Diplomas and certificates in the fields of psychology and mental health.
If you're interested in studying a psychology course at TAFE, there are some options available. Institutes and various colleges deliver mental health courses at the Certificate IV and Diploma levels. Students learn how to manage clients with psychological challenges.
Because TAFE focuses on vocational training and psychology is a scientific field, you won't find any dedicated psychology courses at TAFEs in Australia.
Another option is to complete a Diploma of Psychology at a university. Entry requirements are typically lower than for degree programs. The diploma serves as a pathway to a degree and is equivalent to the first year of a bachelor program. Universities also offer graduate certificates and diplomas for uni graduates with non-psychology degrees.
Accredited Courses Available Across Australia
These are accredited psychology and related courses that you can study almost anywhere in Australia. They are either delivered fully online or widely offered at TAFEs and other registered training organisations (RTOs).
The Certificate IV in Mental Health has 150 providers across Australia. Lasting 6 months to 2 years, it trains you to support people with psychological issues.
Programs combine theory with practical experience in settings like community centres and clinics, and include 80+ hours of placements. Students explore topics such as support strategies, psychological assessment, and community care practice. Graduates enter roles in healthcare and social assistance.
The Diploma of Mental Health is available from 68 TAFEs and training organisations. Students learn essential support skills, including counselling and advocacy, complemented by 160 hours of practical work placement.
Graduates enter roles in health care and social assistance. The diploma leads to positions like community worker and counsellor, offering a path to delivering mental health support.
The Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing is a unique government-accredited course. It runs for 12 months and is available both online and face-to-face in Byron Bay.
The program targets professionals seeking to enhance their own wellbeing and improve their performance at work. It covers enhancing wellbeing, positive emotions, engagement, creating meaningful experiences, and building positive relationships.
The Diploma of Psychology offers a foundational education in psychological principles, research methods, and interpersonal skills. This one-year university course is equivalent to the first year of a psychology degree, allowing graduates to enter directly into the second year of a bachelor's program.
The qualification serves as a stepping stone for students from various backgrounds to move into this field. It is a bridging course offered by several universities and their training partners.
The Graduate Certificate in Psychology is a relatively short course for university graduates from other disciplines. The 100% online program builds foundational knowledge, establishing a platform for further training to become a psychologist. It requires 8 months of part-time study.
Students explore topics such as social psychology, personality differences, health attitudes, wellbeing and resilience, and human development. FEE-HELP loans are available to cover tuition fees.
For university graduates (any discipline) who want to study psychology, there is the Graduate Diploma in Psychology. The online course can be completed in 20 months of part-time study.
The 10-subject qualification is the equivalent of a Bachelor of Psychological Science and can be a step on the journey to becoming a practising psychologist. Students explore psychological foundations, brain behaviour, disorders, lifespan development, research methods, ethics, societal impacts on wellbeing, and cognitive psychology.
JCU Online - Graduate Diploma of Psychology
The JCU Online Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging) offers a pathway to psychology careers. It's 100% online, part-time, and spans 20 months. Students can start in Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sept, or Oct. It includes 10 subjects, focusing on topics such as health and wellbeing, human development, psychological disorders and interventions, cognition and language, neuroscience, and counselling principles. This program suits those aiming for enhanced roles in human-centred professions.
UTS Online - Graduate Diploma in Psychology
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology from UTS Online is a pathway for university graduates to enter the field. This 20-month, part-time online course includes ten units. It covers psychological foundations, human development, and adult growth theories. Graduates gain contemporary knowledge and skills. They learn to apply psychological science in various disciplines, including healthcare, business, and public service. The qualification prepares students to use psychology to make positive changes in their work and wider community.
Non-Accredited Training Programs
Australian training providers and global online learning platforms offer a vast range of psychology courses. These are not recognised by the Australian Government or the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Free online psychology courses allow you to learn about human behaviour without cost. Platforms like Coursera, FutureLearn, and edX offer topics including child psychology, mental health, and emotional intelligence.
Learners can audit courses for free access to lectures and non-graded materials. Drawbacks to not paying include content and time limits, and no certification of completion. Nonetheless, you can gain useful insights for personal and professional growth.