Course Overview

About This Course

Do you see yourself supporting individuals, couples, and families through life's challenges? At The University of Notre Dame Australia, our Bachelor of Counselling prepares you for a fulfilling career as a professional counsellor. Across three years of study, you'll gain a strong theoretical foundation alongside practical, hands-on experience. You'll develop the skills to work with a wide range of client needs, including trauma, addiction, grief and loss, and relationship concerns. With expert guidance and real-world learning opportunities, you'll graduate ready to make a meaningful difference in people's lives while navigating the demands of a dynamic and evolving profession.

Our unique Bachelor of Counselling degree offers you a fully-integrated program of instruction that focuses on the individual's psychosocial, personal and spiritual development throughout their lifespan. In Year One, you will study a range of theories and approaches to counselling, explore personal values, belief systems and experiences from culture and family, identify effective self-care strategies and develop attributes essential to professional practice. You will also begin to develop practical counselling skills before moving on to specific areas of counselling children, adolescents, couples and families and older people in Years Two and Three. Blending theoretical understanding and hands-on experience, the program covers just about every type of scenario within the human experience. You will learn the interpersonal skills needed to build a positive client alliance which promotes the use of the therapeutic relationship as an organising focus for treatment.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Fremantle, WA

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Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Applicants with recent Secondary Education (WA)

Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank of 70 (including Adjustment Factors)
OR International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 25

Applicants with Higher Education

Successful completion of 2 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher
OR Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP
Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing)

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake
Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry (evidence of duties and years of experience required; STAT may be required)
OR Completion of STAT with scores of at least 135 in the Multiple Choice section and 140 in the Written English section (WA) / 150 in both sections (NSW)
OR Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education
STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years

Discipline Specific Requirements

Admission requires submission of a personal statement outlining applicant's motivations and demonstrating suitability to study counselling as per accreditation requirements (including self-awareness, capacity to relate to others and an understanding of ethical behaviour)

All applicants must also satisfy:

Minimum University Admission Requirements including those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public sectors. Careers available to graduates include youth workers, trauma counsellors, drug and alcohol counsellors, and family counsellors.

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Australian Counselling Association (ACA) / PACFA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

ACA / PACFA

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units20 units

ABOR1000

Aboriginal People

ARTS1000

Academic Writing, Communication and Research

COUN1002

Formation of the Professional Counsellor (Milestone 1)

COUN1003

Theories and Approaches to Counselling

COUN1004

Counselling Skills Training 1

COUN1005

Introduction to Personal and Professional Ethics (Foundations of Formation)

PSYC2170

Lifespan Development

COUN2001

Formation of the Professional Counsellor (Milestone 2)

COUN2002

Counselling Skills Training 2

COUN2003

Counselling Skills Training 3

COUN2004

Counselling and Children

COUN2005

Grief and Loss Counselling

COUN2006

Counselling Adolescents

COUN2007

Trauma and Addiction Counselling

COUN2008

Mental Health

COUN3001

Formation of the Professional Counsellor (Milestone 3)

COUN3002

Placement and Supervision A

COUN3003

Placement and Supervision B

COUN3005

Counselling Older People

COUN3006

Counselling Couples and Families

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours of practical placement are required in the Bachelor of Counselling?

The Bachelor of Counselling includes 200 hours of practical placement, comprising a minimum of 80 hours of direct client contact and 20 hours of clinical supervision. These hands-on experiences provide invaluable opportunities to integrate theory with practice, enabling students to build confidence, competence, and professional identity.

Will I be eligible for professional registration after completing this degree?

Upon graduation, you will be entitled to register as a professional counsellor with Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation Australia (PACFA), which is the accrediting body for this program.

Where can I study the Bachelor of Counselling and when can I start?

The Bachelor of Counselling is offered on campus at two locations: Fremantle (WA) and Sydney (NSW). The program commences in both Semester 1 and Semester 2, and can be studied full-time (3 years) or equivalent part-time.

What areas of counselling will I specialise in during the degree?

The program covers a wide range of counselling specialisations. You will develop skills to work with children, adolescents, couples, families, and older people, as well as in areas including trauma, addiction, grief and loss, mental health, and relationship concerns.

Is a personal statement required as part of the application for the Bachelor of Counselling?

Yes, admission into the Bachelor of Counselling requires submission of a personal statement outlining your motivations and demonstrating suitability to study counselling as per accreditation requirements, including self-awareness, capacity to relate to others, and an understanding of ethical behaviour.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

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

Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $60,000 to $75,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $75,000 to $90,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $90,000 to $105,000 per year

Career Paths

Mental Health CounsellorYouth Counsellor / School CounsellorFamily and Relationship CounsellorDrug and Alcohol Counsellor (AOD Counsellor)Trauma Counsellor

Key Skills

Active listening and reflective communicationBuilding therapeutic rapport and trust with clientsApplying counselling theories and frameworks (CBT, person-centred, psychodynamic, narrative)Crisis intervention and risk assessmentTrauma-informed and culturally safe practice

Full Course Overview

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