A joint grant of Australia-China Chinese Medicine Education Program hosted by Western Sydney University (WSU) and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) has been awarded funding by the Australia-China Council (ACC) recently. In the 2015-2016 grant round, the ACC awarded funding to a total of 30 projects in the strategic priority areas of Arts, Culture, Education, Economy and so on, of which  the Australia-China Chinese Medicine Education Program was the only joint grant in the field of Chinese Medicine education.

Australia is the first western nation to recognize and regulate the practice of Chinese medicine. This is an important cross cultural achievement that needs to be supported by high quality professional and community education. This project will develop cultural education programs in Chinese medicine aimed at medical and allied health practitioners as well as the general community. The educational platform, delivered jointly with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, will be a vehicle for Australian communities and health practitioners to engage with their Chinese counterparts, and to increase knowledge and understanding of this unique system of healthcare and cultural heritage.

Australia’s National Institute of Complementary Medicine and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine join forces to promote intercultural understanding and increase cultural capabilities through providing continuing education in Chinese medicine.  The project, funded by DFAT’s Australia-China Council, will develop innovating training opportunities for Australian medical and allied health practitioners, and community education courses for interested public.  A key objective of the educational platform will be professional education modules for general practitioners, pharmacists and allied health practitioners. The modules will be delivered as a suite of seminars in May-June 2016, focusing on Chinese medicine practice, philosophy, traditional and scientific evidence, drug interactions and Australia’s regulatory framework.

                                                                                                                International Cooperation Department