Victoria University
Graduate Certificate in Counselling Theory and Practice
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
Develop foundational counselling skills while keeping your day job.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling Theory and Practice will help you gain a solid grounding in the theories, practices and principles of counselling and understand how social systems impact well-being.
Delivered over six months full-time, or one year part-time, this online postgraduate counselling certificate lets you build counselling skills while you work.
You will build your confidence through role plays and class activities by practising counselling techniques. You will explore rapport-building with clients, including children and adolescents, learning to establish a positive environment where counselling can succeed. You will also develop skills for assessing client needs and formulating individual plans. These skills will allow you to progress in any organisation where effective listening and communication are valued.
Key facts
What you will study
To attain the Graduate Certificate in Counselling Theory and Practice, students will be required to complete 48 credit points of core studies. Each unit is worth 12 credit points.
Core units
- Foundations of Counselling
- Counselling Theories and Interventions
- Counselling across the Lifespan
- Foundations of Child and Adolescent 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
Completion of an Australian Bachelor's degree (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
Learning 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, including interprofessional relations.
- 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.
Career outcomes
Examples of roles where this qualification and accompanying skills would be valued include:
- Human resource roles
- Wellbeing officers
- Primary and secondary teaching
- Government agencies
- Community centres
- A diverse range of well-being service organisations
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative fee per unit in 2026: $3,625 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Indicative full fee in 2026: $14,500 per semester (domestic full-fee paying place)
Full-fee courses are not government subsidised. You will pay the total cost of each unit.
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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
