Advance your counselling skills and learn how to apply them ethically. Develop your theoretical knowledge with industry-based learning and placement. Choose course specialisations that meet the current needs of the public and private industry.

You can specialise in one of two streams:

• general
• child and adolescent

Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling leads you to admission to the Master of Counselling; course points may also count towards the Masters.

Please note this is not an Australian Psychological Society (APS) accredited course.

• Location:
  St Albans and City Flinders
• Faculty:
  Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development
• School:
  School of Social Sciences and Psychology
• Study mode:
  Part Time
• Delivery mode:
  On campus
• Course code:
  AGPD
• Duration:
  2 years
• This information is for Australian residents.
  Click here to search for courses available to non-residents

How to apply

Graduates find employment in human services fields such as:

• social work
• multicultural services
• counselling
• family support
• community work
• refugee services
• youth work

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

The objectives of the course are to:

• develop an awareness of a range of theoretical orientations in counselling;
• develop practical skills in the application of specified counselling paradigms;
• identify the impact of social structures upon the counsellor/client relationship and the community to which the client belongs;
• explore aspects of cultural difference relevant to counselling practice;
• develop an awareness of ethical issues relevant to professional practice;
• explore the interface of counselling theory and practice;
• develop and implement the skills acquired during field placement within a community organisation.

• Individual Awareness

  Unit code

  APT5025

  Credits

  12

• Social and Ethical Issues in Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5070

  Credits

  12

• Practicum

  Unit code

  APT5085

  Credits

  12

• Theories and Techniques of Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5035

  Credits

  12

• Applied Techniques of Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5060

  Credits

  12

• Principles and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour

  Unit code

  APH4061

  Credits

  12

• Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

  Unit code

  APT5005

  Credits

  12

• Applied Techniques of Grief Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5010

  Credits

  12

• Child and Adolescent: Theories and Techniques of Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5037

  Credits

  12

• Cross-Cultural Issues in Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5080

  Credits

  12

• Child and Adolescent: Theories and Techniques of Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5037

  Credits

  12

• Child and Adolescent: Applied Techniques in Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5062

  Credits

  12

• Child and Family Development

  Unit code

  APT6008

  Credits

  12

• Current Issues in Psychology A

  Unit code

  APH4050

  Credits

  12

• Principles and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour

  Unit code

  APH4061

  Credits

  12

• Cross-Cultural Issues in Counselling

  Unit code

  APT5080

  Credits

  12

Students would normally be expected to complete eight units of study over two years. Day and evening classes are usually available. The practica require daytime placement in a community or counselling agency. To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Counselling, students must complete a total of 96 credit points. Students must successfully complete six core units of study and two elective units for the general stream and seven core units and one elective unit for the child and adolescent stream. Where students are eligible for exemption from APT5035 Theories and Techniques of Counselling, they will be required to complete an extra elective unit.

• Mature: The entry requirements are an undergraduate degree and demonstration of a commitment to professional development in the field of counselling. An interview may be required for applicants to this course.