Master of Counselling

The Master of Counselling offers an integrative approach to counsellor training and supervision, drawing upon a wide range of theories and evidence-informed practice to equip students with the advanced knowledge and skills-based competencies required by contemporary counselling practitioners. Emphasis is given to producing university-qualified, registered counsellors who are ethical, self-reflexive, and committed to lifelong learning and ongoing professional development.

Combining online study with mandatory intensive schools in a blended learning format, the course is ideally suited to individuals with a prior degree in any discipline wishing to gain an industry-recognised qualification whilst continuing to meet their work and family commitments. As part of the award, students can complete either the Generalist Counselling Pathway or the Counselling Placement Pathway which involves 40 hours of face-to-face counselling; 10 hours of clinical supervision and 150 hours of agency-based activities. The course provides a pathway to the UNE Doctor of Philosophy for those students who meet the other entry requirements to that program.

The Master of Counselling is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), a national peak association, and Australia's largest single registration body for counsellors and psychotherapists. Student membership with the ACA is available while undertaking the course, with professional membership eligibility after graduation. Graduates who engage in ongoing professional development are also eligible to be listed on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP), an independent national register of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate specialised, integrative theoretical knowledge and skill-based practice in the discipline of counselling;
2. utilise contemporary research and evidence-based guidelines, together with a professional and integrated understanding of diverse client populations and the main theoretical approaches used, in order to best meet their needs;
3. utilise codes of practice for counsellors and apply principles of ethico-legal practice to plan, implement, analyse and document ways of working with clients in complex situations, demonstrating respect for diversity;
4. conduct a range of counselling sessions in a professional manner, demonstrating mastery of specialised knowledge, well-developed judgement and reflective practice skills, in order to best meet the needs of clients, groups and communities;
5. engage reflexively in robust analysis of their case conceptualisation, counselling and supervision skills and develop a plan for ongoing supervision and professional development; and
6. demonstrate the capacity to work collaboratively in inter-professional practice, to develop academic and research skills, and to communicate knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.