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Graduate Diploma in Counselling (342JA.2)
Selection rank | Delivery mode | Location | Duration |
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PG | Bruce, Canberra |
1.0 years | |
Faculty | Discipline(s) | Available teaching periods | UAC code |
Faculty of Health | Discipline of Counselling |
880491 | |
Fees | English language requirements | ||
|
View requirements |
English language requirements
There are non-standard English language requirements for this course. To be eligible you must have an overall IELTS Academic score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no band score below 7.0. For alternate/equivalent ways of meeting the English requirements for this course please view the English Proficiency Requirements document on the university website.
Delivery mode
Blended: Mixture of online and on campus units are available.
On campus: Units are delivered on campus.
Online: All units are online.
Online Plus: Units are available online, except where attendance at a physical location is required for placement or professional accreditation.
Location
All course material is developed and delivered via the location listed. Online units do not require on campus attendance.
Selection rank
The selection rank is the minimum ATAR plus adjustment factors required for admission to the program in the previous year. This is an indicative guide only as ranks change each year depending on demand.
Fees disclaimer
The fees shown are the indicative annual fee rates for the course, based on a standard full-time enrolment of 24 credit points across a year. Fees are assessed each teaching period according to the number of credit points in which you are enrolled.
Domestic students are charged tuition fees for this course. Information on how fees are calculated can be found here.
Please note: Course fees are assessed annually and are subject to change.
Academic entry requirements | Delivery mode | Location | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
1.0 years | |||
Faculty | Discipline(s) | Available teaching periods | CRICOS code |
Faculty of Health | Discipline of Counselling |
||
Fees | English language requirements | ||
|
View requirements |
Fees disclaimer
Annual fee rates
The fees shown are the annual fee rates for the course. The annual rate is the fee that applies to standard full-time enrolment, which is 24 credit points. The final fee charged is based on the proportion of 24 credit points in which a student enrols. Information on how fees are calculated can be found here.
Please note: Course fees are assessed annually and are subject to change.
Delivery mode
Blended: Mixture of online and on campus units are available.
On campus: Units are delivered on campus.
Online: All units are online.
Online Plus: Units are available online, except where attendance at a physical location is required for placement or professional accreditation.
English language requirements
There are non-standard English language requirements for this course. To be eligible you must have an overall IELTS Academic score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no band score below 7.0. For alternate/equivalent ways of meeting the English requirements for this course please view the English Proficiency Requirements document on the university website.
Location
All course material is developed and delivered via the location listed. Online units do not require on campus attendance.
Academic entry requirements
To study at UC, you’ll need to meet our academic entry requirements and any admission requirements specific to your course. Please read your course admission requirements below. To find out whether you meet UC’s academic entry requirements, visit our academic entry requirements page.
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
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, paid or voluntary by submission of a CV including 2 referees; and attend a pre-admission interview at the University of Canberra.
Additional admission requirements
Students are required to undergo a Working with Vulnerable People check and police check to be accepted for placement by an agency to meet the requirements of the Counselling Placement and Supervision unit, Advanced Counselling Skills unit and Supervision Field Experience unit.
Assumed knowledge
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.
Periods course is open for new admissions
This course is not open for new admissions.
Credit arrangements
There are currently no formal credit transfer arrangements for entry to this course. Any previous study or work experience will only be considered as part of the application process in accordance with current course rules and university policy.
Graduate Diploma in Counselling (342JA) | 24 credit points
In addition to course requirements, in order to successfully complete your course you must meet the inherent requirements. Please refer to the inherent requirements statement applicable to your course
UC - Canberra, Bruce
Year 1
Year 2
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Course duration
Standard four semesters part-time or equivalent. Maximum eight semesters.
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes | Related graduate attributes |
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Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Counselling will have the skills and knowledge to be able to: - act responsibly and ethically in the context of the counselling profession and their obligations to the community and society; - identify and analyse problems within the counselling field and formulate and implement ethical and realistic solutions; - communicate their knowledge, ideas and opinions in the counselling field effectively, in both oral and written; - communicate ideas and opinions effectively within a range of cultural and inter-disciplinary contexts; - gather, analyse and interpret information using appropriate academic research skills; and - analyse, evaluate and critique information and situations relevant to current issues in the field, in written and oral form. |
1. UC graduates are professional. Because we collaborate closely with industry and other stakeholders, our graduates have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to succeed in their profession and become leaders in their field. UC graduates can: - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills; - communicate effectively; - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems; - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict; - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload; and - take pride in their professional and personal integrity. |
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Counselling: - respect the rights of others irrespective of their cultural background, race or gender; - demonstrate an understanding of the principles of ethical and professional practice and respect for all aspects of diversity; and - understand and use technology effectively in research and counselling practice. |
2. UC graduates are global citizens. We support students to gain the knowledge and confidence to be global citizens. UC graduates can: - think globally about issues in their profession; - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries; - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures; - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings; - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives; and - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives. |
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Counselling will have the skills and knowledge to: - be able to demonstrate competence in a variety of counselling skills and be able to apply these skills in a range of contexts analyse, critically evaluate and present information about counselling skills, models and theories; and - be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of major theories, models and techniques specific to an area of specialisation. |
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners. Our graduates are passionate about being at the forefront of their profession, staying in touch with the latest research, news and technology. UC graduates can: - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development; - be self-aware; - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas; and - evaluate and adopt new technology. |
In addition to the above, Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling will have the skills and knowledge to be able to: - undertake independent study, take initiative and demonstrate leadership; - work effectively and collaboratively with others as part of a multidisciplinary group; and - systematically analyse, evaluate and critique information and situations relevant to current issues in Counselling practice, in written and oral form. |
1. UC graduates are professional. Because we collaborate closely with industry and other stakeholders, our graduates have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to succeed in their profession and become leaders in their field. UC graduates can: - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills; - communicate effectively; - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems; - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict; - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload; and - take pride in their professional and personal integrity. |
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling: - communicate ideas and opinions effectively within a range of cultural and inter-disciplinary. |
2. UC graduates are global citizens. We support students to gain the knowledge and confidence to be global citizens. UC graduates can: - think globally about issues in their profession; - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries; - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures; - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings; - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives; and - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives. |
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling will have the skills and knowledge to: - be able to demonstrate competence in a wide variety of counselling skills and be able to apply these skills in a range of complex; and - be able to demonstrate a high level of understanding of major evidence based, research informed theory and current practice in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. |
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners. Our graduates are passionate about being at the forefront of their profession, staying in touch with the latest research, news and technology. UC graduates can: - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development; - be self-aware; - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas; and - evaluate and adopt new technology. |
Awards
Award | Official abbreviation |
---|---|
Graduate Diploma in Counselling | GradDip Couns |
Alternative exits
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling is an exit award.
Enquiries
Student category | Contact details |
---|---|
Prospective Students - Domestic | e study@canberra.edu.au P 1800 UNI CAN (1800 864 226) W www.canberra.edu.au/future-students |
Current and Commencing Students | Faculty of Health or Course Convener E healthstudentliaison@canberra.edu.au |
Prospective Students - International | E international@canberra.edu.au P +61 2 6201 5342 F +61 2 6201 5040 W www.canberra.edu.au/future-students |