Master of Counselling (341JA.2)

Become a registered counsellor or psychotherapist

If you are looking to embrace a counselling career, our Master of Counselling provides advanced training, as well as a pathway to full registration as a clinical practitioner with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) – the nation’s professional accreditation body for counsellors and psychotherapists. With an emphasis on skills development, interactive teaching, experiential learning and self awareness, you will become familiar with a wide range of counselling modalities, all taught within research-informed and ethical frameworks.

The two-year course includes clinical practice across varied settings, and you will undertake relevant project work and applied research units too, becoming equipped to work across a range of public, private and community sector organisations in areas such as health, individual and family support services, addiction counselling, youth work, grief, disability and mental health. You will demonstrate competence in a range of counselling skills, including collaborative goal setting, empathy, reflective listening, assessment, change and clinical interventions. You will graduate as a professional counsellor, ready for employment across community agencies, government departments, public health settings or as a private practitioner.

Study a Master of Counselling at UC and you will:

• work holistically in a number of community settings with a diverse range of clients, respecting the importance of social and cultural contexts
• access the most recent and relevant academic conventions and materials
• develop skills in critical thinking, communication, problem solving and project management
• experience the experiential, collaborative and holistic approaches to learning, enabling you to develop in-depth practical knowledge and skills, self-awareness and reflexivity
• fulfil the requirements towards eligibility for professional counselling association membership.

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 will undertake 24 hours of small group supervision on campus. In the Advanced Skills unit you may be able to complete an additional 26 hours of face-to-face counselling 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 can choose to undertake an applied health research project which can be developed to suit your own professional interests and clinical specialty. You will gain real-world research experience and develop skills in project management, data collection, data analysis, and more. 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
• Psychotherapist
• Researcher
• Youth worker
• Social worker
• Community educator
• Welfare worker
• Mediation facilitator
• Private practitioner
• Family counsellor
• Relationship counsellor
• Rehabilitation counsellor
• Prison counsellor
• Financial counsellor
• Telephone counsellor
• School guidance counsellor
• Trauma specialist counsellor
• Drug and alcohol 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
• submit a letter of application detailing relevant experience and addressing knowledge assumed necessary for enrolment.

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.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma of Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology will be eligible for 24cp in this master’s course.

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

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 Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and has been designed to meet the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia’s (PACFA) 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.

Professional accreditation

This course is designed as a professional qualification in counselling. Graduates of this course may apply for professional membership with organisations such as the Counselling and Psychotherapy Association for Canberra and Regions (CAPACAR), and for listing on the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) register as a counsellor and supervisor (depending on their professional experience and supervision).