Master of Counselling
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
The Master of Counselling provides students with a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings, client types and cultural groups. Students specialise in human services counselling, couple counselling or forensic counselling. The course is designed to meet the needs of those employed in the human services sector (such as mental health, general health care, education, law and mediation, justice and welfare, and public service fields) or those who have an interest in the specialist fields of couple counselling or forensic counselling. Each stream includes placements in industry. Placements are tailored specifically to students’ level of experience, interests and availability.
Duration
3 years part-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1) - View application and start dates
Study mode
- Part-time
2023 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
27 February 2023
2024 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
26 February 2024
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The Master of Counselling refines skills in the areas of human services counselling, couple counselling or forensic counselling. The course is designed to advance counselling and research skills of people currently employed or interested in employment in one of the human services sectors (i.e. education, mental health, health, community, justice and welfare sectors) or who have an interest in the specialist fields of couple counselling or forensic counselling.
The couple counselling stream is delivered in collaboration with Relationships Australia, Victoria (RAV), which has a longstanding reputation for providing evidence-based training to students and professionally qualified counsellors wanting to specialise in couple therapy.
The forensic stream is delivered in collaboration with the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science (CFBS), Swinburne University of Technology, which is the current preferred provider of evidence-based specialist forensic training to a wide variety of professionals working with forensic clients both in Victoria and across Australia. Partnerships with forensic organisations are in place to support forensic placements.
Note: This program is not available for study to onshore International students studying on a student visa.
The couple counselling stream is delivered in collaboration with Relationships Australia, Victoria (RAV), which has a longstanding reputation for providing evidence-based training to students and professionally qualified counsellors wanting to specialise in couple therapy.
The forensic stream is delivered in collaboration with the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science (CFBS), Swinburne University of Technology, which is the current preferred provider of evidence-based specialist forensic training to a wide variety of professionals working with forensic clients both in Victoria and across Australia. Partnerships with forensic organisations are in place to support forensic placements.
Note: This program is not available for study to onshore International students studying on a student visa.
Course structure
The postgraduate programs in Counselling are a nested suite consisting of three exit points: Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters.
To qualify for the Master of Counselling, students must complete 150 credit points comprising:
- 8 core units (100 credit points)
- 4 units from one of the Counselling specialisations: Couple Counselling; Human Services Counselling or Forensic Counselling (50 credit points)
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Counselling is 50 credit points (normally four units)
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Counselling is 50 credit points (normally four units)
Units of study
Core units
Specialist units
Couple Counselling specialisation
PSC70024 Clinical Supervision and Workplace Experience *or
Human Services Counselling specialisation
or
Forensic Counselling specialisation
* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives, graduate skills and professional recognition.
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.
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 counselling 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 and couple counselling 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 and forensic counselling; and to transfer this knowledge to different client groups, including individuals, couples and families
- critically apply research principles, skills and methods to inform evidence-based practice, that include a broad and specialist understanding of the treatment literature for individuals, couples and groups presenting in a human services, couple counselling or forensic counselling context.
Graduate skills
The Swinburne Graduate Attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching courses assist all its graduates to be:
- capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
- entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- effective and ethical in work and community situations
- adaptable and able to manage change
- aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Fees are estimates for students commencing in 2023 only: Tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year. Find out more about fees.
Entry requirements
- A minimum three-year Bachelor degree from an Australian university or approved equivalent or
- Graduate Certificate of Counselling or equivalent
- Graduate Diploma of Counselling or equivalent
Selection is based on an individual and group interview and the applicant’s suitability for the program as determined by academic and work experience*, referee reports, and the stated reasons for wishing to undertake the program. Preference may be given to applicants with an equivalent of a credit average or above.
The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions in respect of courses to apply in addition to these entry requirements.
All students will be required to submit a current Working with Children Check and Police Check.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
Students enrolled in this course may be required to apply for and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to commencing placement with an NDIS provider. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.
Students enrolled in this course may be required to apply for and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to commencing placement with an NDIS provider. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.
* Work experience
Documents substantiating work experience need to be provided on company letterhead and clearly detail roles as well as duties and duration of posts held.
How to apply
Find out more about how to apply.
Closing dates for applications for Semester 1, 2023 Intake:
Round 1: 5pm, Friday 4 November 2022 (timely applications)
Closing dates for applications for Semester 1, 2023 Intake:
Round 1: 5pm, Friday 4 November 2022 (timely applications)
Round 2: 5pm, Friday 20 January 2023 (late applications)