Master of Counselling (MCCO)

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

The Master of Counselling has two main streams.

The first stream is a qualifying program designed to meet the PACFA and ACA counsellor training requirements for counsellor registration.

This stream has a choice of four specialisations.

It contains admission processes, foundational courses, residential schools and practicums to ensure training standards are assured to the highest possible standards.

The Master of Counselling is a program that allows students and professionals to develop knowledge and expertise in one of four counselling speciality areas, and at completion, to be eligible to apply for a member of PACFA.

The specialist areas are:

Alcohol and Drug Studies * Child, Youth and Family Therapy* Mental Health Counselling * Foundations of Practice* * This specialisation has the core training for counsellor preparation and is a required component for professional counsellor registration.

Students seeking registration should ensure they have completed this specialisation.

The Foundations of Practice has mandatory residential schools and mandatory online tutorials with five courses.

The second stream is called the Master of Counselling (Advanced Practice) and is designed to advance knowledge, research, and practice for applicants who are already registered professionals in counselling or related disciplines and thus are not required to meet initial registration requirements.

This program does not require students to undertake foundational courses, residential schools, or a practicum.

In place of these students can select courses from within the specialisations.

This stream offers suitably qualified professionals maximum choices, flexibility, and a simpler admission process.

Admission requirements

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

EITHER Master of Counselling (Qualifying)

• Completion of an Australian university three year Bachelor degree in any area (or equivalent).
• Completion of the GDCN Graduate Diploma of Counselling at USQ with a GPA of 5 or above.
• Provide two satisfactory Referee Reports and a report to address the Selection Criteria indicating the applicant's abilities to successfully undertake the professional and research components of the program; and
• Participate in an interview with a panel of School staff.
• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.

OR Master of Counselling (Advanced Practice)

• Current evidence of full membership of a relevant professional body, such as the Australian Psychological Society, Australian Counselling Association, Australian Association of Social Workers, Australian Counselling Association, or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.
• 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 assessment and treatment.
2. Employ advanced interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills appropriate to the context and format.
3. Apply critical reasoning, judgment and problem solving to a range of professional, legal, and ethical practice issues.
4. Translate and contextualise knowledge within a counselling context.
5. Demonstrate ability to apply discipline knowledge, ethics, boundaries, and professional practice skills within a counselling role.
6. Identify, interpret and apply research methodologies, including their application to a research question relevant to their area of specialisation by designing and implementing a research project or significant scholarly activity within a selected discipline area.