Australasian College of Natural Therapies

Australasian College of Natural Therapies is a private education provider that has campuses in Pyrmont, New South Wales and Fortitude Valley, Queensland. Founded in 1982 by Peter and Frieda Bielik, it is one of the oldest private providers of health education in Australia. Australasian College of Natural Therapies is a part of the Think: Education Group. Joining the Think: Education Group in 2008 Australasian College of Natural Therapies is now part of a group of private education providers including: Southern School of Natural Therapies, Australian National College of Beauty, Jansen Newman Institute, Billy Blue College of Design, William Blue College of Hospitality Management, CATC Design School and APM College of Business and Communication.[1]

Australasian College of Natural Therapies has three main specialist areas; Natural Medicine, Manual Therapies and Fitness. Within the Natural Medicine specialist area Australasian College of Natural Therapies offers courses in Naturopathy, Nutrition and Western Herbal Medicine and Homeopathy. Within the Manual Therapies specialist area Australasian College of Natural Therapies offers courses in Remedial Massage and Aromatherapy. Within the Fitness specialist area Australasian College of Natural Therapies offers courses in Personal Training, Fitness and Sport Development.

Australasian College of Natural Therapies

Australasian College of Natural Therapies offers courses from Certificate to Advanced Diploma level courses.[2] Upon completion of an Australasian College of Natural Therapies course graduates can expect to gain career prospects in their chosen field, these career prospects include: Naturopath, Naturopathic Practitioner, Natural Medicine Practitioner, Natural Therapist, Nutritionist, Botanical Medicine Practitioner, Herbalist, Herbal Medicine Practitioner, Phytotherapist, Western Herbal Medicine Practitioner, Aromatherapist, Remedial Massage, Remedial Therapist, Fitness Specialist, Gym Operations Manager, Fitness/Gym Program Manager or Personal Trainer.

Australasian College of Natural Therapies has industry recognition from Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS),[3] National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)[4] and International Aromatherapy & Aromatic Medicine Association (IAAMA).[5]

History

Australasian College of Natural Therapies was established in 1982 by Frieda and Peter Bielik (known then as the Eastern Suburbs College of Natural Therapies). In the 1970s Freida Bielik, Principal and co-founder of Australasian College of Natural Therapies spent many years of sleepless nights at the local hospital with her son, Danny, who battled severe asthma for many of his early childhood years. Freida and her husband Peter were at a loss as to how to treat their son's health and through word of mouth were referred to an osteopath who had been treating asthma sufferers for many years. This osteopath treated Danny throughout his childhood and the results were astounding. Today Danny Bielik is no longer a sufferer of asthma and has himself pursued a career in tertiary education including a period as Managing Director/CEO of Australasian College of Natural Therapies. Danny was also appointed as the Ministerial Adviser for tertiary education to the Minister for Education, The Hon Adrian Piccoli, MP.[6]

Freida was inspired so much by this form of medicine that she went on herself to study osteopathy, chiropractic and naturopathy. Once qualified, Freida started a small practice in Bondi. In 1982, along with her husband Peter, Australasian College of Natural Therapies, then known as the Eastern Suburbs College of Natural Therapies, was formed in modest premises in Bondi Junction. The College then consisted of one classroom and four treatment rooms in an office building near the Bondi Junction train station. Quickly outgrowing the premises the College moved to Double Bay where Freida and Peter ran a range of successful massage weekend workshops.

Demand for these courses was so high that it was soon necessary to look for larger premises and so the College moved to occupy an entire floor of an office building in Ultimo. After leasing another floor in the same building, then additional space in a building across the street, it was soon time to move again. The building in Bay Street, Broadway seemed huge in comparison to the previous space, with plenty of room for a clinic, dispensary, larger classrooms, a common room and a rooftop terrace. This was soon insufficient space for the college with demand for Australasian College of Natural Therapies’ courses growing at an astonishing rate.

The Australasian College of Natural Therapies Student Clinic then moved to a federation house in Glebe to alleviate the space problems. Space was continually an issue throughout this time and the College ended up moving to its current location, in Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. In 2004 the College added ‘Nourish – Australasian College of Natural Therapies Café and Bookstore' to its campus, helping to nourish the bodies and minds of students and staff.

In 2008, Australasian College of Natural Therapies was acquired by Think: Education Group joining other private education providers; Billy Blue College of Design, William Blue College of Hospitality Management and APM College of Business and Communication. This acquisition led to further growth in the College and in 2009 an additional campus was established in Fortitude Valley, Queensland.

After 30 years of providing natural therapies education, Australasian College of Natural Therapies is now one of the largest colleges of natural medicine and beauty therapy in the world, it is also one of the most respected private educational providers recognised by many worldwide organisations, universities and industry associations.

Sydney Campus

The Sydney campus of Australasian College of Natural Therapies is located on Pyrmont Street in Pyrmont. This campus includes a student library, student break-out areas, the Nourish Café and a dedicated student clinic for massage and natural therapies consultations.

The campus is situated close to Darling Harbour.

Brisbane Campus

The Brisbane campus of Australasian College of Natural Therapies is located on Costin Street, Fortitude Valley. This campus is shared with fellow Think: Education Colleges; Australian National College of Beauty, Billy Blue College of Design, CATC Design School and APM College of Business and Communication. Within the Brisbane campus there is a library, student break-out area and student clinic. The Brisbane campus is easily accessible and close to Fortitude Valley railway station.

References

  1. ↑ "THINK Education Acquisition". Chester Capital. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "Think Colleges". Australian Training Government Registration Site. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Australian Traditional Medicine Society Ltd". Accreditation. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "Accreditation". National Herbalist Association of Australia. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "Accreditation". International Aromatherapy & Aromatic Massage Association. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "ACPET". ACPET. Retrieved 8 February 2012.

External links

Australasian Natural Therapies Website