Informed Choices - Remedial Massage

Observational skills

• Conduct a physical assessment through observation of the client’s posture, range of movement and observable physical health symptoms
• Observe and understand non-verbal cues (e.g. facial expressions, body language, pain)
• Identify signs of physical discomfort when treating a client and respond accordingly
• Identify safety hazards and risks in the workplace 

Technical and/or motor skills

• Deal with the physical demands of manual tasks (e.g. bending over a massage table for 1 hour treatments, performing assessments on clients, lifting and moving body parts)
• Use remedial massage techniques and sequences with repetitive use of thumbs, elbows, and hands. be on your feet for extended periods, standing for long hours
• Maintain ergonomic postures that ensure a controlled distribution of body weight to reduce injury when massaging
• Hear and differentiate the client’s verbal responses to the treatment
• Monitor treatment, recognise reactions, respond to client feedback
• Be fit to practice with no acute injury or underlying health condition
• Give and receive massage treatment over the 12 month period for learning and assessment outcomes
• Use equipment and other technology (e.g. computers, electric massage table)

Cognitive/intellectual skills

• Gather, interpret, understand, and organise the client’s confidential health information
• Accurately document health information to the industry standard
• Use your own judgment and problem-solving skills to determine treatment needs (e.g. respond to contraindications)
• Determine the scope of client needs, recognise needs beyond the scope of practice and refer if needed
• Practice active listening, paraphrase and communicate information verbally to client
• Understand the client’s perspectives/opinions and respect their choices
• Respond to unfamiliar client presentations or contraindications
• Evaluate client progress and adapt assessment and treatment based on evaluation
• Understand and use maths effectively (e.g. time management, basic calculations, 24-hour clock)
• Maintain a sufficient level of concentration to complete an activity/task
• Be attentive in interaction with clients (e.g. to identify risks, to identify changes)
• Perform tasks in a safe manner and within reasonable timeframes

Behavioural and social skills

• Demonstrate patience and willingness to work with people from different backgrounds and cultures
• Demonstrate professional behaviour as is expected under professional membership
• Control your emotions and reactions and withhold personal opinions
• Able to tolerate close proximity with individuals and interact with all genders and ages
• Respect personal and professional boundaries, including the use of social media
• Adapt to change
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy as per the Privacy Act
• Comply with the legal and ethical requirements of the industry and the massage associations   

The language, literacy and numeracy requirements are core skills for all job roles at all levels. The Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) indicates that the five core skill areas are reading, writing, numeracy, oral communication and learning, which we apply in our personal and community, workplace and employment, and education and training. Some of the core language, literacy, and numeracy (LLN) skills for entry into this industry are:

Learning

• Legal and ethical guidelines of work
• Understand human needs
• Individual differences
• Service standards
• Safety policies and procedures

Reading Skills

• Reading and understanding client health forms
• Procedures and work instructions
• Industry-specific terminology and symbols
• Workplace safety signs

Writing Skills

• Completing client health forms
• Work health and safety reports
• Writing referral letters to other health practitioners

Oral Communication

• Active listening skills
• Communicating fluently and professionally with clients
• Communicating with clients who have impaired communication
• Effective questioning and providing information to clients and other health practitioners

Numeracy Skills

• Calculate timeframes

Problem-solving Skills

• Identify and respond to the client’s needs throughout treatment
• Create accurate case study plans

Technology Skills

• Use software to access an online learning platform for resources and assessments

Communication

• The ability to develop and maintain relationships, trust, and confidence.
• The ability to communicate with a range of people from different backgrounds

Teamwork

• The ability to work with other people for a common outcome
• Respect for other people and their role within the health team
• The ability to accept direction and feedback

Problem solving

• The ability to identify potential problems and respond appropriately
• The ability to ask questions and seek clarification when necessary

Initiative and enterprise

• Motivation and interest
• The ability to seek assistance when necessary
• Foresight / the ability to see what needs to be done

Planning and organising

• Appropriate time management skills
• The ability to prioritise, plan and organise own workload

Self-management

• Seek feedback and reflect on your performance
• Accept responsibility for actions

Learning

• Ability to identify own strengths and weaknesses and seek assistance where necessary
• The ability and motivation to build on past knowledge and experience
• The ability to take on new information and tasks

Technology

• The ability to learn and adapt to new technology
• The ability to access information and use digital media for study and work

As part of your course, you may be required to attend massage placements. South Metropolitan TAFE will arrange the placement, and students will be provided with forms to record their placement.

Students will participate in sporting events where sports massage treatments apply as well as in hospital settings, providing specialised massage to specific needs. This opportunity has proved to be a successful way for students to build on their employability and massage skills.

Student Clinic Requirements 

During this qualification, students will be required to conduct a minimum of 70 remedial massage treatments of varying types and work on a variety of clients during their study under a qualified Remedial Massage assessor.  Live Works Clinic at Murdoch campus provides the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and treatment skills in a real-life clinic situation and fulfil the clinic requirements

To achieve this qualification, students must have completed at least 200 hours of massage consultations as detailed in the assessment requirements of units of competency.

All workers must understand their workplace health and safety obligations and safety requirements under the:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act), which imposes obligations on people at workplaces to ensure workplace health and safety.
• Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022, which describe what must be done to prevent or control certain hazards that cause injury, illness or death.
• All therapists must be able to participate in Risk Assessments, Incident Reports, Hazard Identification and monitor compliance with risk control processes

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