3 minute read
Becoming practice ready
Our on-campus Chiropractic Centre is the largest in the southern hemisphere and provides a real-world experience for chiropractic interns completing the final two years of their degree.
It’s here students take everything they have learned and put it into practice. During their time at the Centre, interns develop their technique, communication and business skills and are given the space to grow into a world-class chiropractor. From their first year at the College, students have the opportunity to be involved in the Centre by observing interns and mentors, helping out with community events and developing their communication skills.
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Supported by experienced mentors The College’s chiropractic interns benefit from expert faculty members and chiropractors who bring real-life experience. Being exposed to an array of mentors allows individual students to connect with a wide range of people and experiences.
Practice member interactions Interns work with people from all stages of life, from newborn babies to the elderly and from those needing acute care to those looking to enhance their wellbeing. Every interaction in the Chiropractic Centre is viewed as a learning experience. To graduate, interns must complete a minimum of 500 visits during their time at the Centre, but usually go well above this number.
Taking chiropractic into the community Students also have the opportunity to be involved in regular community events in the Auckland region. These events give interns the opportunity to talk to the public about the benefits of chiropractic care and offer complimentary spine checks.
Dr Lisa Jian Course Coordinator, Chiropractic Practice
Adam's Story
Meet Adam, a 35 year-old father of one from British Columbia, Canada in his final years at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic.
Adam and his wife had both spent time in New Zealand in their 20's and fell in love with the country, so when it came time to finding a school to support his chiropractic ambitions, it wasn’t a hard decision to make.
Keeping it in the family Adam was first introduced to chiropractic when he met his now wife, whose father is a successful chiropractor in Canada. When he gave Adam a first-hand experience of the benefits of the practice, he was hooked.
Convinced of his passion for serving others, Adam went on to study massage therapy and set up his own successful practice. After discussions with his wife about what they wanted their future to look like, he decided to re-train in chiropractic. “My wife and I looked to the future and agreed that, through chiropractic, I could better serve my clients from a well-being point of view.”
Back to student life Adam’s desire to come back to New Zealand, plus the prompt and friendly response he immediately got from the College when enquiring sealed the deal for him. A home away from home Adam describes being in New Zealand as a ‘home away from home’ and found it easy to settle in.
He says the College picked him up from the airport when he arrived in Auckland, connected him with alumni and offered tips on setting up. In the spirit of making New Zealand his new home, Adam researched the sports on offer locally and was happy to find his favourites were well catered for. “Sport is a great de-stressor for me, so I was pleased to know I could continue to play softball in the summer and ice hockey in the winter.”
Dad life versus student life During Adam’s third year at the College he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. “I’m not going to lie, it’s a huge challenge studying full time and having a baby, but with the support of my wife and the flexibility of the College, it is possible.” Now in his final years at the College, Adam feels like everything is coming together.
He’s becoming practice-ready at the Chiropractic Centre on campus which helps put him into the mindset of being a chiropractic professional.
