31 JANUARY 2013 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 11 399

Osteopathy is a person-centred form of manual medicine informed by osteopathic principles. Osteopathic medicine is not confined to historical osteopathic knowledge; rather osteopathic philosophies and concepts inform the interpretation and application of interdisciplinary knowledge and the basic medical sciences. Osteopathic medicine is an evolving field of knowledge and incorporates new concepts as our understanding of health and disease progresses.

Osteopaths treat people and conceptualise health and disease within a broad holistic bio-psycho-social and environmental context. Osteopaths have a particular interest in conditions of the neuro-musculoskeletal system and the management of pain. Osteopaths seek to prevent disease and promote health by empowering patients through sharing knowledge on lifestyle choices that improve health outcomes.

Osteopathic practice may be situated within a continuum of healthcare and wellness, with osteopaths applying evidence-based approaches to the management of named pathologies and conditions through to promoting well-being through supportive treatment.

The competent practice of osteopathy clearly requires broad diagnostic competencies and a differential diagnosis is required to determine if a structural diagnosis and the use of osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) is appropriate. Although osteopathic practice is often defined by OMT, the practice of osteopathy is not limited to a structural diagnosis and OMT. Whilst there may well be a somatic component to disease, OMT may not be indicated or the principal modality in every presentation.

Osteopaths work across the lifespan and may treat individuals from birth to old age, or deliver services in group settings. Professional knowledge may be applied in a range of settings not limited to clinical practice, such as health promotion, education and research, health policy and healthcare management.

Protection of Title: Those registered in the General Osteopathic Scope of Practice are entitled to use the title of osteopath.
The formulation of the Osteopathic Principles endorsed by the Council as underlying the above scope of practice may be found on the Council’s website www.osteopathiccouncil.org.nz

Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the Council has prescribed the following qualifications for registration in the General Osteopathic Scope of Practice:

All applicants must:

(1) hold a Master of Osteopathy awarded by Unitec New Zealand;

or

(b) hold a Master of Osteopathy awarded by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology or Victoria University, Melbourne, or Southern Cross University, New South Wales, Australia, provided those qualifications remain accredited by the Australian and New Zealand Osteopathic Council;

or

(3) pass the overseas assessment process endorsed by the Council;

or

(4) be registered under the Competent Authority Pathway endorsed by the Council, which means that an applicant is registered with the General Osteopathic Council of the United Kingdom and holds a qualification from one of the following institutions:

• British College of Osteopathic Medicine (as validated by the University of Westminster since 9 May 2000);
• British School of Osteopathy (as validated by the University of Luton since 9 May 2000);
• College of Osteopaths (as validated by Keele University since 1 September 2007);
• College of Osteopaths (as validated by Middlesex University since 1 October 2001);
• European School of Osteopathy (as validated by the University of Greenwich since 9 May 2000);
• Leeds Metropolitan University (since 1 September 2007);
• London College of Osteopathic Medicine (since 1 October 2001);
• London School of Osteopathy (as validated by the University of Brighton or Anglia Ruskin University since 9 May 2000);
• Oxford Brookes University (since 1 October 2003);
• Surrey Institute of Osteopathic Medicine (as validated by the University of Surrey since 1 January 2003).

2. Extended Scopes of Practice

The purpose of an extended scope of practice is to permit holders of the general osteopathic scope of practice to extend their clinical skills. The Council wishes to make explicit that the prescribed qualification for the general osteopathic scope of practice is not adequate to ensure competent practice and protect the health and safety of the public for areas of practice where an extended scope has been developed.

Only those that are registered in the extended Scope of Practice: Western Medical Acupuncture and Related Needling Techniques and have maintained a current annual practising certificate may lawfully incorporate the relevant techniques or approaches into his or her practice.

Scope of Practice: Western Medical Acupuncture and Related Needling Techniques

All registrants previously registered in the Scope of Practice for Osteopaths using Western Medical Acupuncture and Related Needling Techniques will, from the date this notice takes effect, become registered in the Western Medical Acupuncture and Related Needling Techniques Scope of Practice

Osteopaths registered in the Scope of Practice: Western Medical Acupuncture and Related Needling Techniques are primary healthcare practitioners who hold the General Osteopathic Scope of Practice, and who are qualified to perform Western medical acupuncture and related needling techniques, such as “dry-needling”, intra-muscular stimulation or other skin penetrating techniques using a fine filiform (acupuncture) needle.

Western medical acupuncture (WMA) is a therapeutic modality involving the insertion of fine needles; it evolved from traditional based acupuncture systems. Its practitioners no longer adhere to concepts such as Yin/Yang and circulation of qi, and regard acupuncture as a modality rather than a complete “alternative medical system”. WMA is an evolving