GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF COUNSELLING
TRANSFORMATIVE SELF-AWARENESS IN YOUR PERSONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND SOCIAL IDENTITY
The Graduate Diploma of Counselling can be completed full-time over one year and can be considered as one-half of the Master of Counselling. The Graduate Diploma is surrendered by students who go on to complete the Master of Counselling. Units are available both on-campus and online.
Entry to the Graduate Diploma of Counselling is based on evidence of a capacity to undertake higher degree studies including a:
Applicants must attend an interview in which they demonstrate capacity for counselling, including self-awareness, a relational capacity, ability to work in a team, capacity for ethical behaviour and ability to reflect on experience, learn from it and be open to feedback.
Applicants over 21 years of age who have not completed an undergraduate degree may be considered for admission if they successfully complete the Graduate Certificate, having been admitted under the Special Admission Rules.
Admission to the Graduate Diploma of Counselling program is not automatically assumed on completion of the Graduate Certificate of Counselling. Applicants must attend an interview where their capacity to undertake Diploma-level training will be assessed.
Graduates will have advanced skills required to counsel a range of clients, and be able to develop deep therapeutic counselling relationships. Graduates will have an understanding of the theory and models of human development and be able to counsel clients at different life stages. They will have advanced knowledge of dominant therapeutic theory and methods as well as the legal ethical and cultural factors affecting counselling practice. They will have specialised knowledge of the spiritual and theological issues relevant to working with clients of the Christian faith. The Graduate Diploma will also provide the necessary skills for further advanced training in counselling through the Master of Counselling.
The Graduate Diploma will allow graduates to utilise and integrate counselling skills into their existing vocational careers or enable graduates to practice as professional counsellors eligible to register with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) as a Level 2 practitioner. Graduates may find employment as counsellors in agencies, schools, government or non-government Organisations (NGO's) as case workers, health care professionals, and community care workers.
96 credit points at 800-level.
All units of study are 12 credit points.
1 year full-time, or up to a maximum of 3 years part-time.
Course Structure
Students complete:
Units are available both on-campus and online.
With permission from the Dean of Counselling, Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care students may complete 1 unit of study from the Master of Counselling units in place of the elective units subject to any requirements of that unit/s. Applicants who have an existing graduate degree in counselling may receive exemption for equivalent units studied and will select appropriate replacement subjects from either the elective units offered in the Graduate Diploma or from the Master of Counselling Course units.
CORE UNITS | ||
CODE | NAME | CP |
COU801 | Therapeutic Communication Skills | 12 |
COU802 | Counselling Theory and Practice | 12 |
COU811 | Legal, Ethical and Cultural Issues | 12 |
COU812 | Human Development | 12 |
COU813 | Counselling Methodologies in Therapeutic Practice | 12 |
COU815 | Counselling & Theology (Reflection and Integration) | 12 |
COU816 | Mental Health Management | 12 |
ELECTIVES (CHOOSE 1) | ||
CODE | NAME | CP |
COU821 | Individual Learning Plan 1 | 12 |
COU903 | Social Research | 12 |
COU933 | Group Dynamics & Facilitation | 12 |
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HOW TO APPLY