Practising traditional cures Down Under
GOH Huay Ing is from the 2011 cohort of the International Medical University (IMU)’s Chinese Medicine programme.
After three years of studies at IMU, she transferred to RMIT University in 2014 before graduating with a degree in December 2015. After completing her final year at RMIT University in Melbourne, she decided to join the workforce in Australia.
“The pathway to being a Chinese medicine practitioner in Australia is very clear. Once I graduated, I applied for a licence from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, joined a Chinese Medicine Association and started practising. The system is well regulated and this guarantees my future and the profession’s stand in the country,” said Goh.
“My work is just like any other profession. Although it is not an office job, I still work from 9am to 5pm, sometimes till 6pm or 7pm. It might sound very ordinary and boring, but the fun part is the opportunity to meet different people with all sorts of health concerns,” she said.
“Most of you must have thought that Asians or Chinese will make up the majority of my client base. Well, it is not like that at all. Australians are open to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) nowadays.
“I would say 70% of my patients are locals and they are happy with me. They are also impressed by how the theory of Chinese Medicine applies to nature, our body and health,” shared Goh.
“One funny ‘challenge’ I have encountered numerous times was the way patients looked at me when they first came into the clinic. I had to do the whole explanation when they asked me about my qualification.
“The saying ‘the older the practitioner, the better skills he has’ is still dominant in people’s mind when it comes to TCM. This does not necessarily apply now, at least not in Australia. There are so many young practitioners I’ve met who have deep knowledge and insights that I can learn from,” she said.
“I have come so far compared to the first time I saw a patient in 2014. I am lucky to have chosen to study in IMU. The first three years in IMU were exciting. Our lecturers are amazing. Not only are they experts in this field, but they are also our friends. Although it can be tough and stressful during exam periods, they always stand by our side along the journey.”
IMU offers a four-year BSc (Hons) in Chinese Medicine.
It also has partnerships with several universities of TCM in China (Shanghai University of TCM, Shandong University of TCM, Guangzhou University of TCM) and RMIT University, Australia for students to transfer after three years in IMU’s Chinese Medicine programme.
Students will then be awarded the bachelor’s degree in Chinese Medicine of the respective partner universities upon completion of their studies.
The Chinese Medicine programme commences in February and September. IMU welcomes students with pre-university qualifications to start a promising and rewarding yet challenging future with a career in Chinese Medicine.
Students with pre-university qualifications can apply online.
Students who have completed their SPM and do not have a pre-university qualification can consider enrolling in the one-year IMU Foundation in Science, the direct route for entry into any of the university’s local degree programmes.
■ Visit www.imu.edu.my, e-mail start@imu.edu.my or call 03-2731 7272 for details.