Overview

Make a difference to the lives of many

This two-year part-time course is a professional qualification in counselling, offering a flexible pathway for entry-level ‘helping professionals’. Accredited by both the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), it also meets PACFA’s Professional Training Standards. You will study in a supportive learning environment with a focus on skills development and interactive teaching and will cover a range of counselling modalities all taught within research-informed and ethical frameworks and applicable to a variety of settings. With a focus on experiential learning, you will be offered a counselling placement and will participate in small group supervision on campus.

At the completion of your degree, you will be able to demonstrate competence in a range of counselling skills, including assessment, collaborative goal setting, reflective listening, empathy, change interventions and termination. You will graduate ready to work across a range of public, private and community sector organisations and teams, in areas such as health and family support services, drugs and alcohol, youth work, disability and mental health, or you can continue your studies with a Master of Counselling, available by enrolling in additional units.

Study a Graduate Diploma in Counselling at UC and you will:

• learn the skills to identify problems within the counselling field and implement ethical and realistic solutions
• communicate your knowledge, ideas and opinions effectively within a range of cultural and interdisciplinary contexts
• exhibit an understanding of the principles of ethical and professional practice and respect all aspects of diversity
• demonstrate a critical understanding of major theories, models and techniques specific to counselling
• display a high level of understanding of major evidence-based research theory and current practices in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.

Work Integrated Learning

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is a central component of this course and you will undertake at least 260 hours in a counselling placement within an appropriate agency, which often leads to direct employment opportunities for our students. You will also attend field seminars on professional issues and, in conjunction with your agency placement, you may be able to receive practical experience at UC’s on-campus Student Led Counselling Clinic, located in the Health Hub, where you would provide counselling to adult individuals under the close supervision of a qualified counsellor and UC educator.

During your course, you will also participate in and facilitate group sessions using major models of counselling, acquiring unique experiential learning by being both a participant and facilitator of a group. You will be eligible to become a member of UC’s PG Counselling Courses Advisory Group which meets two or three times a year, and upon graduation will be encouraged to join professional associations such as the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) to obtain your accreditation as a counsellor.

Career opportunities

• Counsellor
• Youth worker
• Social worker
• Community educator
• Welfare worker
• Mediation facilitator
• Private practitioner
• Family support counsellor
• Relationship counsellor
• Rehabilitation counsellor
• Prison counsellor
• Financial counsellor
• Telephone counsellor
• School guidance counsellor
• Drug and alcohol counsellor
• Career counsellor
• Bereavement counsellor

Course-specific information

Applicants must:

• have an undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, as approved by the University
• demonstrate a minimum of two years’ relevant experience in a ‘helping role’ (paid or voluntary)
• submit a CV, including two referees
• attend a pre-admission interview at the University.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a level of mature life experience and self-awareness shown by the capacity to reflect on and learn from experience, including being open to positive and challenging feedback.

There are non-standard English language requirements for this course. To be eligible you must have an Overall Academic IELTS score of 7.0 with no band score less than 7.0.

Students are required to undergo Working with Vulnerable People registration and a Police Check to meet the requirements of some course units.

This course has been accredited by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and has been designed to meet PACFA’s Professional Training Standards. Following successful completion of the degree you can apply for membership to PACFA and/or ACA. Depending on your professional experience, you may apply for listing on the PACFA register as a counsellor.

A clear study pathway exists between this degree and the Master of Counselling. Students who have completed this course may apply and receive credit for units within the master’s course.

Professional accreditation

This course is designed as a professional qualification in counselling and meets the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia's Professional Training Standards. The Graduate Diploma in Counselling has been accredited by Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), and by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Following successful completion of the degree you can apply for membership to PACFA and/or ACA. Graduates of this course may apply for listing on the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) register as a counsellor (depending on their professional experience and supervision). Students can join directly with PACFA and/or ACA. For more information see https://www.pacfa.org.au/membership/individual-pacfa-membership/ or http://www.theaca.net.au/becoming-a-member.php