A Massage Therapist performs therapeutic massage and administers body treatments for relaxation, health, fitness and remedial purposes.
Occupation description
A Massage Therapist performs therapeutic massage and administers body treatments for relaxation, health, fitness and remedial purposes.
Occupations considered suitable under this ANZSCO code:
- Chinese (Tui-Na) Masseur
- Remedial Masseur
- Shiatsu Therapist
- Sports Medicine Masseur
- Thai Masseur
Occupations not considered suitable under this ANZSCO code:
Physiotherapist
Personal Assistant
Fitness Instructor
Beauty Therapist
These occupations are classified elsewhere in ANZSCO or are not at the required skill level.
Massage Therapist is a VETASSESS Group C occupation
This occupation requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or higher. Applicants can fulfil the assessment criteria for this occupation in four different ways.
* Additional qualifications in a highly relevant field of study include those comparable to the following levels:
- AQF Diploma
- AQF Advanced Diploma
- AQF Associate Degree or
- AQF Graduate Diploma
** Highly relevant paid employment duration (20 hours or more per week)
1-3
minimum years of employment highly relevant to the nominated occupation, completed at an appropriate skill level in the five years before the date of application for a Skills Assessment.
4
minimum 4 years of relevant employment required – three years of relevant employment (can be outside the last 5-year period) in addition to at least one year of highly relevant employment within the last five years before applying.
Qualification and Employment Criteria
AQF Diploma or higher qualification*
Highly relevant major fields of study include:
- Massage Therapy
- Remedial Massage
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedial Massage
- Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies
- Reflexology and Sports Massage.
This includes qualifications assessed at AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level.
Employment
Highly relevant tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Massaging the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons and ligaments, to assist healing
- Utilising a range of massage techniques to enhance sports performance and prevent injury
- Administering treatments to promote relaxation, improve circulation and relieve muscle tension
- Assessing and treating specific soft tissue dysfunction and providing rehabilitation advice
- Employing other techniques, such as acupressure or Shiatsu, and complementary aids, such as infra-red lamps, wet compresses, ice, essential oils and herbal and mineral therapies, to assist recovery
- Assessing a client’s physical condition and case history and advising on stretching exercises and relaxation techniques
Employment information
Massage Therapists are often self-employed or working as a contractor for a massage clinic. They also commonly work in the following industries:
- Health and fitness industry (clinics, sports clubs and gymnasiums)
- Sports industry (sporting teams, clubs and individual athletes)
- Recreation and tourism industry (hotels, health resorts and retreats)
- Medical and pharmaceutical industry (medical centres)
Supporting material for assessment
When applying for a Skills Assessment, please ensure you submit sufficient evidence supporting proof of identity, qualification and employment claims. A full list of the documents required can be found on the VETASSESS website under Eligibility Criteria. If you are self-employed or working as a contractor, you are required to provide the following:
a) Evidence of self-employment such as sole trading or business registration details and / or official statements issued by your (registered) accountant and / or legal team. The statement from your accountant or solicitor must include the accountant’s or solicitor’s letterhead, your full name, how long you have been continuously self-employed (including official dates in each role), the nature of the business conducted, and the signature and contact details of the accountant or solicitor. b) A statutory declaration listing your main duties during self-employment.
c) Payment evidence showing regular income from self-employment, such as client invoices together with corresponding bank statements and / or official taxation records.
d) Supplementary evidence, such as contracts with clients or suppliers, client testimonials, evidence of projects completed, or other documents that support your application.
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