Health

Graduate Certificate of Counselling

What is a Graduate Certificate of Counselling?

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling provides a postgraduate qualification that enhances counselling and interpersonal communication skills. It delivers an improved understanding of the human psyche, counselling theories and barriers to overcome in order to support an individual’s wellbeing. This course is valuable to professionals looking to extend relevant skills in fields such as nursing, social work and teaching.

This graduate certificate develops your knowledge of the theoretical and ethical underpinnings of counselling; delivery methods such as telehealth; suicidality; common mental health conditions; and the importance of personal and professional self-care and effective boundaries. The course enables you to start or advance a successful and rewarding career in the counselling and wellbeing industry.

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Learning outcomes

Support clients with a range of issues within ethical and professional requirements.
Understand and apply psychosocial wellbeing to practice.
Deepen and broaden communication skills.
Apply theories and practical skills to personal lived experience and to demonstrate self-care.

Download course guide Start online application

Study mode

Blended

Campus locations

Online

Student

Domestic

Course duration

2 trimesters full time, 4 or more trimesters part time

Start date

19 Feb 2024

3 June 2024

16 Sep 2024

View all key dates

Fees & scholarships

Learn more

This is an AQF Level 8 course delivered by Torrens University Australia Ltd.

Designed to fit in with you

With all your learning materials online, you can tailor a schedule to fit your personal needs.

Learn from specialists in their field

Our academics understand where the industry is heading and will guide you on your learning journey.

40+ years of counselling experience

Our heritage with the Jansen Newman Institute ensures you’re learning from more than 40 years of counselling experience.

Meet our Counselling Alumni, Jacqueline Tow. She is a Child and Adolescent Neurofeedback Counsellor, practicing neurofeedback counselling with children, young people and their families.

Career opportunities

This course has been designed to prepare you for employment in a role which leverages counselling and communication skills. Upon completion, you will have the opportunity to progress your career in the professional domain of counselling or continue your studies.

Potential career paths

Counsellor
Average salary: $84,444 - $115,420
Case Manager
Average salary: $78,610 - $114,408
Rehabilitation Counsellor
Average salary: $79,673 - $100,000
Addiction Counsellor
Average salary: $51,675 - $58,011

Learn more about careers in Health

Subjects and units

Each subject involves 10 hours of study per week, comprising 3 hours of facilitated study and 7 hours self-directed study. One subjects include a compulsory attendance requirement.

Requirements

These four core subjects must be completed.

Core subjects

Advanced Therapeutic Communication | ATC401

Communication skills are fundamental to therapeutic relationships. This subject explores the nature of interpersonal communication including different communication channels and barriers to effective communication. The role of self-perception and culture in interpersonal communication, listening and reflection play in effective communication will be critically appraised.
Students will examine how different types of relationships both personal and professional can be enhanced through more effective communication. This subject concludes with a discussion of power in interpersonal relationships, and how and when confidentially and the therapeutic responsibility to exercise ‘duty of care’ might conflict
Students will demonstrate micro-skills, attending and communication process skills, verbal and non-verbal communication, nuanced listening and reflecting skills, and the use and abuse of questions.
Theoretical Approaches to Counselling | TAC402
This subject introduces a variety of counselling approaches. Students are required to explore approaches to theories, modalities and practice skills.
Students are introduced to a selection of counselling theories, including:

• Person‐centred Therapy

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused techniques
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness based practice
Students will participate in different experiential learning scenarios to develop their understanding of various counselling interventions This subject also establishes a firm foundation for the concepts and techniques developed in later subjects.

Practical Intensive Workshop requirement:

These Practical Intensive Workshops will be required attendance (on campus). They are designed to be interactive and deliver experiential practical skills training. All students will be expected to participate to get the most out of the workshops and support readiness for the final placement in the program that will entail 40hrs of individual face‐to face counselling with clients.

For each of these on campus practical subjects there are two weekend sessions that students are required to attend.

These are held over the weekend (Saturday & Sunday) at the end of Weeks 6 and Week 12 of each trimester.

Each session will run from 9.00am to 6.00pm AEST on both days (with breaks).
Life Stages and Development | LSD403

The subject introduces the field of developmental psychology and explores why people behave in certain ways, what drives or motivates human behaviour, and links between developmental experience and trauma. Students will examine the key life stages of birth, early and later childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, mid‐life, aging and death in their social and cultural contexts.
The subject provides an opportunity for students to explore how theories of attachment, cognitive and social development explain human development across the lifespan with particular reference to the effects of trauma. The influences of biology, gender, culture, ethnicity and socio‐political contexts in these development periods will also be investigated.
Self Care & Developing Resilience | SDR404

Resilience, a quality that allows individuals to recover from times of difficulty and crisis and can be developed through understanding and practice. The subject covers the principles of social, emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing as they relate to health behaviours. Students will analyse the role of capacity building and the promotion of wellbeing through strategies to enhance personal and professional self-care. The impact of vicarious trauma and the effects of burnout for professionals will be explored.
Students will be required to critically self-reflect applying theories and practice skills to personal lived experience and history and use this knowledge to develop a cohesive self-care plan suitable to future industry practice.

