Is a counselling degree worth it in Australia?
By Sarah VercoePublished on
A counselling degree can be personally rewarding, but it also requires time, money and emotional commitment. This guide looks at what you'll gain from studying.
The benefits of studying counselling
It prepares you to become a qualified counsellor
An accredited counselling degree gives you the practical training, supervised placement hours and theoretical grounding needed to practise safely and effectively.
It's also the pathway to registration with a professional body like Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia or the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), something Associate Professor Carol du Plessis from the University of Southern Queensland says can make a real difference to your career.
“Registration opens up many opportunities that are not available to unregistered individuals.”
You'll build skills that transfer beyond counselling
A counselling degree develops much more than therapeutic skills. You'll strengthen your communication, critical thinking, decision making and reflective practice, all of which are valuable beyond counselling.
Graduates develop "communication, interpersonal and reflective skills that they can use across a wide range of diverse settings,” says Carol.
There are plenty of career opportunities
Qualified counsellors work across community organisations, schools, hospitals, private practice, employee assistance programs, and government services. And they’re in demand.
“There is a shortage of workforce across the mental health sector at the moment,” says Carol.
The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022 - 2032 reveals Australia is experiencing a shortage of qualified mental health workers across most roles, with demand set to grow over the coming decade.
You can shape the career you want
Counselling offers flexibility, something that can be hard to find in any career. Some counsellors enjoy the structure of employed roles, while others eventually move into private practice, combine different roles, or develop additional income streams through supervision, teaching, or group programs.
Jane Kennedy, a Sydney-based counsellor specialising in religious trauma and rebuilding of identity says becoming a counsellor has allowed her to "craft my day and my week according to my energy flow and set myself up to be able to be present for my clients without exhaustion." Read more about a typical day in the life of a counsellor.
The challenges of studying counselling
It takes time
Becoming a counsellor isn't a quick process. If you’re starting with a bachelor degree, you’re committing to three years minimum of study.
A Graduate Diploma in Counselling is a one year commitment, two if you study part-time, while a Master of Counselling is two years of study, or three to four years if you take it on part-time.
On top of coursework, around 200 supervised client contact hours as a placement is needed before you can work towards professional registration.
If you're looking for a fast career change, it's important to understand the commitment involved.
You'll be challenged personally as well as academically
Counselling students don't just learn theory. They spend time reflecting on their own experiences, values and assumptions, because self-awareness is a key part of becoming an effective practitioner.
That can be confronting at times, but it's also one of the most valuable parts of the degree.
Your salary grows with experience
Like many professions, you won’t be graduating into a high paying role. Graduate salaries are generally lower than those of experienced practitioners, with income increasing as you build experience, registration and, for some, a specialisation.
See exact salaries in our guide to what counsellors earn in Australia.
Building a private practice takes patience
If you decide to move into private practice it offers flexibility and strong earning potential, but it doesn't happen overnight. Building a client base takes time, along with business skills and consistent marketing.
Jane says she spent about a year establishing her practice while working part-time in crisis support. "Like any small business there are sharp learning curves," she says.
What opportunities can studying counselling create?
Not everyone who studies counselling goes on to work as a counsellor. The skills apply just as well in human resources, community services, education and other people-focused roles.
But for those who do go on to work in counselling, there's plenty of range too. Graduates work across mental health, community services, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation, employee assistance programs (EAPs), youth and family services, government organisations and research.
Some go on to specialise in areas such as trauma, addiction, grief or relationship counselling, while others move into leadership, policy or program management within the health and community sectors.
As your career develops, you might choose to build a private practice, become a clinical supervisor, teach future counsellors, or combine several roles to create a career that suits your interests and lifestyle.
Learn more about the different counselling jobs and career pathways. Or read our guide to counselling specialisations to understand the areas you could focus on and where each path may lead.
What should you consider before studying a counselling degree?
Before you enrol, it's worth taking some time to think about whether a counselling degree is the right fit for your goals.
“It is a significant time and financial investment,” says Carol.
