General Information

Overview

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling provides students with training in the theory and practice of counselling. The course is designed for students who are seeking to develop counselling skills for their current employment in fields such as nursing, social work, pastoral care and teaching. Students are equipped with a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings, client types and cultural groups.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Counselling requires students to complete units of study to the value of 50 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Hawthorn on-campus students
Foundations of Counselling
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC60001
Ethics and Cultural Diversity for Counsellors
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC60004
Lifespan Development and Systemic Thinking
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC60009
Advanced Counselling
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70008
Singapore (Executive Counselling and Training Academy students only)
Professional Ethics and Supervision
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC60011
Specific Skills in Counselling
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC60012
Theories and Foundations of Counselling
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC60013
Counselling Processes and Interventions
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC60014

Aims and objectives

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  • exercise independent judgement relevant to counselling theory and practice in the field of human services counselling, couple counselling and forensic counselling
  • initiate, plan, implement and evaluate basic counselling interventions with a range of client groups and presentations across the lifespan
  • apply basic and more advanced skills to work therapeutically with a range of clients in human services and couple counselling contexts using counselling methods and techniques that are drawn from different evidence-based approaches, all of which emphasise the important role of assessment, empathy, the therapeutic relationship, ethical decision making and professional supervision
  • reflect on, and take responsibility for, their own learning and self-management processes in relation to counselling work with clients that promotes self-reflection and the development as a professional counsellor in a human services, couple counselling or forensic context.

Career opportunities

Graduates may work in a range of professional settings, including community and mental health, private practice, social work, grief counselling, pastoral care and mediation.

Professional recognition

May be eligible to apply for membership to the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), PACFA, and the Australian Association for Relationship Counsellors.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Graduate Certificate of Counselling is 25 credit points (normally two units).

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Interested in the Graduate Certificate of Counselling?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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