Industry partners and work placements

Work-Integrated Learning and Practicum Experiences are embedded throughout the course and are incorporated into theory subjects. Work placements and Work-Integrated Learning programs provide a valuable resource for you to develop hands-on practical experience to ensure you graduate confident and job-ready.

Work placement hours

As part of your course, you will be required to complete at least 40 hours of experiential practical skills training at the campus-based Practical Intensive Workshops that is within one subject (TAC402).

Entry details

Fees

Check the domestic course fee schedule for the cost of your course.

FEE-HELP

Eligible Australian students may choose to defer some, or all, of their tuition fees through FEE-HELP, a loan scheme repaid through the tax system based on income.

Learn more about fees and FEE-HELP

Scholarships

If you are truly passionate about health, we want to hear from you. We have a variety of health scholarships on offer to assist you in becoming a key part of the health industry:

Admission criteria

Before you begin your application to study as a domestic student, check that you meet at least one of the requirements listed below.

AQF Level 7 (Bachelor degree) or above in a relevant discipline

OR A Bachelor’s degree and complete the Torrens Work Life entry form demonstrating your interest in and suitability to gain entry to the course.

OR Successfully complete the Graduate Certificate prior to enrolling in the Graduate Diploma, Master or Advanced Master.

View full course admission information

Guaranteed pathway and Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have already completed a qualification or gained skills through life or work experience, you may be able to credit this against your degree with us. Check information about Recognition of Prior Learning and Course Credit transfer. We also offer pathway opportunities to further your learning.

Learn more about study pathways

Frequently asked questions

What are Torrens University Australia’s ATAR requirements for domestic students?

Torrens University Australia no longer considers ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) as our primary entry requirement. We have removed ATAR as the key admissions criteria for applicants aiming to study at Torrens University Australia. We strongly believed an alternative to the ATAR system should be found, which more broadly assesses students, especially when soft skills are emerging as important employability attributes. So, students with a recent secondary school education are now considered for admission if they have a Year 12 (Australian secondary school) certificate. Exceptions may apply to some courses.
What if  I don’t meet the entry criteria for a degree?

Torrens University Australia has a range of application pathways to help you gain entry into our degrees based on different criteria.

To find out more, visit Study Pathways or contact our Future Student Advisors.
Am I eligible for FEE-HELP?
If you are a domestic student attending university or an approved higher education provider, you can get a FEE-HELP loan to pay all or part of your tuition fees.

You are eligible for FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study (i.e. subject) if you:

Undertake study with an approved provider.

Meet the citizenship and residency requirements:

An Australian citizen or a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the long-term residency criteria and who will undertake, in Australia, at least one unit of study contributing to your course; OR

A permanent humanitarian visa holder who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of your unit; OR

Are a permanent visa holder who is undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals, and will be a resident in Australia for the duration of the study.

Enrolled in an eligible unit of study by the census date for the unit.

Have not exceeded the FEE-HELP limit.

For full details, visit the Australian Government website Study Assist.

If you are still unsure, please contact our Future Student Advisors who can talk you through the information.

Can I get course credit for previous experience?

Yes, course credit is available for most courses upon application and academic approval (excluding Higher Degree by Research programs). 

If you have already completed a qualification or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for credit towards your course. This credit can take the form of credit transfer, block credit or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Review our Course Credits page or chat to our Future Student Advisors.
What are Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT)? How do I apply?

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that recognises experience, previous study and qualifications, and other forms of informal and non-formal learning, to determine if you meet course requirements.

If you have relevant qualifications or experience, you may be eligible for credit towards your course and a reduction in tuition costs.

Please speak to our Future Student Advisors to discuss your prior learning experiences.

For more information, please visit Course credits.
How do I apply for a scholarship?

Torrens University has a wide range of scholarship options to support new, returning, international and Australian students. They all include a reduction in tuition fees, and some scholarships include a mentoring component with our industry partners.

Domestic students

When you speak to our Future Student Advisors, let them know you wish to be considered for a scholarship in your application form. They will show you how to apply for a scholarship.

International students

Please contact your Education Agent for further information. Alternatively, you can call us on 1300 575 803 or by email.

For more details, explore our range of scholarships.

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Graduate Certificate of Counselling