Diploma in Health and Social Care (Counselling)

The Diploma in Health and Social Care (Counselling) provides a solid foundation in evidence-based, interdisciplinary practice, as well as theoretical knowledge and introductory skills in counselling. Whether you're currently working in the health and social care sector and looking to complement your skills-based experience with a tertiary qualification, or you're considering a future career in the field, this course will give you the knowledge and practice skills you need to succeed.

Why study the Diploma in Health and Social Care (Counselling) with UNE?
Our course focuses on developing your ability to find, evaluate and present health-related evidence and information. You will gain an understanding of the health system and the social determinants of health, while learning the professional identify of the counsellor within an interprofessional practice context. This course will help you to develop culturally responsive counselling skills, as well as self-reflection, professional self-awareness and professional communication skills.

UNE has the longest heritage of any Australian university in offering distance and online courses. We’re also highly rated – year after year, students award UNE 5-star ratings in The Good Universities Guide for Overall Experience and Student Support, so when you study with us, you know you are in good hands.

What makes our course different?
Grounded in evidence-based counselling practice, this course teaches you how to apply empirically validated interventions and specialised interpersonal skills to bring about change and empower your clients. When you study this course with UNE, you will have opportunities to:

• Explore core counselling theories and develop foundational counselling skills, developing your identify and self-awareness as an ethical, culturally responsive counselling practitioner.
• Build critical thinking, self-reflection and communication skills which are lifelong, transferable, and will always be in high demand across a variety of sectors.
• Set yourself up for future study. The Diploma in Health and Social Care (Counselling) can be used as an entry pathway to a variety of UNE bachelor degrees, such as the Bachelor of Community Services or Bachelor of Social Work. You can start with the diploma and then choose to advance your studies even further – you may also be eligible for credit for some of your previous studies.
• Choose to study when it suits you. The course is available online, allowing you to fit study around your busy lifestyle, not the other way around, no matter where you are in the world. Study part-time or full-time, and move between the two as your circumstances change.

Study online
Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together to build real world networks for the future.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.