Naturopathy has recently been defined as a system of primary care (Wardle, Adams, Lui and Steel, 2013) defined not by the substances it prescribes but rather by the values and principles that underpin and govern its practice. Hence, Wardle et al. (2013), as well as Wardle, Sibbritt, Broom, Steel and Adams (2016), make the claim that naturopathic medicine is best defined as an art, science, philosophy, practice of diagnosis, treatment strategy, committed to the prevention of illness. At its epistemological core, naturopathic medicine focuses on its practice of supporting the healing power of nature, finding the root cause of ill health, endeavouring to dono harm, treating the whole person as a whole person, and becoming a doctor who serves both as a teacher and a relentless learner. The public's access to and the use made of naturopathic practitioners in Australia is considered to be excellent. In 2005, Adams, Sibbritt and Young carried out an extensive longitudinal study which found that over 10 percent of middle-aged women consult a naturopath annually, with an increase of consultation in excess of15 percent for chronic, complex or serious conditions such as cancer. Yet another positive report, reinforcing the need for CM practitioners, is the fact that, in many cases, naturopaths are the primary care providers for Australian patients utilising their services (Fleming and Gutknecht, 2010). Given this situation, and in light of current changes to private health insurance in Australia (Reid, Steel, Wardle, Trubody and Adams, 2016), it is salutary to remind ourselves that Australians place a much esteemed value on CM practitioners, while naturopathy functions as the primary care provider and stands as the largest unregulated health profession in the country with a major primary care role (Lin, McCabe, Bensoussan, Myers, Cohen, Hill and Howse, 2009). Nonetheless, despite a growing interest in naturopathy, and thehigh utilisation of naturopathic services throughoutAustralia, little research has been directed to the education, training or regulatory developments of naturopathy in Australia. It is the central objective of our paper to remedy this deficiency.
