Course Overview

About This Course

If you care deeply about people and want to make a real difference in their lives, this course may be the next step for you. Counselling, taught within a Christian worldview and ethos. You'll gain profession-centred knowledge, expertise and skills for employment.

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

Requirements

Academic Requirements – Recent Secondary Education (within past two years): Satisfactory completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent obtaining an ATAR score of 60.
Other Admission Pathways (Secondary): Students who had exceptional circumstances in the completion of their secondary studies may be admitted with evidence of difficulties from the secondary institution, medical practitioners and/or other professionals who can attest to the impact upon the prospective student's ATAR.
Applicants with VET Study: Applicants must have completed a Certificate IV or higher.
Applicants with Higher Education Study: Successful completion of the Diploma in Arts or equivalent OR Successful completion of the Associate Degree in Arts or equivalent OR Other higher education studies (complete or incomplete) that may or may not be granted advanced standing.
Applicants with Work and Life Experience: Mature Age entry for those who have reached the age of 21 is available. Applicants must demonstrate an aptitude for their desired Stream during the New Student Interview and demonstrate an ability to study at the required level through their responses on the application form.
English Language Requirement: Applicants must meet the English language requirements.
Other Requirements – New Student Interview: Applicants must demonstrate self-awareness, including the capacity to relate in a facilitative way with others and to reflect on and examine the impact of these actions; relational capacity; a capacity to understand and practice ethical behaviour and be prepared to follow a code of ethics; a certain level of mature life experience and the capacity to reflect on and learn from experience, including being open to positive and challenging feedback.
Professional Placement: To undertake a professional placement the placement organisation may require a satisfactory police check and/or a working with children check.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Graduates may find employment as a counsellor or chaplain in Christian or public schools, in community agencies or private practice. Graduates may also become counsellors, clinicians, life coaches, peer support workers, mentors, pastoral carers, and community development workers within church, community and government agencies as well as private practice. Successfully completing the minimum requirements of 80 hours of counselling and 20 hours of supervision over the two Counselling Field Education units in the Counselling Stream will allow you to apply for registration as a counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and/or as a provisional member with the Christian Counsellors Association of Australia (CCAA), a Constituent Member Association of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units46 units

CD520

Community Development and Social Change

CD530

Applied Human Rights

CD610

Art and Social Action

CD622

Art and Community Development

CD631

Inequality and Marginalisation

CD721

Leading and Organising for Social Change

CD730

Gender and Sexuality

CD731

Community Advocacy

CD781

Community Development Professional Experience 1 (10 days)

CD782

Community Development Professional Experience 2 (10 days)

CF501

Living in Christ

CF502

Foundations for Faith

CF503

Introduction to the Bible

CF604

Faith, Reason and Justice

CF701

Integration of Vocation and Faith

CN510

Introduction to Counselling

CN520

Personal Philosophy of Counselling Practice

CN602

Common Counselling Issues

CN603

Strengths-based Collaborative Approaches to Counselling

CN605

Counselling for Addiction

CN611

Basic Counselling Skills

CN621

Counselling Skills and the Counselling Profession

CN701

Family Counselling

CN704

Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss

CN724

Counselling Field Education 1

CN725

Counselling Field Education 2

EN503

Literature and Worldview

PS511

Introduction to Psychology

PS602

Human Development: Implications for Counselling

PS701

Mental Health for Counselling

SS501

Introduction to Sociology

SS502

Indigenous Australia and the Nation

SS600

Innovative Social Action

SS601

Ethical and Professional Practice

SS700

Social Research Methods

SS701

Social Policy

YT501

Theories of Youth Work

YT541

Youth Work and the Youth Sector

YT602

Group Work and Program Design

YT603

Youth Rights and Participation

YT670

Youth Work Field Education 1 Part A

YT671

Youth Work Field Education 1 Part B

YT701

Leadership in Youth Work

YT720

Trauma Informed Youth Work

YT770

Youth Work Field Education 2 Part A

YT771

Youth Work Field Education 2 Part B

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I gain professional registration as a counsellor after completing this degree?

Successfully completing the minimum requirements of 80 hours of counselling and 20 hours of supervision over the two Counselling Field Education units in the Counselling Stream will allow you to apply for registration as a counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and/or as a provisional member with the Christian Counsellors Association of Australia (CCAA). However, to reach graduate level accreditation for CCAA, an additional 160 hours of counselling and 40 hours of supervision within two years of becoming a provisional member are required for registration.

What is the structure of the Bachelor of Applied Social Science?

The Bachelor of Applied Social Science is composed of 24 units of 6 Credit Points each completed over 3 years full-time equivalent (144 Credit Points in total). Students must complete Christian Foundations (6 units), Social Science Core (3 units), Counselling stream units (14 units), and one elective unit which may be chosen from any 500, 600 or 700 level unit the College offers (as long as pre-requisites are met).

Are there exit pathways if I don't complete the full Bachelor degree?

Yes. Depending on the units chosen, students may choose to exit with a Diploma in Arts or Associate Degree in Arts. Students who choose not to complete, or are not given permission to complete, the practicum units of their Stream may change to a Bachelor of Arts award.

Can I progress to postgraduate study after completing this degree?

Yes. Successful completion of the award with the Counselling Stream will allow students to progress to the Master of Community Counselling.

Is this course available to international students, and where is it delivered?

Yes, the Bachelor of Applied Social Science is available to both domestic and overseas students with CRICOS Code 102322M. It is delivered on campus at 5 Burwood Highway, Wantirna, VIC 3152, with partial online delivery also available.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

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Step 02

Submit Documents

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Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

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Bachelor of Applied Social Science