Chiropractic and Osteopathy are two closely related but distinct allied health disciplines that focus on the diagnosis, management, and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders through manual therapy, patient education, and evidence-based clinical practice. In Australia, both professions are governed by national registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and require completion of accredited five-year university programs — typically a Bachelor degree followed by a Master's qualification — encompassing over 4,000 hours of classroom instruction and clinical training, including more than 1,000 hours treating real patients. The curriculum progresses from foundational biomedical and health sciences through to clinical practice, reflecting a modern, evidence-based approach to manual therapy that incorporates research, clinical expertise, and patient-centred care.

Chiropractors primarily focus on the assessment and treatment of disorders of the spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system, with spinal adjustment and manipulation as core techniques. Osteopaths take a whole-body approach to health, using hands-on manual techniques to restore function and balance across the musculoskeletal system, while also considering how lifestyle, posture, and systemic health interact. Both practitioners operate as primary contact healthcare providers, meaning patients can consult them directly without a referral. Graduates work across a diverse range of settings including private chiropractic or osteopathic clinics, multidisciplinary health centres, sports and rehabilitation facilities, corporate wellness programmes, aged care, and community health services.

Employers and practice settings for chiropractic and osteopathy graduates in Australia are predominantly in the private sector, with most practitioners either owning their own clinic or working within an established practice. However, there is increasing integration into multidisciplinary health teams, sporting organisations — including AFL, NRL, and Olympic sport programmes — workplace health services, and rural and remote health outreach programmes. Both professions are regulated under AHPRA, with chiropractors registered through the Chiropractic Board of Australia and osteopaths through the Osteopathy Board of Australia, ensuring consistent national standards of practice and professional accountability.

To enter an undergraduate chiropractic or osteopathy program in Australia, applicants typically require completion of Year 12 (or equivalent) with a competitive ATAR score, generally in the range of 70–85 depending on the institution, though some providers offer pathways for applicants who do not meet the standard ATAR threshold through academic support plans or bridging programmes. While no specific prerequisite subjects are mandated by all institutions, it is strongly recommended — and in some cases assumed — that applicants have completed Biology and/or Chemistry to Year 12 level. Mature-age applicants and those with relevant vocational qualifications (Certificate IV or higher) or prior university study in health sciences may be admitted through alternative pathways, including the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). All domestic students must typically be at least 18 years of age by commencement.

For postgraduate entry — such as the Master of Clinical Chiropractic — applicants must have successfully completed an accredited undergraduate chiropractic degree (such as a Bachelor of Science in Chiropractic or Bachelor of Chiropractic Science) from an institution accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia (CCEA). Some institutions may consider applicants who have completed an overseas chiropractic degree on a case-by-case basis. For osteopathy master's programmes, completion of a relevant bachelor's degree in health or clinical sciences is typically required.

All applicants who were not born in Australia or other specified English-speaking countries (including Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, and the United States) must demonstrate English language proficiency aligned with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) standards, which typically means achieving a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 in each band and overall. All students undertaking clinical placements must also satisfy security requirements including a Criminal History Check, a Working With Children Check (Blue Card or equivalent depending on state), proof of vaccination status including COVID-19, and relevant health declarations prior to attending placement sites.