Get advanced skills and knowledge to work as a counsellor, with clients experiencing complex situations requiring advanced interviewing and communication skills in a community services setting.
Counselling is a rewarding career where you will have the opportunity to provide effective emotional and psychological support to individuals, families, groups and communities to help improve their mental health and wellbeing.
This course provides you with the skills and knowledge to work with clients experiencing complex situations requiring advanced interviewing and communication skills in a community services setting. It covers a range of counselling techniques and theories, ethics in counselling, client—counsellor relationships, and how to work with diverse populations.
Gain industry experience and grow your expertise working in the areas of mental health, drugs and alcohol abuse, youth work, family and domestic violence, housing, adolescent development, parenting and relationships, and more.
Note: This course is suitable for people who already have some background or experience in this field. If you're unsure, please seek advice from the training provider to see whether this course is the right choice for you.
Completion of this nationally recognised and accredited qualification may provide credit towards a relevant higher level qualification or university degree, should you wish to pursue further study in this field.
Choose a WA TAFE college that delivers this course
To find out more about doing this course at a WA TAFE college, select one of the TAFEs listed below to read their course descriptions. You'll also be able to see at which TAFE campus/es the course is delivered.
If you would like further information such as when the course is available and how to enrol, and details of course fees, or if you have questions about how the course is delivered, please follow the Find out more link to go to the TAFE's website where you will find full course details and contact information so that you can speak to the TAFE directly.
Your career in listening and helping others is here.
This nationally recognised qualification provides the first step towards a career in Counselling and entry into the counselling profession. During the course you will gain industry experience and grow your expertise by completing two supervised field placements with one of 170 government and community agencies.
You may work in the areas of mental health, drugs and alcohol abuse, family and domestic violence, housing, adolescent development, or parenting and relationships - giving you a competitive edge to secure employment in this fast-growing industry.
Counsellors work with clients on personal and psychological issues using established counselling modalities. They use communication, micro-counselling and interviewing skills and draw on varied counselling therapies to assist clients. At this level, the counsellor will be working in defined and supported counselling roles in established agencies rather than in independent practice.
This course may be of particular interest to graduates of Diploma or higher in community services, youth work, mental health, allied field or applicants with more than two years work/volunteer experience in community services. If you have not already completed the above you may be able to complete a combined Diploma of Community Services and Diploma of Counselling.
The course is delivered over 12 months and is grouped into 3 stages (approx. 40 weeks). Each stage comprises of a grouping of units which sequentially builds skills and knowledge for the qualification.
Stage 1 comprises of units relating to workplace safety, compliance, diversity and communication which provide the knowledge and foundation for the remaining units
Stage 2 comprises of units which relate specifically to the specialist areas of these qualifications in the areas of Counselling, Community Development and Youth Work.
Stage 3 comprises of units that relate to working with complex individuals and managing services for clients in crisis.
Enhance your employment options by doing a dual qualification
If you enrol at the Geraldton campus and you choose to enrol in additional units you can gain a dual qualification with one of the below. These options are discussed with students prior to enrolling.
This qualification reflects the roles of community services and case management workers involved in the managing, co-ordinating and/or delivering of person-centred services to individuals, groups and communities. At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously under broad directions from senior management. Workers are usually providing direct support to individuals or groups of individuals. Workers may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers and/or case management; program coordination or the development of new business opportunities.
This qualification reflects the role of people with responsibility for the development and the outcomes of programs and services for young people managed through a range of agencies and designed to meet the social, behavioural, health, welfare, developmental and protection needs of young people. This work may be undertaken through employment in community, government and welfare agencies.
Gain hands-on experience in a simulated work environment
The Diploma of Counselling is delivered using interactive learning where you'll gain practical hands-on experience. You'll be exposed to a simulated environment that uses qualified actors as clients to replicate live counselling sessions. You'll gain skills needed to work with clients experiencing complex situations, requiring advanced interviewing and communication skills in a community services setting.
Topics covered include person-centred practice, mental health, lifespan development, theories of counselling and micro skills, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, loss and grief support, crisis response and trauma informed care.
Please note that this course provides an introduction to counselling. If you would like to establish yourself as a private practitioner, you will need to obtain a Bachelor of Counselling to be eligible for ACA registration.
Choose a private training provider that delivers this course
This course is available from registered training organisations (accredited private training providers) that are also funded through Jobs and Skills WA. Select from the list below, and follow the link to the provider's website for further information about the course and how to enrol.
