University of Southern Queensland
Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Mental Health Practice)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Develop the necessary skills that underpin mental health counselling practices in Australia.
Course overview
Promoting mental well-being, preventing mental disorders and providing high-quality and culturally appropriate services are essential goals for addressing the burden of disease caused by mental illness.
In the Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Mental Health Practice), you’ll explore the significant mental health classification and diagnostic systems, case formulation, collaborative treatment planning, treatment and outcome evaluation and the general principles and practice of case management. While the study is mainly online, you must attend mandatory residential schools at UniSQ Ipswich campus associated with four designated courses to meet the required number of hours of face-to-face instruction and ensure you have the best possible skills preparation.
Further study and Professional accreditation
A UniSQ Graduate Diploma of Counselling enables you to apply for membership with the Australian Counselling Association. However, if you wish to gain professional accreditation and practice as a counsellor, USQ recommends you study for a Master of Counselling. You may be eligible to transfer to the Master of Counselling once you have completed 50 per cent of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling (which must include two Foundation of Practice courses).
Key facts
What you will study
To complete this degree, students must take eight units. Each course is worth one unit.
Core courses
- Counselling Skills and Applications
- Counselling Frameworks
- Counselling and Diversity Across the Lifespan
- Professional Counselling Practice, Identity and Ethics
- Presenting Issues and Mental Health
Specialisation courses
Choose three of the following courses:
- Working with Addiction
- Trauma Informed Care and Practice
- Child and Youth Counselling
- Couple and Family Counselling
- Trauma Theories and Introduction to Treatment Modalities
Entry requirements
A bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
English language requirements
You must meet the applicable English language requirements. This degree requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each subscore. UniSQ also accepts other English language proficiency tests.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have previously studied or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. This will help reduce the number of courses you need to take to finish your program. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Apply a core body of knowledge, including contemporary theories and models central to counselling assessment and client-centred therapy that is both trauma-informed and culturally sensitive.
- Effectively utilise a range of advanced interpersonal, written, oral and digital literacy skills that are appropriate from a decolonising perspective when communicating with culturally diverse audiences, including clients and professionals, utilising person-first language.
- Apply critical reasoning, reflective practice and professional and ethical judgement with initiative to identify and resolve a range of therapeutic, professional, legal and ethical practice issues.
- Consolidate theory and practice within a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, integrative framework to effectively provide counselling within diverse cultural and practice contexts and client groups.
- Utilise relevant research literature, methodologies and findings to inform practice development and decision-making processes.
Career outcomes
As a graduate, you will be equipped to specialise in mental health counselling, case management and wellbeing.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2025: $28,320 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The indicative annual fee is based on a study load of eight units.
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- The number of courses studied.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
