Click here to download the Units of Competency for this course.

The learner group for this course are those who are interested in undertaking a massage qualification and require a structured, classroom based program with significant clinical experience.

This is an entry level course and no previous skills or experience are necessary.

Entrants must have:

• Successfully completed the Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) online test. Please note that if you are applying for more than one course with us, you will only need to complete the LLN online test once. Students returning to studies at ALG after a significant gap may be required to complete the LLN online test at the discretion of ALG. For more details on how to complete the online test, please refer to 8.Appendix_Language, Literacy, and Numeracy (LLN) Requirements Factsheet.

  The purpose of the LLN online test is to ensure that you have the LLN skills needed to undertake your course. It will also show how we can assist you in any areas where you may need help while studying with us.

• Sufficient level of English proficiency in order to interact with and document client interactions, interpret documents, learner guides and assessment tools, prepare written reports and plans. For more information, please view our English Requirements Factsheet.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills in order to establish and manage professional networks and client relationships with clients of various ages and backgrounds.

The learners’ physical attributes may influence their ability to complete the training and assessment. Assessment and training requires students to be physically capable of performing massage techniques and manual handling associated with setting up the work area.

Students must have a willingness to massage both male and female students and clients throughout the program in class demonstrations and practical sessions. They must also be willing to participate in a public student massage clinic.

The course is available to students 18 years and over.

This program is timetabled for 1600 hours over a course duration of 104 weeks. This time is divided into both training (on campus and self-paced) and assessment. Students will be required to attend the campus for 150 hours per term and engage in self-paced study of 50 hours per term. A term is typically 10 weeks.

The amount of training component is estimated at 80% of the students overall learning (1280 hours) and the remaining 20% (320 hours) is attributed to assessment. If required, students have the option to further extend their training hours with additional catch up classes, study groups and resits as published in the timetable.

The volume of learning refers to the total amount of time that a student would be expected to dedicate to successful completion of the course. It includes the structured part of the course as defined above, as well as the self-study, research and practicing of skills that a student would do in their own time. The total Volume of Learning is estimated at 2400 hours (1600 structured hours and 800 unstructured). Some students may find that they need more study time and others will find that they can achieve the required level of knowledge and skills in less time than this estimate.

Training and Assessment

Your classroom learning will take place in both theory and practical classrooms. Your classrooms will have similar resources such as charts, tables, oils, towels, educational and physical resources to those you will find in a massage clinic.

In theory classes, students will learn about the massage industry and its role in the complementary and wider health care industries. You will undertake business and legislation lessons, anatomy, nutrition, professional practices and work health and safety.

In your practical classes you can expect to simulate interactions with clients, take case histories, plan and deliver remedial treatments and record these treatments. These simulated learning activities will then be put into practice in the workplace during your clinical sessions with the general public.

In the Diploma program, you will also have access to different modalities.

In addition, you will be required to undertake self-paced learning and submit written assessments. A number of practical and skills based assessments will be undertaken in class.

A first aid course is also part of this qualification.

Student Clinic

You will be expected to perform 280 hours in our student clinic which is open to the general public. Here you will have access to clients from all ages and backgrounds. You can hone your skills under the supervision of a Clinic Supervisor.

Training Locations

Your training will occur on campus.

Campus Locations

Please refer to course timetable for the campus locations.

Student Support

The primary learning support comes from Student Services or the training and assessment team.

Student Advisors offer support throughout a learner’s studies and can help with the following information

• Support services
• LLN services (in collaboration with the Training and Assessment team)
• Legal services
• Emergency and health services
• Facilities and resources
• Complaints and appeals processes
• Deferments

Additional sources of student services information available includes

• Student Services Booklet
• ALG Student Handbook
• Online Student Centres – found on our websites
• Plus a variety of individual factsheets, flyers or electronic messages

• Students should come prepared to start practical massage classes from their first day. For each practical class, students must bring 2 large towels and 3 hand towels.
• Students must wear comfortable and appropriate clothing and footwear.
• Students will be required to receive massage from, and provide massage to, both females and males in practical classes and Student Clinic.
• Students must also be willing to be massaged by both male and female students in practical classes and in student clinic.
• Students are required to have short, clean nails, clean clothing and no strong body odours.
• Please refrain from smoking prior to conducting treatments in order to avoid odour from cigarette smoke affecting clients and fellow students.
• All students are encouraged to bring their own laptop or tablet device to class to access eBook(s). Devices are not provided by ALG. Refer to the BYOD Policy in the student handbook.  
• To maximise the chance of a student successfully completing their training, ALG attempts to identify any support individual learners need prior to their enrollment or commencement. Some of the ways to identify learning needs is to ask all prospective students to self-assess. So prior to enrolling please ensure i) you can meet all course requirements (listed in this course overview) ii) you nominate any learning needs they have prior to enrollment either by contacting us or on your application/enrolment forms  and iii) consider booking a trial lesson if you have any doubts the course may not be suitable for you from an educational, cultural or other reason. Please refer to Section A3 of the student handbook for details.

Student Clinic

• The student clinic is in an open environment with private consultation areas available. This allows for maximum supervision at all times.
• To maintain professionalism, students attending student clinic are required to maintain a clean & tidy appearance.
• Students must wear either a College logo t-shirt or a plain black or white t-shirt (only a minimum level of logos or designs will be accepted), with loose fitting pants or shorts.
• The College does not allow short skirts or short shorts, low-riding pants, bare midriffs, low-cut tops or singlets.

Click here to download the Timetable for this course