History of the College

When the concept of the College was first formulated in 1975, there was a real need for training facilities for Naturo­paths within our State. From the start, it was recog­nised that any training would have to aim for a high level of proficiency, so that there would never be any question of South Australian trained Naturopaths being in any way inferior to those trained elsewhere.  

Over the years a number of organisations had tried, in a piecemeal way, to help by offering part‑time study in various modules. However, they were always fraught with so many difficulties that eventually they were all forced to give up.  

One group of students, faced with the imminent closure of their very young College, refused to admit defeat, and ap­proached one of their teachers, (Marni Morrow), offering her one dollar an hour if she would continue to teach them. It was not much, but it was all they could afford, and they had picked the right person to take up the challenge. Marni started teaching in a small room at the back of her Clinic, and from these humble beginnings, the SA College of Natural and Traditional Medicine has consistently grown to the large and successful institution it is today.  

Formally established in 1980's, this College is the only training institution in South Australia to educate students to the exacting standards of the Australian Natural Therapists Association Fellow membership. In 1987 it took on its present format, offering professional courses that allow students to follow their own particular interests in the wide field of the Natural and Traditional therapies. Graduates of the three and four year courses emerge as practitioners well able to offer highly professional services; practitioners in whom their patients can have complete confidence.  

The former Principal of the College, Marni Morrow, guided the College from its early days when based in a room at the back of her clinic.  

Expansion in student enrolments and in the number and variety of courses offered, led to a move to larger premises on South Road at Edwardstown. Continuing growth necessitated the taking over of a significant block of classrooms at Dover Gardens School Campus at the beginning of 1989. These premises permitted significant expan­sion. In 1993 it became time to once again move into new premises, in the centre of the business district in Adelaide, a move which will meet the College's present and future needs.  

The SA College of Natural Medicine, one of the oldest Colleges in Australia is now situated in Bailey Street, off Gouger Street, near the South and West Parklands where there are pleasant surroundings for gatherings, walks or relaxation. Being located in the centre of the Adelaide Central Business District means that there are only short distances to all amenities and public transport. The students have created their own herb garden in the Veale Gardens on South Terrace. The garden is situated near Morphett Street and incorporates a beautiful water area and features many of the herbs studied at College.  

A constitutional change brought the establishment of the first Board of Counsellors in January 1991, to whom the Principal and staff are answerable. This ensures that the College continues to maintain an academic standard that not only satisfies the Australian Natural Therapists Association requirements, but further ensures that the graduate qualifications are of a fully professional standard, and in accord with public expectations.  

1993 saw the opening of the Research Department, a multi-disciplinary endeavour taking Natural Therapies Research through the 1990's into the 21st Century. The first research project investigated the use of natural remedies as a part of the treatment plan for asthma. Since then the research department has conducted several notable studies and held public forums on topics of public interest.  

The Research Department is funded through profits from the College Apothecary and the on-campus Student Clinic. Profits from the sale of massage tables, rental of lockers to students, advertising in College newsletter, fund-raising activities conducted by the Students (Including wine bottling, cake bakes by students, morning teas, student raffles, junior commerce talks by students) and donations from individual practitioners and the industry. This has meant that more clinical studies and practical experiments are now being conducted.  

The Flexible learning Centre of the College was formally established in 1994. Ensuring that the College is now able to offer the same high standards of education to students who may have previously been disadvantaged by distance from the College. Therefore, while meeting the highest demands of the healing profes­sionals, the intent remains to serve the wider community, and hold to a goal of looking not inward, but outward.  

The College in 2000 – 2001 achieved accreditation of some forty-nine courses in Natural and Traditional Therapies and is continuing on its way to remain the best college of Natural and Traditional Therapies in South Australia. With its flexible learning system now fully developed, the college offers the largest and most comprehensive systems of learning in Australia.