Courses

Counselling has developed substantially over the past decade. It is increasingly being recognised for its efficacy in practice, and its more practical education and therapeutic approach. This has positioned counselling as a more attractive career option to its more science and statistically based mental health peers.

Combined with our industry leading support services and teaching methods, you are fully supported in your study of advanced counselling topics to develop your skills as a counselling professional.

The Master of Counselling has been designed and developed by Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC), a specialist counselling education provider.  This course is an AIPC course.  Acknowledge Education (AE) delivers the course on behalf of AIPC.  The Master of Counselling teaches contemporary counselling topics and skills to an advanced level and is ideally suited to counsellors wanting to develop their counselling knowledge and skills to a higher level, or professionals aspiring to pursue a career in this high demand industry.

10 cores units + 4 electives units.  A trimester has a full time study load of 3 units.

For units requiring on-campus learning, you attend 3 hours of lectures and tutorials each week for each units.

To support your on-campus learning, you are provided specifically written and easy to understand study materials including study guide and readings, all purposefully designed to make your external studies as conducive to learning as possible.

You are provided clear assessment instructions and guidelines, which are also accessible through our LMS (MOODLE). After completing your assessment, you upload it through MOODLE for marking.

The Online Library is also accessible through MOODLE, and provides you with easy access to counselling texts and resources to enhance your learning.

Some units require application of practical skills through role play.  Role plays are conducted in tutorial sessions in a supportive and encouraging learning environment.

Core

MC01 Introduction to Counselling

MC02 Counselling Process

MC03 Counselling Skills

MC04 Ethics & Reflective Practice

MC05 Counselling & Human Development

MC06 Cognitive Behavioural Approaches

MC07 Collaborative & Competency-Based Approaches to Counselling

MC08 Assessment & Case Conceptualisation

MC09 Research Methods in Counselling

MC10 Counselling Placement & Capstone Project

Electives

MC11 Counselling Interventions for Crisis & Trauma

MC12 Family Therapy

MC13 Counselling Children & Adolescents

MC14 Counselling for Alcohol & Other Drugs

MC15 Counselling for Loss & Grief

MC16 Counselling for Couples

MC17 Counselling Skills for the Digital World

MC18 Mental Health Counselling

Please note that Acknowledge Education offers a wide range of units each trimester.  Not all units are available every semester.

After successful completion of all units, the Master of Counselling qualification is awarded by The Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors Pty Ltd (PRV12083).

Electives offered each semester are at Acknowledge Education’s discretion and are completed online.

The Master of Counselling includes a Work Placement and Capstone Project where you undertake clinical practice in a work setting and complete a real-world counselling project. A counselling placement is essential in assisting the transition from application in a simulated setting to real practice. During your work placement, you will also complete a practical capstone project in a counselling environment.The practicum involves the completion of 12 hours work each week for 12 weeks along with 24 hours to attend individual counselling supervision with the workplace supervisor and group supervision by teleconference with the Lecturer.

Acknowledge Education has a network of community organisations and counselling practices for you to approach or you are able to choose your own relevant agency. Acknowledge Education provides guidelines to students on how to approach agencies, assists with initial contact between you and the placement organisation, and follows up with you and the workplace supervisor regularly during the placement to ensure everything is progressing smoothly.

Australian Counselling Service (ACS) is the clinical counselling division of the Australian institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC).  As a highly-regarded provider of Counsellor education, AIPC established ACS to provide high-quality counselling services to clients from all backgrounds.ACS’s mission is to make quality mental healthcare services available to everyone.

You can apply for entry to the Master of Counselling course if you have successfully completed an undergraduate (Bachelor) degree in any field.

English Requirements

You must meet one of the following:

• IELTS: achievement of an Overall Band Score of 6.5 in the Academic IELTS with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-band (International English Language Testing System),
• TOEFL (iBT): Overall score 82 or better with a minimum of 20 in the writing band,
• PTE Academic: Overall score of 58 with a minimum score of 50 in each sub-skill,
• Cambridge English Scale score: 176. No less than 169 in any paper,
• At least one year of University studies in Australia in the last two years,
• Evidence of at least 5 years of studies in an English speaking country (Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada, USA, South Africa or Ireland), or
• Australian Year 12 Certificate or qualification at Certificate IV or higher level completed in the last two years.

Other requirements required prior to commencing fieldwork placements:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Record
• National Police Record Check and/or Police clearance from country of residence
• Working with Children Check

The Master of Counselling is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), Australia’s leading industry association for Counsellors.

Graduates of AIPC’s Master of Counselling can apply for membership with ACA.  ACA members also have the opportunity to be listed on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP).

Master of Counselling graduates are skilled to work in a diverse variety of mental health and community health settings, or set up your own counselling practice. You’ll be able to join as a member of the Australian Counselling Association, ensuring professional recognition of your qualification, as well as access to practice insurance.

• Careers Counsellor
• Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
• Family and Marriage Counsellor
• Rehabilitation Counsellor
• Student Counsellor
• Counsellors nec

There has never been a better time for you to invest in your counselling skills and knowledge. The need for Counsellors has never been greater.

In Australia, employment for counsellors has risen strongly in previous years and is expected to grow another 14.2% over the next five years to 2026 (www. labourmarketinsights.gov.au, 2022).
Working as a Counsellor, you will be doing what you were born to do, while contributing to the needs of your community. There is nothing more fulfilling than helping those around you.

Main industries for counselling in Australia
Sources: labour market insights – Counsellors ANZSCO ID 2721
https://labourmarketinsights.gov.au/occupation-profile/counsellors?occupationCode=2721

Employment Chart

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Median full-time earnings are $1,652 per week, this is higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,476
1 in 4 earn more than $2,238
Median hourly earnings are $45, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

View all dates here.

Tuition Fee: $3,090 per unit x 14 units

Administration Fee: $200

*All fees are payable to AIPC.