Flexible online courses in counselling are available. Only travel for key bits, such as professional work placements.
If you're new to university study, a Bachelor of Counselling (or equivalent) is the best way to become a professional counsellor. If you have a university degree of some kind, you can become qualified with a graduate diploma or masters.
Study online to become a qualified counsellor
Why study counselling online as much as possible? Because distance learning is the convenient way to gain professional accreditation.
- You can prepare to be a counsellor by studying online and doing some face-to-face classes and training.
- Good mixed-mode degrees are available through a selection of Australian universities and colleges.
The online format is most popular with people looking to change careers and professionals already working in community welfare.
Studying counselling online is a way to launch a career or upgrade your skills and qualifications. To become a professional counsellor, you need either a Bachelor of Counselling (or equivalent), or a graduate diploma or masters degree in the field.
- Large sections of accredited courses may be studied externally.
- Professional counsellors often hold bachelor degrees in social work or psychology.
Professional (qualifying) courses are only available in mixed mode format. That means you combine online study with in-person classes and work placements.
Qualifying courses to become a counsellor
A successful career as a counsellor is generally underpinned by recognised qualifications and something extra beyond basic counselling skills.
- Nearly all professional roles call for a bachelor degree or postgraduate qualification, not just a basic diploma.
- A professional degree in Counselling, Social Work or Psychology is a standard requirement for counselling jobs.
- Training and experience in the field where you want to do counselling, such as in teaching, nursing or social work, allows you to provide expert guidance.
For guaranteed recognition of your qualification, you can choose an online counselling course that's listed by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
What counsellors do
Counselling is a relationship-based process. A practitioner needs to build trust and understanding with clients.
Counsellors help people to: (a) evaluate themselves (b) accept responsibility for their actions and (c) make good choices going forward.
A counsellor is an objective professional with whom a client can build a therapeutic and trusting relationship. They are trained to offer talk-based therapy. The counsellor helps each individual address their problems in a positive way – by helping them to clarify issues, explore options, develop strategies and raise self-awareness.
Counsellors need a well developed understanding of themselves, strong empathy, a desire to help people, and an interest in social justice.
A healthy dose of life experience is also important. Counsellors assist people to make changes in thinking and decision-making. Ideally, you should know first-hand about internal transformation and growth.
Another key trait of good counsellors is flexibility. Counselors must be able to adapt their approach to provide the best possible treatment for the individual client.
Bachelor of Counselling Degrees
Studying counselling at an undergraduate level gives you the opportunity to learn about more than counselling. Australian universities have programs where you can combine counselling with other disciplines, such as community welfare and psychology.
USQ Bachelor of Human Services
The University of Southern Queensland offers a major in Counselling as part of the Bachelor of Human Services degree. Students can study another discipline for a second major, with the choice of Child and Family Studies, Community Development and Indigenous Studies, Health and Social Wellbeing, and Human Resource Management. Some on-campus attendance (in Toowoomba, Fraser Coast or Springfield) is required for professional accreditation.
ACAP Bachelor of Counselling
The Australian College of Applied Psychology offers a fully accredited Bachelor of Counselling degree that can studied in blended mode (combining online and on-campus study). ACAP runs the course in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. It includes 250 hours of supervised work placements. The program gives students practical skills and theoretical foundations for working as a professional counsellor.
Graduate Certificate of Counselling
If you've already been to university and want to start doing counselling professionally, an online Graduate Certificate in Counselling is a great option. This short course will give you some skills and is a platform for further study.
ECU Graduate Certificate of Counselling
An easy and effective way to earn a university qualification is to do Edith Cowan University's Graduate Certificate of Counselling. The 3-unit online course takes just 6 months of part-time study and is a pathway to ECU's Master of Counselling. Students examine the foundations of counselling practice, the role of the counsellor, and counselling theories and techniques. The knowledge gained supports counselling practice in fields such as nursing, social work and teaching.
Masters and Graduate Diplomas
A postgraduate counselling course allows you to gain accreditation or, for a practising counsellor, to do professional development. A graduate diploma or masters degree is the normal path for graduates from other fields who want a professional qualification.
ECU Master of Counselling
Edith Cowan University's Master of Counselling has been accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). While primarily online, each student is required to do 250 hours of professional placement with an approved organisation. The course consists of 12 units (with the work placement counting as 2 units) and takes 2 years of part-time study. Students benefit from accessible and accelerated online learning. You can study year-round, moving on to a new unit every 2 months.
ACAP postgraduate courses
The Australian College of Applied Psychology offers postgraduate study of counselling in the blended mode format, which requires some on-campus attendance. The 2-year Graduate Diploma of Counselling course is run in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. The 2-year Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is available in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Counsellor Jobs – Examples
Real examples of job openings for counsellors. Snippets from job ads. Positions may now be closed.
Specialist Drug and Alcohol Counsellor – Murrumbidgee Local Health District
This clinical position involves the provision of intake, assessment, evidence based interventions and case management services to individuals referred to the service with issues related to substance use. Interventions are to be provided by this position include, advocacy for the client group, counselling and/or appropriate therapies (CBT, DBT & MI etc), withdrawal supervision and opioid treatment case management (which on occasion may require providing and/or assisting with opioid treatment dosing). The position provides age appropriate services to individuals of all ages.
Counsellor – NeuroCentix
NeuroCentrix is a private neuroscience facility dedicated to evidence-based assessment, treatment and research of memory and mood disorders. Part of our clinical and therapeutic offering is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and clinical research and trials. As a Counsellor you will be working alongside a team of Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Doctors and Research Clinicians to maintain and offer a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Requirements: Must have a Masters in Counselling.
Telephone Counsellor – Medibank
We are looking for experienced sexual assault and domestic violence counsellors who are passionate about delivering telephone-based counselling services. As a First Response Counsellor, you work alongside people who contact the service to support their pathway to safety and recovery. You must hold one of the following qualifications: (a) tertiary degree in a relevant discipline (social science, social work, welfare studies, psychology or counselling); or (b) tertiary degree and a post-graduate degree or diploma in a relevant discipline (Social Science, Social Work, Welfare Studies, Psychology or Counselling).
Student Counsellor – Charles Sturt University
As a Student Counsellor, you will provide counselling services on personal, academic, social and psychological issues that may impact a student’s academic performance. This includes individual counselling sessions delivered in-person, by phone or online. To be successful you will have: (1) a degree in psychology or social work and (2) full registration as a psychologist within Australia or membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) or eligibility.
Counsellor Crime Victims – CatholicCare NT
The counsellor's role is to support crime victims and strengthen family relationships generally, preventing breakdown, enhancing children and young people's wellbeing and mental health, and assisting couples and families manage issues arising from relationships or crimes, including family violence. Key responsibilities: to ensure that crime victims have timely access to information, support and referral services that can assist them in recovering from the impacts associated with the event; and ensure that immediate practical needs are met, particularly in relation to safety, income support, housing, medical care and legal assistance.
