A pilot study investigating professional standardisation and harmonisation in osteopathic institutions within Europe and Australia

In the field of orthodox medicine, there has been a high degree of standardisation in developed countries of course content in medical teaching institutions, and this has led to a significant degree of harmonisation of standards for professional registration, allowing for portability of qualification so that doctors qualified in one country may obtain registration, and be able to practice in a number of other countries. There has been little progress or agreement towards standardisation in the field of osteopathy, however there is an increasing interest among Australian osteopathic graduates in practising overseas. For legal reasons graduates are currently unable to practice as osteopaths in the USA, so many are looking to work in Europe, and as a result interest in issues of harmonisation and qualification portability is rising. In this study we found that osteopathic educators share common goals to work towards international harmonisation, however are sceptical of the term "standardisation" for fear of transforming a profession that is considered a philosophy, art and unique style of healthcare into something ordinary and general. The profession lacks leadership and is reluctant to help develop international bodies. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program