General Information

Overview

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling provides students with a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings, client types and cultural groups. This course examines teaching and learning methods designed to foster personal and professional development and is designed to improve counselling skills of people currently employed or interested in employment within the human services sectors.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling requires students to complete units of study to the value of 100 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
Core units
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
Units of study Unit code
Couple Counselling Theory
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70007
Couple Counselling Practice and Application
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70023
Advanced Counselling Placement 2
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC80008
Clinical Supervision and Work Place Experience
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70024
Units of study Unit code
Core Skills in Forensic Practice
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		FBS80001
Fundamentals of Criminal Law Process
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		FBS80002
Principles of Violence Risk Assessment and Management
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		FBS80003
Clinical Supervision and Work Place Experience
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70024
Units of study Unit code
Addiction Counselling
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70001
Assessment and Evidence-Based Therapies
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC80006
Working with Groups
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC80003
Clinical Supervision and Work Place Experience
Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70024
Units of study Unit code
Graduate Certificate of Counselling
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
Professional Counselling stream
PSC70002 Assessment and Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70002
Counselling Research Processes
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70009
Specific Approaches to Counselling
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70015
Advanced Interventions in Counselling and Group Processes
Core unit, 12.5 credit points 		PSC70017

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
  • demonstrate competence in assessment (including risk assessment and mental state examinations) case formulation and treatment planning, implementation and evaluation for clients presenting with a range of complex issues in a human services, couple counselling and forensic context
  • use written and oral communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of basic and advanced theoretical concepts and methods relevant to trauma, loss and grief counselling, addiction counselling, couple counselling or forensic counselling; and to transfer this knowledge to different client groups, including individuals, couples and families.

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

This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Graduate Diploma of Counselling is 50 credit points (normally four units)

Admission criteria

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

Interested in the Graduate Diploma 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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