During this time while visiting her family in the UK she found the London School of Aromatherapy was offering a correspondence course in Holistic Aromatherapy. At the time she was not aware of any training in Aromatherapy being available in Australia, but eventually found the Aromatherapy Centre in Sydney and was able to complete her practical training there with Pamela Taylor. Having received her Aromatherapy qualifications in 1990 Ann started practicing and soon founded the Port Macquarie Natural Health and Beauty Care Centre where she still conducts a successful aromatherapy practice.

Port Macquarie is located on the mid-north coast of NSW, approximately 4 hours drive from Sydney and 7 hours from Brisbane.

The growing interest in the modality and the lack of regional training opportunities encouraged Ann to set up her own training facility with a view to sharing her passion and knowledge of aromatherapy with others.

The course offered at Perfect Scents Aromatherapy was accredited by the IFA in 1997 and is conducted in three parts. The first level of training introduces aromatherapy for personal use and is also accessed by Assistants In Nursing from the aged care industry who are working under the supervision of a qualified aromatherapist. This part of the course introduces students to the role of aromatherapy in healing and the history of aromatherapy, the origins of essential oils, how they work, essential oil safety, profiles 15 essential oils, carriers of essential oils and methods of application.

Instigated by the Director of Nursing in a particular aged care facility in the nearby town of Wauchope this first level of training has been integrated into the local aged care industry resulting in training programs for AIN’s which have been highly commended by the relevant accreditation bodies.

The second level of training expands on the above and includes holistic aromatherapy principles, essential oil chemistry, field trips to a local herb farm and distillery, profiles on a further 30 essential oils and the art of blending.

The third level of training has pre/co-requisites of 100 hours massage and 100 hours anatomy and physiology which students are able to access from approved providers.

This part of the course includes the aromatherapy massage and associated skills,

aromatherapy and the body systems, clinical practice and aromatherapy for holistic skin care which includes hands-on creation of skin care preparations.

Most of the modules are taught personally by Ann who has a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Ann also employs the expertise of a chemistry/science teacher to teach part of the chemistry module.

Students come from many different backgrounds - Registered Nurses, Assistants in Nursing, Beauty Therapists, Massage Therapists and those looking for a career change.

Every year the course changes and expands as different students bring expertise in their own field to share and enhance the learning experience with one another (and Ann!)

Ann’s aim is to give students a well-rounded knowledge in the field of aromatherapy and to encourage students to find their individual style in their practice of Aromatherapy.

Ann’s commitment to promoting the professional standards of Aromatherapy has led to her taking the position of IFA Regional Coordinator for Northern NSW and her graduates are encouraged to become members.

Reprinted from Simply Essential Issue 42 November 2001

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Last modified: October 08, 2007