Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Alcohol & Drug Studies)

Study UniSQ’s Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Alcohol and Drug Studies) and enhance your understanding and skills in assessment for substance misuse, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention and psychoactive drugs.

1. Demonstrate understanding of theories and models fundamental to fields associated with counselling
2. Demonstrate advanced interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
3. Demonstrate ability to apply critical reasoning, judgment and problem solving to a range of professional, legal, and ethical practice issues
4. Integrate theory and practice to develop counselling interventions and administer holistic assessment for clients impacted by alcohol and drugs.

Are you a health professional looking to acquire practical skills that will help you counsel people struggling with substance misuse? Specialise your counselling skills in alcohol and drug misuse with UniSQ’s Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Alcohol and Drug Studies). Your studies will enhance your understanding and skills in assessment for substance misuse, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention and psychoactive drugs. At UniSQ, our online counselling degree is designed to enhance your career within the health, psychology or human services profession. Offered part-time, this degree can alternatively be a professional development opportunity for psychologists, counsellors, and social workers.

Recommended study pattern

Year 1 - Semester 1

COU8011 Assessment for Substance Misuse

COU8013 Introduction to Psychoactive Drugs

COU8014 Relapse Prevention

COU8012 Motivational Interviewing

Award requirements

Completion of four (4) units as outlined in the Recommended Study Pattern section.

Choose your subjects

Majors

• Alcohol and Drug Studies
• Child, Youth and Family Therapy
• Foundations of Practice
• Mental Health Counselling

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $12,280

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

As Australia’s #1 university for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2022), University of Southern Queensland is the right place to make real progress. Regardless of your education history, your age or your aspirations, at UniSQ you’ll be inspired by quality learning experiences matched with top resources and research. Having delivered distance and online learning for over 40+ years, UniSQ supports you to learn at your own pace—exactly how it suits you.

Learn more about USQ.

Explore USQ courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

25

Completion of an Australian university three-year bachelor degree, or equivalent, in any area.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements. For entry to the Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Alcohol and Drug Studies) program, applicants are required to meet the Category 3 English Language Proficiency requirements.

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the USQ Credit and Exemption Procedure.