Graduate Diploma in Counselling

Counsellors help people through difficult times in their lives, often when they are most vulnerable. Prepare for a career in counselling by building your personal and professional skills. With a focus on building counselling relationships with your clients that are essential to effective practice, you’ll gain the skills you need to succeed in a rewarding career.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop professional skills for a career in counselling by critically appraising the counselling literature, learning foundation skills of applied counselling practice, and developing a sound understanding of the core principles of counselling and case conceptualisation. Hear how these real-world learning principles have cemented Counselling student Jay's love for the practice.

After graduating from this course, you can apply to study the Master of Counselling and gain exemption from those units that are common to both degrees.

3 reasons to study a Graduate Diploma in Counselling at Murdoch

1. Study on your own terms – we offer flexible study arrangements allowing you to study full-time or part-time or at our Perth or Mandurah campus to suit your circumstances.
2. Learn from highly experienced staff with industry and practical experience in counselling.
3. Benefit from experiential learning in a supportive environment.

What you'll learn

• Coached practice in small groups
• Counselling adults
• Counselling children and adolescents
• Experiential learning in group counselling
• Introduction to creative arts therapies

Your future career

Graduates with corresponding undergraduate degrees may be employed in government and non-government counselling organisations working with adults, children, families and couples. Careers could include:

• Counsellor
• Psychotherapist
• Caseworker
• Support Worker
• Mental health professional

Professional accreditation

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

The Graduate Diploma is a requisite step towards the Master of Counselling degree which has Professional Accreditation with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for Level 1 membership with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).

Graduates may apply to enter the Master of Counselling degree which has Professional Accreditation with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

IELTS: Score: 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

TOEFL: Score: 79+, with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13.

PEARSON: Score: 64+, with no communicative skill below 60.

CAMBRIDGE: Score: 176+, with no skill less than 169.