Graduate Diploma in Counselling

This course is a professional qualification in counselling, offering a flexible pathway for entry-level 'helping professionals'. Studying in a supportive learning environment with a focus on skills development, students will:

• Learn the skills to identify challenges in the counselling field and implement ethical and realistic solutions
• Communicate knowledge, ideas, and opinions effectively within a range of cultural and interdisciplinary contexts
• Gain 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. With a focus on experiential learning, the student will be offered a counselling placement, participate in small group supervision and a five day face-to-face residential.

This course includes a compulsory placement of 105 hours. Students will be expected to travel up to 1.5 hours to attend a placement, or in the case of regional and remote students, may need to travel further or potentially relocate for the duration of the placement if one cannot be secured in their area. In addition to the placement requirements, students will be required to attend a 5-day intensive workshop in person. The location of this is to be determined, with an on-campus site being certain.

The course is recognised as a professional qualification in counselling and accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), in line with their Professional Training Standards.