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1.7 Years
Blended (online and on-campus Practical Intensive Workshops)
Full time / Part time / Online / On-campus / Blended · 10 hours of study per week per subject (three hours facilitated and seven self-directed)
01 Jun 2026 | 14 Sep 2026 | 15 Feb 2027 | 31 May 2027 | 13 Sep 2027
Course Overview
Where You Can Study
Surry Hills
Eligibility
Career & Study Pathways
Quality & Recognition
Academic Regulator
TEQSA
Professional Body
Australian Counselling Association (ACA) / PACFA
Accreditation Status
AccreditedSkills Assessor
ACA / PACFA
Course Content
Advanced Therapeutic Communication
Explores the nature of interpersonal communication including different communication channels and barriers to effective communication, the role of self-perception and culture, listening and reflection, and power in interpersonal relationships.
Theoretical Approaches to Counselling
Introduces a variety of counselling approaches including Person-centred Therapy, CBT, DBT, Solution Focused techniques, ACT, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness based practice. Includes compulsory Practical Intensive Workshops.
Life Stages and Development
Introduces developmental psychology, key life stages from birth to death, theories of attachment, cognitive and social development, and the effects of trauma across the lifespan.
Self Care & Developing Resilience
Covers principles of social, emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing, capacity building, promotion of wellbeing, vicarious trauma, burnout, and development of a self-care plan.
Mental Health
Develops knowledge and understanding of working effectively with people with a mental illness, common types of mental illness, social and psychological determinants of mental health, lethal risk reduction, domestic abuse, and common personality disorders.
Digital Counselling
Examines the ways technology influences thinking and behaviour, and assists students to utilise traditional counselling theories and methods in digital environments including apps, SMS, videoconferencing and virtual reality.
Clinical Practice & Supervision
Students undertake 40 hours of supervised counselling at an external organisation or The Practice – The Wellbeing Centre, and receive 10 hours of group supervision. Covers phases in the counselling relationship, professional and ethical conduct, record keeping, risk assessment and treatment planning.
Advanced Counselling Skills
Introduces a variety of counselling approaches including Person-centred Therapy, CBT, DBT, ACT, Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness based practice. Includes compulsory Practical Intensive Workshops. Pre-requisite: TAC402.
Group Leadership
Introduces principles, practices and theories of working with groups in a therapeutic context, including interpersonal groups, skills development groups, and approach-based groups such as DBT groups. Pre-requisite: ACS504.
Trauma Informed Practice
Explores trauma and its impact, neurobiology of trauma, polyvagal theory, optimal window of tolerance, childhood adversity effects, abuse, risk assessment tools, and trauma informed practice. Includes compulsory online Practical Intensive Workshops. Pre-requisite: ACS504.
Working with at Risk Groups and Suicidality
Covers definitions of suicide and serious self-harm, risk factors, biopsychosocial determinants, crisis intervention, recovery approach, social impact of suicide, and suicide prevention policy and practice.
Positive Aging
Provides an overview of positive aging with a focus on aging well and in optimal emotional and physical health, including counselling approaches and digital technologies applicable to working with older people.
Grief and Loss
Prepares students for working with clients through processes of loss, grief and change, including various experiences and stages of grieving, bereavement counselling, end of life plans, and distinguishing grief from complicated grief.
Coaching and Positive Psychology
Explores the relevance of coaching and positive psychology to counselling, including solution-focused and strengths-based approaches, goal setting, and key positive psychology theorists.
Social and Emotional Well-being in Australian Indigenous Populations
Critically analyses social determinants of mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ethics and best practice in mental health provision, the link between identity, country and mental health, and self-reflexive analysis of colonial history and bias.
Critical Literature Review
Teaches practical planning, searching, recording, analysing and writing skills for conducting a literature review, critical reading skills, identifying research gaps, and culminates in the development of a project statement for further scholarly research.
Critical Literature Review
Provides an overview of critical reading practices and develops practical skills required to undertake a research project, including identifying research gaps and critical analysis, culminating in a project statement for further scholarly research.
Empowerment and Advocacy
Introduces empowerment as a multidimensional social process, explores the role of change agents and advocates for mental health consumers, and provides opportunity to explore advocacy organisations.
Common Questions
Yes, the Master of Counselling is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). It is also an AQF Level 9 qualification and is described as the highest level of counselling training available in Australia.
The course requires 40 hours of supervised work placement (clinical practice) at an external organisation or at The Practice – The Wellbeing Centre, which offers low-cost counselling services to the public. In addition, students studying online must complete 120 hours of experiential practical skills training through on-campus Practical Intensive Workshops spread over three subjects.
For each on-campus practical subject, students are required to attend two weekend sessions held on Saturday and Sunday at the end of Weeks 6 and Week 12 of each trimester. Each session runs from 9.00am to 6.00pm AEST on both days (with breaks). These workshops are designed to be interactive and deliver experiential practical skills training to prepare students for their final 40-hour placement with clients.
The Master of Counselling takes 1.5 years to complete full time, or 3 years part time. The course comprises 11 core subjects and 1 elective, with each subject requiring 10 hours of study per week (three hours facilitated and seven self-directed).
No, there are no formal exams in the Master of Counselling. Assessments may include activity-based assignments, online quizzes, reports, essays, presentations, demonstrations, journals, clinical experience reports, and other practical assessments depending on the subject.
Application
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Step 02
Submit Documents
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Step 03
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Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!
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