The aim of the Graduate Diploma in Health Science (Chinese Herbal Medicine) is to prepare registered acupuncturists, with a Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) or equivalent, to be able to extend the scope of their practice in the field of Chinese Herbal Medicine. On completion of the programme graduates will have the knowledge and skills, within the traditional Chinese medicine worldview to practise within safe, lawful and professional boundaries in a manner that is culturally appropriate in Aotearoa New Zealand. They will have an enhanced ability to acquire relevant new skills in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Graduates will have the ability to expand their scope of practice as a Kaiwero Ngira Hauora to encompass Chinese Herbal Medicine and the academic base required for further tertiary study in a variety of health and/or policy fields (education outcome) dependant on the requirements of each educational institute.
Graduates of this programme will be able to include herbal medicine as a stand-alone or adjunct therapy. This allows patients to be treated without face-to-face sessions, increasing the availability of treatment to clients in remote locations. It can be used in combination with acupuncture for faster, enduring changes. The Diploma equips graduates to create personalised medicines for complex clients taking into consideration any pharmaceutical medications. These qualifications may appeal to learners who want to extend the scope of conditions treated and to provide treatment in a remote context.

A graduate of the Graduate Diploma in Health Science (Chinese Herbal Medicine) is able to:
1. Apply diagnostic skills to a wide range of challenging and complex client presentations and create personalised herbal formulae in a range of forms for internal or external administration
2. Communicate with the wider healthcare community in specialist areas using biomedical concepts and language relating to diagnosis, treatment and outcomes Page 18 of 72 10 May 2022 revised by NZSATCM in response to NZQA RFI
3. Identify and address unmet healthcare needs, responding to the evolving landscape within health policy and treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand
4. Demonstrate cultural safety in practice, recognising their role as healthcare providers and responsibility to meet obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and contribute equity in healthcare outcomes for all in Aotearoa New Zealand
5. Comply with all legal, regulatory and professional requirements and guidelines relating to the prescription, manufacture and dispensing of Chinese herbal medicines

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The perquisite to the Graduate Programmes is registration as an acupuncturist and the Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) or equivalent to ensure the required knowledge and understanding of Chinese medicine to extend their scope of practice to Tuina massage Therapy and / Chinese Herbal medicine. Learners will preferably be currently practising upon enrolment so there is access to clients for the clinical component of the relevant graduate programme. An applicant must be registered with a professional body being Acupuncture NZ or New Zealand Acupuncture Standards Authority Inc., who will have assessed or recognised their education and / or training to be equivalent to the undergraduate education required in Aotearoa. Learners/ākonga must have a valid first-aid certificate for the duration of their study in the graduate programme(s).
English language requirements
An applicant is expected to have a level of English sufficient to enable study at the level of the programme. International learners whose first language is not English must have an international English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 6.5 (with at least 6 in each band) issued within the last two years, or equivalent.