Masters (Coursework)
More than 43% of Australians aged 16 to 85 have experienced a mental health challenge throughout their life*. With growing demand for counselling services, our Master of Counselling will help you build the advanced analytical and communication skills needed to support individuals, couples, and groups through mild to moderate mental health and developmental challenges.
Want to take the next step in your career and help people improve their mental wellbeing?
Whether you are from a counselling background or a related field like teaching, healthcare, or social work, the Master of Counselling will equip you with the skills to connect with and compassionately support your clients. You will graduate with 200 hours of practical experience, preparing you to provide personalised support to clients tailored to their unique circumstances. Through practical learning opportunities, you will learn how to apply complex counselling theories to identify and address emotional issues, using cognitive behaviour therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and other talking therapies.
Your learning will be shaped by our School of Psychology's cutting-edge research, rated as well-above world standard^. You will critically explore contemporary research in the field, as well as a diverse range of specialist counselling topics including trauma, grief, sex and sexuality, relationship counselling, and group counselling. In addition to working with clients face-to-face, you will learn how to provide support via video call, telephone, and through other digital communication tools, which are each becoming increasingly important in modern counselling practice.
As a Master of Counselling graduate, you will demonstrate specialist knowledge of counselling roles, as well a practical understanding of skills, theory, interventions, and ethics across the lifespan to a variety of audiences. This includes:
Complement your theoretical learning with 200 hours of valuable placement experience, where you will engage with clients of diverse backgrounds and age groups. Enabling you to further enhance your skills in building rapport with clients and providing personalised support through assessment and intervention strategies. Your placement hours will include autonomous direct client contact, non-contact activities, supervised training, as well as collaboration with other mental health professionals, preparing you to work in supervisory, leadership, and managerial roles.
Want to boost your career opportunities in shorter time? We offer a Graduate Certificate of Counselling and Graduate Diploma of Counselling, which are perfect for those wanting to upskill in a shorter timeframe.
* Australian Bureau of Statistics National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-21
^ Excellence in Research Australia, 2015-2018
There is strong demand for counsellors in Australia, with 14.2% projected employment growth by November 2026**. Counsellors work across a broad range of roles related to mental health, disability, allied health, and social support services. Some roles may include:
Our Master of Counselling is accredited with both of Australia's accrediting associations: the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
You may choose to become a student member of ACA whilst you study. Upon graduation you will be eligible to apply as a Registered Counsellor level 2 member with ACA, boosting your employment opportunities, establishing valuable networks and expanding your professional development opportunities.
Upon graduation, you may be eligible for accreditation with ACA and PACFA, boosting your employment opportunities.
**2021 Employment Outlook - for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia.
To complete the Master of Counselling students must attain 16 credit points. All units are core (these are compulsory).
You must complete two essential units that have been designed to prepare you with the knowledge and skills to begin placement (HPY730 Principles of Counselling and Telehealth and HPY734 Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselling), before undertaking HPY737 Counselling Placement 1. Although, you could begin sourcing a placement earlier.
Students should enrol in the Trimester 2 offering of HPY733 Lifespan and Developmental Counselling and HPY736 Contemporary Counselling Therapies.
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0 credit point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Depending upon prior qualifications and/or experience, you may receive credit for: