Academy Trainers

Your trainer is perhaps your most important person for your career, as it is their experiences in professional practice and clinic that will shape your own thoughts and attitudes to the massage profession. They will guide you into learning new knowledge and techniques and developing the latent talents you have in applying skills to the human body. Take your time to look at our trainer profiles as this is what the Academy is all about - delivering the finest training from highly-skilled professionals.

Peter Farnsworth ND, DRM; DBM, DRT

Peter Farnsworth is the Director of the Natural Health Academy of Australia. He has Diploma qualifications in Massage; Naturopathy and Reflexology. He is a graduate of the International Institute of Reflexology and has trained under Mr Dwight Byers a Master Reflexologist.

He has studied Qi-Gong Therapy with Ken Cohen of Boulder, Colorado, USA and Soku Shin Do, Japanese Reflexology, with Shogo Mochizuki of Boulder Colorado.

Peter is one of the veterans of the massage industry having taught for over 30 years in Adelaide. He is the Academy counsellor helping students to achieve their goals in this exciting industry. He is a director with the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.

Patricia Farnsworth DRM, Adv Dip MST, RCST

Patricia Farnsworth is the founder of The Craniosacral Therapy Academy and the Myofascial Release Centre. She is one of the most qualified teachers in Australia and is unique in having qualifications in Remedial Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Myofascial Release and Advanced Musculoskeletal Therapy (Craniosacral specialisation). She was responsible for bringing the John Barnes method of Myofascial Release to Australian bodyworkers and was instrumental in having MFR accepted nationally and included in the national training standards for massage therapy. Her knowledge in Craniosacral Therapy has been enhanced by extensive training with the Milne institute (USA).

Patricia is frequently invited to present at national conferences on massage and bodywork therapy. Patricia has a busy MFR & CST clinic, specialising in paediatrics and TMJ/jaw problems. She is respected Australia-wide as a teacher and practitioner in these subjects and is often invited by Adelaide physiotherapists as a guest lecturer.

Read more about Patricia at www.patriciafarnsworth.com

Sharron Macrow DRM; Dip MFR

Sharron is a qualified beauty therapist who has made the transition to Remedial Therapy by training extensively in advanced bodywork therapies. Sharron was previously a professional dancer for many years and is able to understand the rigorous requirements of that profession.

Sharron is a graduate of NHA and works with both Myofascial Release and Craniosacral Therapy with her clients. She specialises in treating neck and jaw problems. Sharron has a busy clinic and is booked out weeks ahead in her practice.

Michelle Tsujimoto DRM; DSM; Dip MFR

Michelle is one of Adelaide’s busiest Musculoskeletal Therapists and is usually booked out weeks ahead. With over 25 years in the tactile therapy industry, her skills are sought after by young and old. She often treats difficult cases not helped elsewhere.

Michelle holds Diplomas in Sport Massage and Remedial Therapies and is constantly updating her skills in these areas. She has consistently attended specialty seminars with Physiotherapists and Medical Practitioners and so is able to bring to the Academy the latest information on treatment protocols in Musculoskeletal Therapies. She is one of the most qualified practitioners in the industry.

John Kirkwood DRM; Adv Dip Acupressure

John Kirkwood, founder of the Acupressure Centre, has 22 years experience as a practitioner and teacher of the healing arts. He is deeply committed to promoting healingon physical, emotional and spiritual levels. John has recently relocated to Adelaide from the San Francisco Bay Area of California where he was in private practice for 18 years.

At the core of John's work is Five Element Acupressure which is based on the age-old system of Chinese medicine. Fully integrated with the acupressure is a range of structural bodywork techniques. This unique blend offers an extraordinarily effective system of bodywork that can address most imbalances of the body, mind and spirit.

Kathryn Garth DRM; Adv Dip MST; RCST

Kathryn is a graduate of the Academy and The Wellness Institute (USA) and specialises in teaching Polarity Therapy and Spinal Release. In her clinic she utilises Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy and Polarity Therapy with her clients as well as oil-based Remedial Massage. Kathryn has Diplomas in Remedial Massage, Advanced Diploma in Myofascial Release/Craniosacral Therapy and an Advanced Diploma of Musculoskeletal Therapy.

Clifford Foulds, DRM

Cliff is a graduate of NHAA and has been in private practice for many years. Cliff brings to the Academy worldly experience and is well versed in bringing innovative concepts of modern massage therapy to undergraduates.

RCST = Registered Craniosacral Therapist
DRM = Diploma of Remedial Massage
Adv Dip MST = Advanced Diploma in Musculoskeletal Therapy
Adv Dip Acupressure = Advanced Diploma in Acupressure
ND = Naturopathy Diploma