HEALTH & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Chinese medicine is the treatment of disorders and illness using medicinal substances that come from different sources such as roots, flowers, seeds and leaves of plants. It also includes other therapies such as acupuncture, cupping (applying a heated cup to the skin to create suction) and tui na (remedial massage).

The emphasis is on the integration of Chinese medicine and western medical sciences, working together with the health community to provide the public with the best possible treatment. Advanced clinical training is provided in Australia and China to broaden your clinical experience.

Graduates will be able to practise Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture at an internationally accepted level, with the capacity to launch careers in independent practice, or working within healthcare organisations as a Chinese medicine practitioner registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Chiropractors are primary contact practitioners focusing on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system. You will examine how such disorders affect biomechanics, the nervous system and health in general. The focus is on manual treatments such as spinal adjustments and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.

Anatomy, physiology and pathology courses underpin the clinical science studies of physical examination, differential diagnosis for the chiropractor and clinical practicum.

You will begin work-integrated learning immediately, culminating in your 4th year when you will perform patient-care duties with supervision from a registered practitioner. 4th and 5th year students, under the supervision of registered chiropractors, treat patients using a wide variety of management approaches.

Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that focuses on the musculoskeletal system and related disorders. RMIT's osteopathy degree was the first of its kind in Australia. Osteopaths are trained in diagnosis, management, and treatment of musculoskeletal pain disorders. They combine conventional medical testing procedures and skills of palpation and motion testing to inform their clinical rationale for treating a patient's condition.

You will begin work-integrated learning in 1st year, with clinical observations in the RMIT Health Sciences Clinic. In the final 2 years, you will conduct safe, skilled evaluation, diagnosis, and management of a wide-range of musculoskeletal complaints under the supervision of qualified and nationally registered osteopaths, over a period of 38 weeks per year.

There is also an opportunity to complete a work placement in an Australian osteopathic clinic.

The School of Health and Biomedical Sciences is committed to an interdisciplinary, collegial approach to scientific investigation.

This approach brings together clinical and basic researchers who explore the boundaries between the disciplines. Findings inform clinical teaching and advance the treatment of patients.

Projects can involve more than 120 researchers including academic staff, postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, support staff, honours and postgraduate students. Research is undertaken at RMIT's Bundoora campus in the purpose-built biosciences facility. The building's shared spaces promote a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to science.

Under expert supervision, you will develop your skills and join researchers already active in:

• cardiovascular disease, stroke and thrombosis
• chronic respiratory disease
• comparative biochemistry
• endocrinology and metabolic disease (obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease)
• gastrointestinal diseases
• NanoSafe Australia
• natural products, drug discovery and new therapeutics
• neuropharmacology and neuroinflammatory diseases
• nutrition and exercise physiology and biochemistry
• skin biology and tissue repair

The School of Health and Biomedical Sciences takes a multidisciplinary approach to offer you opportunities to conduct leading-edge medical radiations research.

Your research will be supported by excellent research facilities including specialised laboratories.

Under expert supervision, you will develop your skills and join researchers already active in:

• medical physics
• nuclear medicine
• quantitative and qualitative projects in medical imaging
• radiation therapy

Qualify for a career in diagnostic pathology and medical research. This program suits graduates from biological science or biomedical science degrees.

You’ll specialise in two clinical pathology discipline streams from the following options:

• anatomical pathology
• clinical biochemistry
• haematology
• medical microbiology
• transfusion and transplantation science