Australasian Institute of Applied Studies

AIAS was founded in 1998 to meet the demand of students wishing to study Ayurveda, the complementary health science of India. In 1999, under the guidance of the Principal, Dr. S. Ajit, (B.A.M.S., P.C.A.S.), the Institute recognized the need to establish a quality assurance model of service delivery by becoming a Private Training Establishment (P.T.E), delivering a nationally recognized qualification in Ayurveda under the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (N.Z.Q.A.).

The Institute is listed as a Category II institution with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Based on its last External Evaluation and Review (EER) in July 2012, NZQA has rated the Institute as:

• Confident in educational performance
• Confident in capability in self-assessment

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is the natural health science of India that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. It is a Sanskrit word that translates as the ‘science or knowledge of life’. It is a system of health care developed through centuries of observation, discussion and meditation which studies all facets of life from infancy through to old age. It is one of the few complementary medicines that have been recognised by the World Health Organisation.

Ayurveda emphasizes the prevention of disease, rejuvenation of the body and the extension of our life span. The profound promise of Ayurveda is that through changes to diet & lifestyle, not only can we prevent disease but live a long, healthy life in balance and harmony. It provides an integrated approach to the prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle changes and natural therapies.

Ayurveda, with its holistic focus on health, is the world’s fastest growing complementary health science. It is now practiced outside of its home in India, in countries as far afield as Holland, Russia, USA, Japan and Australia. The study of Ayurveda holds great appeal for those interested in health studies because it expands the range of health assessment instruments and fills the gaps in therapeutic treatments available in our current health care system. 

New Diploma in Ayurvedic Health Management (Level 5) 

The purpose of this qualification is to provide ayurvedic consultants to the complementary health sector who are able to apply ayurvedic diagnostic and therapeutic principles in a clinical setting for the promotion of health maintenance and disease prevention, and to promote these principles in the wider community. This qualification is suited to those looking to work in self-managed clinical practice or provides existing healthcare professionals with a suite of ayurvedic diagnostic and therapeutic skills.

Graduate Profile

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

• apply ayurvedic health and nutritional principles to assess a range of clients’ health concerns;
• apply ayurvedic therapeutic principles to create healthcare strategies for clients;
• provide ayurvedic bodywork therapies to support clients’ health;
• apply administrative skills within a healthcare clinic;
• demonstrate ayurvedic principles as the foundation of professional practice and promote these to clients and the wider community.

Course Structure 

Flexible Delivery (18 months) Flexible delivery in an interactive delivery model that is sensitive to the needs of modern students. The Institute recognises that many people struggle to balance their academic, personal and professional lives so delivers it academic programme through a combination of through a combination of web based seminars and practical training workshops. Rather than having to attend all theory classes in person, teachers and students communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed and electronic media or through a virtual classroom that allows them to communicate in real time.

The programme is offered in the following format, which includes a minimum of 200 hours of clinical work:

• Weekly ‘live’ webinars
• Three weekend on-campus seminars
• Two, nine day on-campus practical training workshops
• Weekly online self study