For individuals who are genuinely passionate about working with people, who want to work in a people-centred environment, and who enjoy knowing that their work makes a difference in people's lives, investing in a counselling degree is a good choice.
With that in mind, when weighing up whether or not it’s worth it for you, take some time to ask yourself questions like:
What’s your long-term goal?
If you want to become a qualified counsellor, a degree is the pathway into the profession. If you're simply interested in developing counselling skills, a short course may be enough.
Can you commit the time?
Counselling degrees involve years of study, practical placement and ongoing professional development. Before you commit, think about how study might fit around your work, family and other commitments.
Are you comfortable with self-reflection?
Counselling others also means spending time examining your own experiences, beliefs and responses.
“You have to really care about people and be willing to do the work on yourself to be able to maintain curiosity and hold what they're going through,” explains Jane.
Which study path is right for you?
Whether you need a bachelor degree, graduate diploma, a masters, or a short course will depend on your previous study, career experience, and future goals.
Do you need flexibility?
If you're studying around work or family, check what flexibility the course offers before enrolling. Can you study part-time or online and choose your subject load? Are there any compulsory live classes, placements or in-person requirements?
Where do you see yourself after you graduate?
Think about the kind of people you want to help and the setting you see yourself helping them in. What interests you most?
How can you get started in counselling?
If you’re ready to explore counselling, here’s a practical way to begin:
- Browse the different counselling qualifications and where each can lead.
- Compare course content, entry requirements, fees, study load and start dates.
- Check whether the course meets the requirements of a professional body such as ACA or PACFA.
- Explore alternative pathways if you don’t meet the standard entry requirements.
- Use Help Me Choose if you’re unsure which qualification fits your goals.
- Get in touch with a student advisor if you’d like help comparing your options.
- Enrol through us when you’ve found the right course.
Explore your study options through us
Explore online counselling qualifications from Australian universities and see how they differ in structure, entry requirements and study options.
You’ll study with and graduate from your chosen university, while we help you understand your options and find a pathway that suits your goals.
About the author
Sarah Vercoe
Contributor
Sarah Vercoe is a Queensland-based writer bringing lifestyle, education, and human-interest stories to life for national publications and non-profits. When she’s not writing, she’s lost in a book with her cat by her side.
FAQs about counselling degrees
Is a counselling degree worth it if you're not sure you want to become a counsellor?
It can be, but it's worth making sure you're ready for the commitment. If you're still exploring the field, a short course can be a good way to test your interest before enrolling in a degree. Even if you decide not to become a counsellor, the communication and interpersonal skills you develop can be valuable in many other careers.
You might also like to read about counselling vs social work and counselling vs psychology to consider your other options.
Can I practise counselling with a diploma?
A diploma may qualify you for some entry-level counselling or community services roles. Depending on the course, it may also provide a pathway to registration with the Australian Counselling Association.
Counselling is not government regulated in Australia, so you can legally practise without professional registration. However, many employers prefer or require it, and not every diploma meets the standards of a professional association. PACFA, for example, generally requires a bachelor-level qualification or higher.
Before enrolling, check whether the course is recognised by the association you may want to join, as this can affect your future job options and professional credibility.
Can a counselling degree be useful outside counselling?
Yes. Counselling graduates also work in education, human resources, community development, research, leadership and policy roles. Carol says that even if becoming a counsellor isn’t your final goal, the communication, interpersonal, and reflective skills developed through a counselling degree are useful across a wide range of work and life settings.
Is a counselling degree worth it later in life?
Absolutely. It’s common for people to start their counselling career at all stages of life, often bringing valuable experience from previous careers when they start later.
Jane says she retrained after working in church ministry and international humanitarian work and believes “later-in-life counsellors bring life and career experience and a different sort of confidence”.
Read our guide on how to switch to counselling mid-career for inspiration.
Can a counselling degree complement experience in another profession?
Yes. Teachers, nurses, social workers, managers and HR professionals in particular find studying counselling as a way to build on the skills they already have. Associate Professor Carol du Plessis says many mature-age students "put their counselling skills to work in their existing settings", which allows them to deepen their practice without necessarily changing careers completely.
