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Admission to GC courses is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN's general eligibility criteria.

All applicants seeking admission are required to:

• hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse* equivalent qualification
• hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
• meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) - please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard
• have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience

Admission to GC courses is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN's general eligibility criteria.

All applicants seeking admission are required to:

• hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse* equivalent qualification
• hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
• meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) - please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard
• have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience; and
• be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation*

• Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health
• Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Dermatology Nursing

Anyone applying for an ACN course that includes a clinical placement must provide evidence of compliance documents at the time of application.

Applications for enrolment will not be progressed until all relevant documentation has been received by Customer Services.

Each Australian state and territory has its own clinical placement documentation requirements. Further details are available on our Clinical Placement Information page, click on the tab for your particular state or territory for information on specific requirements.

Individual placement providers may need additional documentation. If you are required to provide this then you will be contacted by the Clinical Placement Officer following enrolment.

ACN negotiates with health care facilities to secure clinical placements. ACN will make every effort to secure clinical placements within the timeframe indicated in the course outline, however applicants are advised that provision and location of clinical placements is dependent on the availability of placements within the health facility.

As placements are difficult to secure, once confirmed these cannot be negotiated unless there is unforeseen extenuating circumstances. Applicants are not to arrange their own clinical placements with a clinical facility under any circumstances. ACN reserves the right to change clinical placements if necessary.

Students can be granted recognition of prior learning (RPL) for clinical placement if:

• you have been in employment in the area of specialty for at least six months (full time equivalent).

Documentation that will be accepted as evidence:

• A position description for role with a letter from your employer stating that you have been in their employment for at least six months (full time equivalent)
• If you are your own employer then you can use your own company profile as evidence
• A statutory declaration if you are not able to provide either of the above

Please note there is no charge for this application of RPL and students will still have to complete the online learning units of study and the associated assessment items.

There are two different admission requirement processes depending on whether you are applying for the qualifying Master of Counselling, or the Master of Counselling (Advanced Entry).

Pathway 1: Qualifying Master of Counselling

• Completion of an Australian university 3-year bachelor degree, or equivalent, in any area.
• Completion of at least 50% of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling at UniSQ, or equivalent qualification from another institution, and have a grade point average (GPA) of 4 or higher for the Capstone Project research option, and a GPA of 5 or higher for the Research Project option.
• Participate in group reflection with members of School staff and other applicants.
• Provide a report addressing the following selection criteria (informed by the PACFA Training Standards and UniSQ's inherent requirements). Write a statement of no more than 2 pages that addresses:
  1. Studying for (or holding) a Graduate Diploma of Counselling (UniSQ) with evidence of GPA.
  2. Applicants not currently enrolled in a UniSQ Graduate Diploma of Counselling must supply names and contact details of two referees (preferably including a professional report from an academic, a counsellor, a psychologist, a social worker, or similar professional).
  3. Effective relationship skills, attitudes, and behaviours.
  4. Demonstrated life maturity.
  5. Openness to receiving, considering, and integrating feedback.
  6. Commitment to ethical, professional and trustworthy behaviour.
  7. Commitment to engage fully in the process of counselling training.
  8. Willingness to attend a group reflection with members of school staff and other applicants.

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.