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As with any new venture, if you’re considering reskilling in a new field and like the idea of working as a massage therapist, it pays to do a little prior research before you throw in the towel in your current role.
To help you work out if a career as a massage therapist would be the right fit for you, here are a few things you should know.
What It Involves
When working as a massage therapist, the majority of your work will likely involve providing therapy to provide either relaxation and stress management or for rehabilitation to treat a specific injury.
It could involve massaging muscles, tendons, and ligaments to promote relaxation, improve circulation, relieve muscle tension, aide healing, prevent injury, or enhance athletic performance.
You will typically service very different clients depending on where you choose to work. If you’re working in a day spa, treatments will likely focus on relaxation and stress management, whereas if you’re working in a sporting facility, you’re more likely to be providing rehabilitation treatments.
Your work will likely also involve completing assessments on each client’s physical condition and providing relaxation, stress management, or rehabilitation advice, as well as utilizing other techniques such as acupressure.
Working Hours and Income
If you want a career where you can work a standard 9 to 5 day, it’s unlikely a career as a massage therapist will be a good fit for you.
Because most clients are only able to attend appointments outside the regular work day (in the evenings and on weekends), it’s rare that a massage therapist will be able to earn a solid income if you’re restricted to working during standard business hours. However, if flexibility is important to you, it could be a good fit. Because you can dictate your own availability, you will have some control over your working hours.
It’s also important to be realistic about how much you’ll be able to earn as a massage therapist. In Australia, the average earnings of a full-time massage therapist is $57,000, and it’s rare that you will be earning this amount when you first start out.
Another thing you’ll need to consider is professional indemnity and liability insurance. Imagine you’re faced with a client claiming your massage services left them with severe pain, mild paralysis, or another serious medical condition?
Having an appropriate level of insurance will ensure you’re protected in the case you’re faced with legal action at any point in your career. If you work for a large organization, it’s likely professional indemnity and liability insurance will be provided by your employer. However, if you’re self-employed, you’ll need to factor this in as an added cost.
Getting Qualified
Once you’ve decided that pursuing a career as a massage therapist is the right option for you, you’ll need to get qualified before you can start working in the field.
By completing a Diploma of Remedial Massage, you’ll gain the required skills and qualifications to start working as a massage therapist, and it will also provide opportunities for additional study in the health sciences field if you decide you want to further develop your skills and knowledge in the future.
There are a range of training providers that will allow you to complete your course through either face-to-face or online study, making it a viable option to complete your studies while still working in your current job.
