Level 1 Dry Needling Course
Practical dry needling training for allied health professionals, combining online theory with hands-on practical instruction.
What you’ll get
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Hands-On, Small Group Training
Train in a focused environment with direct supervision. Smaller groups mean more feedback, better technique, and faster skill development.
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Practical Skills You Can Use Immediately
This is not theory-heavy learning. You’ll walk away with techniques you can confidently apply in your very next patient consultation.
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Muscle-Based, Clinically Relevant Approach
Learn the key muscles responsible for common pain presentations, with a clear focus on palpation, trigger points, and real-world treatment application.
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Lifetime Access to Your Course Supervisor
Your support doesn’t end when the course does. Get ongoing guidance, ask clinical questions, and continue refining your skills as you grow in practice.
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Build Confidence, Not Just Knowledge
We focus on repetition, technique, and clinical reasoning—so you leave feeling capable, not uncertain.
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Designed for All Experience Levels
Whether you’re just starting out or refining your approach, the course is structured to meet you where you are and elevate your standard of care.
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Safe, Structured, and Professionally Delivered
Learn within a framework that prioritises patient safety, clinical accuracy, and best practice standards.
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Elevate Your Clinical Outcomes
Improve treatment efficiency, expand your skillset, and deliver better results for your patients.
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Lifetime Access to Video Training
Revisit the course anytime with full access to your video library. Reinforce your learning, refine your technique, and stay confident as you continue applying dry needling in practice.
Course Overview
This course is designed to give clinicians a practical foundation in dry needling.
You’ll learn the principles behind treatment selection, safety, contraindications, palpation, and core needling techniques, with a clear focus on how to use dry needling appropriately in clinical practice.
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Brachioradialis
Forearm extensors
Supinator - head and belly
Pronator Teres
Biceps Brachii
Finding the Brachial Artery
Triceps
Deltoid
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FDB and QP
Ankle Sprain Management
Achilles Tendon Threading
Gastroc
Soleus
Biceps Femoris
SM/ST
Gluts Min and Med
Glut Max
Piriformis
Adductor Longus
Gracilis
How to find the Femoral Artery
Rectus Femoris
Vastus Medialis
TFL
Vastus Lateralis
Peroneals
Tibialis Anterior
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Infraspinatus
Supraspinatus
Teres Major
Teres Minor
Latisimus Dorsi
Trapezius
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Masseter
Temporalis
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Needle Handling
Blood Spill Management
Caution Structures and Anatomy
Online Theory Course
Principles and history of dry needling
Pain science and neurophysiology
Contraindications and precautions
Safety and hygiene
Clinical reasoning and patient selection
Consent and communication
Practical Course
Palpation methods
Needle handling and technique
Upper limb techniques
Lower limb techniques
Positioning and patient comfort
Technique refinement and supervision
By the End of the Course You Will Be Able To
Assess whether dry needling is appropriate for a patient
Identify key precautions and contraindications
Perform safe needling techniques with appropriate hygiene standards
Apply practical dry needling approaches to common MSK presentations
Integrate dry needling into your existing treatment model
Document your training for CPD purposes
Who This Training Is For
Designed for clinicians wanting practical, evidence-informed dry needling education that integrates into day-to-day musculoskeletal practice.
Osteopaths
Physiotherapists
Chiropractors
All participants are responsible for ensuring dry needling falls within their professional scope, registration, and insurer requirements.
Podiatrists
Exercise Physiologists
GPS with MSK Interests
Learn with
Dr Kurt Avouris
Dr Kurt Avouris is an osteopath with over 17 years of clinical experience and extensive experience teaching dry needling to allied health professionals.
His teaching style is practical, clinically relevant, and focused on helping clinicians leave with techniques they can use safely and confidently in practice.
FAQs
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Dry needling involves inserting thin needles into trigger points in the muscle to relieve pain and tension. Unlike acupuncture, it is based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles.
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No, dry needling and acupuncture are different. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine, while dry needling follows Western medical practices.
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The course is open to qualified manual therapists such as chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, and general practitioners with appropriate insurance coverage.
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The course includes:
Online Learning Modules: Self-paced theoretical study.
Online Video Demonstrations
Practical Hands-on Training:12 hours of in-person workshops.
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Participants must have a degree in a relevant health science field, current registration with AHPRA, and professional indemnity insurance.
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The practical sessions cover needle insertion techniques, identifying trigger points, and practicing on fellow participants under expert supervision.
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Yes, upon completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion that counts towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and insurance purposes. We suggest contacting your individual insurance before beginning this course.
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Participants get access to theory videos, practical demonstrations, trigger point charts, research papers, and course notes.
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Yes, the course is designed to equip you with the necessary skills to safely and effectively incorporate dry needling into your clinical practice.
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The course complies with AHPRA guidelines by ensuring participants have appropriate qualifications, follow safety procedures, and understand the scope of practice for dry needling.
Secure Your Spot
View upcoming dates or get in touch if you want to host a private training for your clinic.