The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling qualification prepares you to become a counsellor, working with clients on personal and psychological issues using established counselling modalities, and enables you to work as a case-worker or support-worker within a counselling organisation. This course can provide a good introduction to working as a counsellor and lead to more qualification pathways. The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is a nationally recognised qualification within the Australian Qualifications Framework. As a counsellor, you can be employed by:
- Rehabilitation centres
- Schools
- Health clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Telephone or online crisis centres
Counsellors in Australia can choose to practice counselling in: Drug and alcohol, Family and marriage, Youth, Telephone, Student, Refugee, Suicide and grief. At Equinim College, we understand education is not just a textbook, but a whole experience. We ensure you have access to trainers for all learning related support, and a general team member for other needs. Our focus is that you are supported to do your best, learn the most and graduate ready to begin your career. If you are a Perth citizen working at least 20 hours per week with a single employer, you may be eligible to study at our Perth campus through the Priority Industry Training Program Classes run 2 evenings per week and includes 4 single weeks of assessment classes (running 3 days per week spaced throughout the 12 months course duration). For more information: t: 1300 880 885 www.equinimcollege.com (chat live online) e: equinim@equinimcollege.com
Delivery location
The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is a nationally recognised qualification within the Australian Qualifications Framework and prepares you to become a counsellor, case-worker or support-worker within a counselling organisation. Evolve College’s CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling course is accredited with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Australian Community Counselling Association (ACCA). Evolve College's Diploma of Counselling qualification reflects the role of counsellors, who work with clients on personal and psychological issues using established counselling modalities. Counsellors in Australia can choose to practice:
- Drug and alcohol counselling
- Family and marriage counselling
- Youth counselling
- Telephone counselling
- Student counselling
- Refugee counselling
- Suicide and grief counselling
At Evolve College we understand education is not just a textbook, but a whole experience. We ensure you have access to trainers for all learning related support, and a general team member for other needs. Our focus is that you are supported to do your best, learn the most and graduate ready to begin your career. If you meet the enrolment eligibility criteria and are working at least 20 hours per week, you can enrol to study at our Perth campus through the Priority Industry Training Program. We have timetable options available to complete the qualification in 12-months over 3 trimesters to fit in with your life and work: • attend 2 x weekday evening classes or • attend 15 x 2-day weekend classes.
Delivery location
Marr Mooditj Training offers the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling qualification. The qualification is delivered over 6 blocks of three weeks each of face-to-face classroom delivery and includes a 160-hour mandatory work placement. Marr Mooditj Training delivers this program due to workforce demand for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counsellors. Our courses are delivered at our campus in Perth at 295 Manning Road, Waterford WA 6152. For all enquiries about applying to study this qualification please call 08 9351 9344. You can also find further information about this course on our website www.marrmooditj.com.au
Delivery location
The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling equips students with the knowledge and practical skills required to become a qualified counsellor. Students will learn the legal and ethical obligations of working with vulnerable people, building rapport, and trusting therapeutic relationships, creating counselling and treatment plans and helping people process and work through various complex emotional issues. If you're a WA resident, you may be eligible to study this 12-month course at a heavily subsidised rate through the Lower Fees, Local Skills subsidy. Students must meet the eligibility requirements and agree to the mandatory attendance requirements to apply for the Lower Fees, Local Skills subsidy.
Attendance requirements are as follows for Job Seeker and Existing Workers.
- Job Seeker: You will be considered a 'Job Seeker' if you are unemployed or underemployed and you do not meet the criteria below to be considered as an Existing Worker. If you are a 'Job Seeker', you will be required to attend class 2 days per week.
- Existing Worker: You will be considered an 'Existing Worker' if you work 20 or more hours for a single or multiple employers. If you are an 'Existing Worker', you will be required to attend class 1 day per week.
Please speak to the Career Advisors or the Student Services team at TrainSmart Australia. For further information and details, visit our website www.tsa.edu.au or www.myskills.gov.au If you enjoy helping others and want to pursue a more rewarding career in your community, phone 1300 855 517 for more information.
Delivery location
The information presented on the course lists within this website is provided to the Department of Training and Workforce Development by the WA TAFE colleges and private training providers, and is offered as a guide only. It is updated regularly, however some changes to details may occur in between updates. You should always contact the TAFE or private training provider directly to confirm details and/or ask questions.