Diploma of Counselling
CHC - Community Services
Entry pathway into counselling practice and membership of the Australian Counselling Association at Level 1 or 2.
Entry requirements
- Year 12 or mature-age entry
What you will learn
The CHC51015 covers foundational counselling theory, skills and practice for entry counsellor roles. Core units include establishing and confirming the counselling relationship, applying specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills, supporting counselling clients in decision making processes, facilitating the counselling relationship and process, applying counselling therapies to address a range of client issues, facilitating the interests and rights of clients, and supporting clients with mental health issues. You study Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) basics, Person-Centred Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, narrative therapy and grief and loss frameworks.
Skills you build
- Active listening and reflective response
- Counselling micro-skills (open questions, reflection, summary)
- CBT, person-centred and solution-focused approaches
- Crisis assessment and risk screening
- Group facilitation and psychoeducation
- Documentation under privacy and confidentiality
- Self-care and counsellor supervision practice
How the course runs
Most students study full-time over 12 months or part-time over 18 to 24 months. Around 1,000 hours of formal training plus mandatory work placement of around 200 hours. Practical roleplay and supervision are central to the course. Theory and practice split roughly 50/50. Counselling skills require lots of practice in pairs and small groups. Many students complete the course online with on-campus skills blocks.
How you will be assessed
- Counselling roleplay assessments with mock clients
- Process recording analysis of counselling sessions
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- Reflective journals on practice development
- Workplace observation during placement
Workplace and placement
Around 200 hours of supervised work placement is required at an approved counselling, mental health or community services agency. Placements arranged through RTO industry partnerships. Many graduates use the Diploma to join the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) at the relevant practitioner level. Wages follow the SCHADS Award or private practice rates.
Typical employers
- Community mental health services and outreach teams
- Family support and family violence services
- AOD residential and counselling services
- Schools and school chaplaincy services
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
- Private practice (after meeting ACA or PACFA accreditation)
Pay after this qualification
$60,000 - $85,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/counsellors. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You can sit with discomfort and silence in sessions
- You can manage your own mental health and self-care
- You can give and receive critical feedback
- You can keep professional boundaries with vulnerable clients
- You can document sessions clearly under privacy obligations
It is probably not for you if
- You give advice rather than listen
- You absorb client distress without supervision
- You react emotionally to traumatic disclosures
- You expect quick fix outcomes from clients
After you finish
After the Diploma you can progress to the Graduate Diploma of Counselling at AIPC, ACAP, Tabor or similar. Bachelor of Counselling, Bachelor of Behavioural Science, Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Psychology at La Trobe, Charles Sturt, ACAP and others offer pathways with credit. Full registration with ACA at Level 4 or PACFA Clinical Member requires ongoing supervised practice hours and continuing professional development. Medicare rebatable practice generally requires a Bachelor plus professional registration with AHPRA-recognised pathways.