ORION

Building the evidence for Osteopathy

National data from real-world practice, supporting advocacy, recognition, and the future of the profession.

ORION is still open – Have your say in the future of osteopathy
The ORION survey remains open, and all practising osteopaths across Australia are encouraged to take part and help strengthen the evidence base for the profession.
The ORION Project, delivered in partnership with Osteopathy Australia, was relaunched in to ensure it continues to reflect contemporary osteopathic practice. This relaunch builds on the success of earlier ORION research and ensures the profession has up to date, Australian specific data that represents how osteopaths practise today.

A big thank you to the osteopaths who have already completed the ORION survey. Your contribution strengthens the credibility, recognition, and long‑term sustainability of osteopathy in Australia.
If you haven’t yet participated, your voice still matters. Whether or not you took part in the ORION survey in 2016, your participation in the survey remains essential. The ORION survey ensures members’ real‑world practice experience informs research that supports osteopaths and improves patient care now and into the future.

Completing the ORION survey ensures your clinical experience is reflected in national data that represents how osteopaths practise today. Your input strengthens Osteopathy Australia’s ability to advocate for you supporting professional recognition, scope of practice, funding discussions, and integration within the broader health system.

ORION data delivers real member value by:

• Strengthening advocacy on your behalf
• Informing policy and funding decisions with credible evidence
• Showcasing the value of osteopathic care
• Supporting education, workforce planning, and the future of the profession

Now is the time to have your voice heard, to help strengthen the research base for the profession and to help build the empirical body of knowledge about osteopathy and related health outcomes relevant for 2026 and beyond.

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ORION Survey

ORION has relaunched.  Please complete the ORION survey and help grow the evidence base for osteopathy. We invite all practising osteopaths across Australia to participate.

TAKE THE ORION SURVEY

The ORION study was first launched in 2016 and delivered through the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM). It was designed to capture a clear picture of osteopathic practice in Australia how members practise day to day, the patients they treat, the techniques they use, and the outcomes they achieve.
ORION provided valuable, profession owned data that strengthened understanding of osteopathy among members, other health professionals, and decision makers. Importantly, it established a strong evidence base and research infrastructure to support advocacy, policy engagement, and the long term sustainability of the profession.

The ORION project remains a milestone in osteopathic research. Osteopathy Australia can only make headway on many lobbying issues with better data and as such, projects such as ORION help protect, promote, and enhance the profession.

Learn more: Read the ORION study
For more information about the study, including any data queries, please contact Contact Professor Amie Steel