Victoria University
Graduate Diploma in Counselling Theory and Practice
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Enhance your counselling knowledge and skills from the comfort of your place.
Course overview
This online postgraduate counselling diploma is designed for working professionals. With VU's flexible course delivery, you can study full-time for one year or part-time over two years. During this time, you will expand your understanding of counselling theory and intervention practices and apply this knowledge to various scenarios. You will also enhance your ethical and professional practice with extensive learning about the impact of social systems on client wellbeing. Drawing on this expertise, you will develop specific skills in treating children and adolescents, people from diverse backgrounds and those who have experienced trauma.
Through role plays and class activities, you will practise counselling skills and become adept at building rapport with clients to begin the therapeutic process. This practical learning can be applied in various settings, including the workplace, community and private practice. You will also develop skills for assessing client needs and formulating individual plans.
This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
From $2,124 (CSP)
27th July, 2026
What you will study
To attain the Graduate Diploma in Counselling Theory and Practice, students will be required to complete 96 credit points of core studies.
Core units
- Foundations of Counselling
- Counselling Theories and Interventions
- Counselling across the Lifespan
- Foundations of Child and Adolescent Counselling
- Trauma-informed Counselling
- Supervision and Reflection Practice for Counsellors
- Ethics and Professional Practice for Counsellors
- Working with Diversity in Counselling
Entry requirements
To be considered for postgraduate study, you will need to have specific academic qualifications, as outlined below. Victoria University also considers non-academic research and work experience for research candidates.
Admission criteria
Applicants must have one of the following:
- Completion of an Australian Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline.
- Completion of an Australian Graduate Diploma (or equivalent) in any discipline.
Special entry programs
If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of the university's special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have completed a study with another university or institution, you may be eligible to receive credit for skills and past study.
Units can be credited if they are part of the course structure for the course you are applying for. Please note that credits relating to prior VU subjects are automatically granted and no further action is required.
For more information, contact the university or visit its website.
Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced understanding of human development and a diverse range of human experiences and how they may impact wellbeing.
- Critically review counselling theories and contemporary professional literature to formulate and implement evidence-based counselling practice.
- Exemplify understanding of cultural and systemic considerations relevant to counselling practice and when working in an interprofessional context.
- Appraise and demonstrate advanced knowledge of psychological theories and therapeutic approaches relevant to counselling assessments, case formulations and interventions.
- Formulate evidence-based intervention plans for a range of counselling presentations with due consideration of psychosocial and cultural issues.
- Critically reflect on core ethical and professional conduct issues likely to be encountered when working with people in a counselling context.
Fees and CSP
Indicative full fee in 2026: $16,992 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative full fee in 2026: $29,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)
These fees are guide only, based on a typical full-time study load and do not include materials, such as textbooks.
Each unit has an associated cost. Your final student contribution amount will be the total cost of the units you select, which may be higher or lower than the fee listed here, depending on your chosen units.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)
If you're enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the government pays a portion of your fees while you pay the remaining balance, which is your ‘student contribution’.
Your student contribution can be paid up front or paid later through tax, when your income passes the repayment threshold.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
