Graduate Diploma of Counselling (GDCN)

Back to top Program aims The Graduate Diploma of Counselling is available to graduates of human services, health, nursing, psychology and other allied health disciplines.

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling is a program that allows students and professionals to develop knowledge and expertise in one of four counselling areas:

Alcohol and Drug Studies Child, Youth and Family Therapy Mental Health Counselling Foundations of Practice* * The Foundations of Practice courses are embedded in all of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling streams.

The Foundations of Practice specialisation has greater versatility in that it allows for students to choose approved courses from any of the streams if they meet the course pre-requisites.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

All specialisations

• Completion of an Australian university three year Bachelor degree in any area or equivalent.
• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements.

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a University-approved English language program. On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

Program objectives

On completion of the award, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of theories and models fundamental to fields associated with counselling
2. Demonstrate advanced interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
3. Demonstrate ability to apply critical reasoning, judgment and problem solving to a range of professional, legal, and ethical practice issues
4. Demonstrate ability to contextualise knowledge within a counselling context.
5. Demonstrate ability to apply discipline knowledge and professional practice skills in formative development as a counselling practitioner and demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or learner.