbands industry, so I would recommend asking around for someone more suitable.

Best wishes

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi fadette,

as both anglefish and Setanta mentioned you could either go via the Australian gov site, or there loads of agency you could do.
my husband did all the form fillings himself, and he's was fast track the whole thing for us took less than one year.
you'll be so surprise that on their list they are not only looking for doctors, accountant, dentist, they are really short of all type skill worker, like chef, hairdresser, teachers, the list is very long. there are so many different type visa as well, if you dont make it to point system.
there is SIR visa (skilled Independent regional) where you do 2 years visa and then apply for permant residency.
or you can apply for
STNI visa (state territory nominted independent) where state would need your type jobs, you would be able to apply for this one up to the of 45.
hope these helped you if need more help pm me.

farideh x

RE: Reflexology in Australia

thanks for all these info, guys.

Am not far from 35 so feel a bit pressured now..!

am a teacher (well, university) but i don't think aussies want to learn French. (they wont need that skill to go to their holiday house in the south of....australia!)

However I would love the idea of being an aromatherapist-reflexologist there...

Must enquire more...gosh, so much admin research to do.

you say it ONLY took one year for your husband. so I just be prepared to take a few years to apply???

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi Fadette,
my husband job is really needed in Australia that's why he's application was fast track.
but I do know it normally takes 2 years before they give you your visa. hope this helps you if you want to go for it apply now rather than later.
I would try one of these on line agency where they can do on line first stage assessment as setanta mention.
at least you get idea, good luck.

farideh x

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi
Glad to have found this!!! Having looked into emigrating to Australia for sometime it was great to read your comments!! I have been a Reflexologist for 8 years now with the ITEC qualification. Been through the points section and I only seem to be able to get 95 points as I am the other side of 35 !!!! No 40 yet though!!!! This is on the assumption that ITEC is recoginised! I do also have Aromatherapy and Indian Head Massage but I was wondering if anyone has actually paid the £300 to get their qualifation verified? Any suggestions on raising my points!!!!!!!!??????? Apart from gettinga job offerI feel that I could bewasting £2000 for nothing. Hence I'm still here getting older!!!!! I do have a Teaching qualification as I teach Adult Education but this is a City and Guild Certicate. Would love to hear from you if you have the time!!
Kind Regards

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hiya Merryberrys

Welcome to the family. Before I make any comments can I just stress that I am not an expert by any stretch and that I can only really go on my own experiences. As you know the pass mark is 120 points so there's a lot of ground to close between 95 and 120.

we applied on the basis that my wife is an accountant so I didn't verify a reflexology qualification (cos I don't actually have one yet!) but an acconting one so I can't give you any help on that but would be glad to here from someone who did too. I'm assuming that the £2000 you mention is the cost of your application to the Aussie Immigration service but remember that you wouldn't be spending this unless you were sure (as you can be) that you were going to get through. Another option that you might consider if you had relatives in Oz would be to get them to sponsor you.

I think that your best bet might be to take the plunge and sit down with a reputable Immigration agent and have a chat. They do initial consultations (for a fee usually) but they would be able to give you concrete advice.

Sorry that I can't do any better but good luck anyway.

Setanta

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi

We're heading to Perth later this year (all being well with visas) and I want to try my hand at using my holistic therapies there. I have heard very positive comments regarding holistic therapy in Oz. I understand thatmostif not all therapies can be claimed back by those who have Medicare (the practitioner is issued with a number that the client uses to claim back the therapy fee)

Good luck to everyone who's on the way to the flip-side .... or already there 😀

Hugs

RE: Reflexology in Australia

Hi Merryberry's

Getting assessed can be a tricky situation. I'm no expert on the assessment process, but I can tell you what the consultant told me regarding my array of qualifications. I have an HNC in business and ITEC qualifications in various therapies and the City & Guilds 7307 Adult Teaching Cert. I needed to be assessed to boost up my husbands application as he had just turned 35.

Basically I was told that for any of my qualifications to be considered they must be worth 40 points and be recognised by the QCA (Qualifications Curriculum Authority in the UK at Level 4 or above and then be assessed by Vetassess.

)
Unfortunately ITEC qualifications are only Level 3, so would not be counted and I ended up getting in on my HNC which is a Level 4. I think the C&G Teaching Cert is only Level 2. I paid the vetassess fees and it all seemed pretty straight forward There are many ways of boosting your points including paying the government bond of £40,000 which is worth 5 points (I think) and you can also opt to go for state or regional sponsorship. You can get sponsored by a relative which can include step relatives and cousins etc. We went through all of this over a year ago, so things may have changed and will be worth re-checking. This is the company we used and we found the consultant very helpful and discussing alterative ways of getting points. [link= http://www.austimmigration.com.au/ ]http://www.austimmigration.com.au/[/link] Feel free to pm me if you want to pick my brains some more.

ITEC IN CANADA??????

HI.I AM DOING MY ITEC EXAM FOR HOLISTIC MASSAGE AND A&P... LIKE YOU I WANT TO SCOOT OUT OF THIS COUNTRY AND WORK IN CANADA.... I CANT SEEM TO FIND OUT IF ITEC IS COVERED OVER THERE??? DOES ANYONE KNOW OR HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP ME??
THANKS..
HOLISTIC CANUK:D:D:D:D

RE: Reflexology in Australia

I feel as if I am in Australia with all the lovely information that you have been sharing between each other. I know a lovely Gentle Touch™ Reflexologist who lives in Perth for anyone who wants to share some treatment swaps. She does a lovely treatment and is very knowledgeable about reflexology. If anyone wants to swap treatments with her then please email me (via the website) and I will pass on her email address for you to make arrangements direct.
Best wishes
Sue