Why Study Counselling?
Studying counselling can help you gain a better understanding of yourself and others. It provides an opportunity to learn more about how people think, feel and behave in different contexts. By studying counselling, you will be able to develop the counselling skills necessary to help people cope with their difficulties in life, such as depression, anxiety or relationship issues. Furthermore, it will give you the tools needed to advise and support those going through difficult times. Studying counselling will also equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a professional counsellor or therapist.
As a Counsellor, you have the unique opportunity to impact people’s lives by guiding them through their issues and helping them with their relationships, career goals and general well-being. You also have the power to provide emotional support and mental health counselling for those in need.
How Do You Become a Counsellor?
In order to become a qualified counsellor, one must first complete an accredited course in counselling, such as a Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015), which usually requires 15 to 20 hours of study and classes per week for 12 months.
Once this qualification has been achieved, individuals must apply for registration with the relevant professional body in their state or territory, such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). This will involve completing an application form and providing evidence of qualifications and work experience. After successful registration, individuals will be able to practice as a counsellor in Australia.
Career Outlook
The job outlook for counsellors between now and 2024 is promising, with an estimated 38,900 job openings in Australia over the next 12 months. This surge in opportunities could be attributed to increasing demand and/or existing professionals leaving their roles.
Job opportunities for qualified counsellors have seen an increase lately, making it a medium-sized occupation. This steady growth trend is likely to stay in effect until 2024, so the prospects for employment look positive.
Salary for Counsellors
Counsellors in Australia can expect to make an average of $1,584 per week for a yearly salary of about $82,368.
Generally speaking, Counsellors spend an average of 41 hours per week working, with the majority holding full-time positions. However, there are many opportunities to work part-time in this profession.
Average Counsellor Age and Education Profile
In terms of the current workforce, it is estimated that 6.9% are above 65 years of age and 4.9% are aged 20-24, making the median age for a Counsellor in Australia 45 years.
Counselling is a rewarding career where age plays an important role. For example, 21.3% of counsellors are aged 25-34, and 23.4% are 45-54, meaning there’s a great combination of youth and experience to draw on. Plus, life experience in this line of work carries significant value, so if you are looking to launch a new career, counselling is the perfect fit for you, especially if you have experience in other areas of employment.
A Postgraduate degree, like Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates are the most frequent educational qualifications held by workers in this profession, whereas a bachelor degree is the next most common level of education.
What Qualifications Do You Require to Be a Counsellor?
To pursue a career as a Counsellor, you need to have either a Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in counselling. Both these qualifications provide foundational knowledge and understanding of the profession.
CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling
If you’re looking for an initial move towards becoming a Counsellor, this course provides the perfect foundation. With this course, you will be able to develop the ability to communicate efficiently, employ case management approaches, and render mental health, behavioural and emotional aids to people around you – be they clients or colleagues.
Entry requirements for the Diploma of Counselling include a Year 12 Certificate or a Certificate IV qualification (or above) that can be verifiable by a USI transcript or by the completion of the Core Skills Profile for adults. For details on entry requirements, please contact our friendly TrainSmart Course Advisors here.
CHC50413 Diploma of Youth Work
Whether it be bullying, alcohol and other drugs abuse or self-confidence issues, this Youth Worker course will provide the necessary knowledge and support to help young people in need. It offers all the tools needed to listen, understand and guide them towards better life choices. This course not only provides you with the skills to deal with families and young people but also helps you develop the necessary abilities to face critical situations such as homelessness or risks encountered by teens.
This course can give you insight into various career opportunities in the field of Community Development Youth Worker, Indigenous Youth Worker, and Youth Case Worker. It helps you gain the expertise and skills needed to excel in your chosen field while equipping yourself with the skills to provide a quality service to your community.
Once again, you can explore entry requirements for the Diploma of Youth Work and speak to our course advisors here.
Progression of Counselling Qualifications
Following on from the most basic counselling qualification, the Diploma of Counselling, there are a number of additional qualifications you can study to further your career progression in the counselling sector.
A Graduate Diploma in Counselling takes six months to complete, is offered online, and provides the opportunity to learn to translate and deliver counselling services across multiple types of delivery platforms.
The Master of Counselling aims to develop comprehensive knowledge based on Counselling Theory and Practice, focusing on developing cultural awareness and person-centred approaches and developing key practices that continue to expand the graduate’s personal development.
Counselling Career Pathways in Australia
Australia is a great place to pursue a career in counselling. With its diverse population and wide range of social issues, the country offers plenty of opportunities for counsellors to make a difference.
Counsellors can work in schools, hospitals, government departments, and private practices. They can work with individuals or groups of people who need help dealing with psychological issues or navigating life’s challenges.
The number of counselling jobs available for counselling staff is expanding, as schools, prisons, and other institutions in many industries and organisations offer more counselling job opportunities.
Government initiatives continue to improve opportunities for counsellors, while the state governments are adding counsellor positions to more and more schools across the nation.
With the right qualifications and experience, counsellors in Australia can look forward to rewarding and fulfilling careers that offer competitive salaries and job security.
How to become a Counsellor
Some counselling services are designed specifically to address specific personal problems such as work change, divorce, family violence or d. However, most counsellors choose to concentrate on one particular area such as family, trauma, child and elder counselling.
After your certification, you can choose which particular career path suits your personal interests, and you can create a career out of helping clients learn how to manage themselves to make life changes.
What Areas of Counselling Can You Specialise In?
Counselling is an important profession that helps people cope with difficult life experiences and make positive life changes. It is a form of therapy that allows individuals to explore their feelings, thoughts, behaviours and relationships to understand themselves and their life circumstances better. Counselling can also help people in professional development and strategies for dealing with stress, grief, anxiety or depression.
Counsellors can specialise in many areas, such as mental health counselling, substance abuse counselling, marriage and family counselling, career counselling or child and adolescent counselling. Specialising in any one of these areas requires additional training beyond the basic qualifications required for general practice counsellors. Each area has its unique set of challenges and opportunities for counsellors willing to invest time into developing their expertise.
What jobs can a Counsellor do?
Here are five counselling jobs that you might like to consider:
Relationship counsellors work with individuals or couples to address relationship issues such as difficulties with communication, trust, sex, addiction, money and work.
Financial counsellors provide support and advice to people struggling with debt and bills.
Drug and Rehabilitation Counsellors are often the first step for an individual to get help in dealing with drug or alcohol problems for themselves or their family members.
School Counsellors assist students of all ages, acting as advocates for the student’s well-being, listening to problems, mediating conflicts, and working with students and teachers to improve academic results.
Youth Counsellors help youths between 12 and 25 years old better understand and process their emotions, negotiate mental illnesses, teach healthy ways to cope with stress, and help their clients build strong self-esteem and solid relationships.
Those are only a small sector of the types of counselling services that are available today. There are many different areas of specialisation, just as there are many counsellors who do not limit their practice to a specific area and provide more general services to their clients.
Registration with the Australian Counselling Association
The Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) serves as an introduction to the field and an entry to counselling roles. To be a fully qualified Counsellor, it is necessary to have completed a Bachelor of Counselling or its equivalent.
The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) has emerged as one of the country’s most important organisations dealing with Counsellors and Psychotherapists. It has over 12,000 members and is a self-regulating body that advocates and develops the profession of Counselling and Psychotherapy. To join this organisation, you require a Certificate of Qualification (the Diploma of Counselling CHC51015) and a Full Academic Transcript.
Does a Diploma of Counselling Sound Good to You?
If a Diploma of Counselling is a good fit for you, but you still need more information, you can find more course information here, and please feel free to give one of our friendly course advisors a call to discuss your study options.
