About SO-CTEP

SO-CTEP (Siam Orchid Clinical Training & Exchange Program) is a structured, supervised clinical training program for graduates of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine from Thailand, delivered in academic partnership with the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University.

Over 24 months, trainees complete the nationally recognised HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage through our partner RTO, alongside supervised clinical practice under a SO-CTEP-certified Clinical Supervisor. Progress is tracked against a competency framework and recorded in a training logbook.

Learn in Thailand. Train in Australia. Bring knowledge home.

On completion, trainees return with professional skills, Australian practice standards and a knowledge-transfer portfolio to strengthen Thai therapeutic practice in their home communities.

Partnership Enquiry

Our Academic Partnership with Burapha University,Thailand

SO-CTEP is proud to work in academic partnership with the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, Thailand, under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 10 April 2026.

The partnership is built on a shared vision: that Thai traditional medicine can grow as a respected, evidence-informed healthcare profession, both in Thailand and internationally. Burapha University brings deep academic expertise in Applied Thai Traditional Medicine. SO-CTEP brings more than a decade of clinical and training experience in Australia’s therapeutic healthcare sector. Together, we are building a pathway that connects Thai education with international clinical practice, and brings that knowledge back to Thailand.

The Massage Assessment Center (MAC)

To support the program, Burapha University has established the Massage Assessment Center (MAC). The MAC provides a consistent, academic standard for assessing candidates before they join SO-CTEP. Its assessments help identify each candidate’s strengths and training needs, forming the starting point for their individual training plan in Australia.

By grounding selection and assessment in a university setting, the MAC ensures that every trainee begins the program with a clear, fair and well-documented picture of their skills.

Our Shared Commitments

Through this partnership, SO-CTEP and Burapha University aim to:

• Raise professional standards in Thai therapeutic practice through structured, supervised clinical training.

• Exchange knowledge in both directions, combining traditional Thai wisdom with Australian clinical standards.

• Explore the future of Thai traditional medicine education, including more focused, specialised study pathways.

• Strengthen communities in Thailand as trainees return with new skills, qualifications and perspectives to share.

A Message from our Founder

For more than ten years I have worked as a massage and remedial therapist in Australia, and as a trainer and assessor within the industry. Holding qualifications from both Thailand and Australia, I have seen first-hand what Thai therapeutic practice can offer, and what it takes to practise safely and professionally in Australia.

Remedial therapy is not learned from textbooks alone. It is developed through supervised practice with real clients. Graduates of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine complete a demanding four-year degree covering herbal medicine, traditional midwifery and Thai manual therapy. It is a rich education, but it is broad by design. Even experienced therapists from Thailand need structured training before practising independently here, because so much is different: the clinical setting, the equipment, the way treatment is assessed, documented and regulated, and the clients themselves, whose bodies, lifestyles and presentations differ from those at home.

SO-CTEP was created to bridge that gap, and to do it properly. No two graduates arrive with the same skills, so each trainee begins with an entry assessment against our Clinical Competency Framework. From this, we build an individual training plan of up to 24 months. Trainees first complete a nationally recognised Diploma of Remedial Massage alongside supervised clinical practice. They then choose one or more specialisations, such as cupping therapy, dry needling or lymphatic drainage, and apply each one with real clients under qualified supervision. Progress is reviewed at regular intervals and recorded in each trainee’s logbook. Training is complete when competency is demonstrated, not simply when time has passed.

But my vision goes beyond individual training. I believe that when different bodies of knowledge meet, they create outcomes none of us can fully predict. Together with our academic partner, Burapha University, we are exploring how Thai traditional medicine education could continue to evolve, including more focused, specialised study pathways that respond to the changing needs of practitioners and patients.

Every trainee who completes this program carries that knowledge home, strengthening Thai therapeutic practice and the communities it serves.

Tunyaporn Kitchener

Founder & Lead Trainer, SO-CTEP

CLINICAL TRAINING ENVIRONMENT

SO-CTEP provides participants with structured, supervised learning in accredited Australian clinical settings. Each placement exposes participants to clinical service delivery, professional care standards, and documentation practices aligned with Australian healthcare frameworks.

Training is delivered in real clinical environments under direct supervision of qualified practitioners. Participants engage in observation, assisted practice, and structured reflection — developing the competencies required for internationally recognised therapeutic practice.

The clinical environment promotes two-way knowledge exchange. Participants bring Thai therapeutic knowledge into Australian settings while developing competence in Australian clinical standards. Upon successful completion of the program and all assessment requirements, eligible participants may have the opportunity to obtain a Diploma of Remedial Massage through the relevant Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

SO-CTEP was co-designed with the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, to build a sustainable academic and clinical partnership between Thailand and Australia.

This collaboration enables Thai allied health graduates to gain supervised experience in Australia while contributing to the cross-cultural development of therapeutic practices. Academic partners guide curriculum alignment, participant preparation, and post-program evaluation.

Clinical sites across Australia provide approved training environments aligned with Australian regulatory requirements — ensuring the program delivers credible, structured learning experiences recognised within Australian professional frameworks.