Graduate Diploma in Counselling
PostgraduateTAS-COU-GDI2025
Help people navigate life's challenges
Study the fundamentals of counselling before diving into specialty topics such as relationship, substance use and rehabilitation therapies. Hone your practical skills so that you can work in a variety of social work and community care professions.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Graduate Diploma in Counselling
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Apply advanced counselling specific knowledge and skills to human behaviour with consideration for the lifespan, cultural and developmental issues of the individual and/or audience to address different client presentations.
- Use critically reflective practice skills to maintain facilitative counselling relationships in complex professional practice contexts including loss, grief, trauma, addiction, relationships, and working with young people.
- Integrate theory and evidence to design and evaluate individualised counselling treatment approaches.
- Apply advanced knowledge of relevant codes of conduct, self-reflection, critical thinking skills and professional standards of workplace practice in consultation with professional bodies and supervisors to constructively critique one's own counselling performance.
In this program you will develop knowledge and skills in counselling, together with an understanding of the ethical, legal and professional issues in relation to the practice of counselling required for employment in a range of counselling roles.
You will also develop an understanding of the social, cultural and developmental context in which counselling occurs and of a range of therapeutic approaches and appropriate to a range of client ages, needs and circumstances. This program also aims to provide professional development opportunities for people working in counselling roles, including addiction services, family and relationships and trauma.
Recommended study pattern
For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended:
Completion of 8 core subjects from the schedule below:
- TAS-KHA501 Counselling Skills 1
- TAS-KHA502 Counselling Skills 2
- TAS-KHA505 Professional Ethics and Practice
- TAS-KHA507 Adjustment To Change
- TAS-KHA601 Addictive Behaviours
- TAS-KHA602 Rehabilitation Counselling
- TAS-KHA618 Working with Children and Young People
- TAS-KHA619 Relationship Counselling
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 8 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 1-3 years from commencement.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $9,320
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.
Wherever you are, the University of Tasmania brings its island campus to you through a growing range of online programs across art and design, business, education, health, science, sustainability, technology, and more. It’s never too late to switch things up. Kickstart that career you’ve been dreaming about, or upskill for the one you’re in. You’ll also become a part of the world's leading university on climate action.
Learn more about UTAS.
Explore UTAS courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 20
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 19
Entry requirements
Applicants must have:
- a degree with a major in psychology, behavioural or psychological science, OR
- a degree in an affiliated area of human services, such as education, social work, law or nursing OR
- other equivalent qualifications or combination of qualifications which required at least three years of full-time tertiary study, or is deemed equivalent by the College of Health and Medicine
The University of Tasmania grants credit and recognition of prior learning that may include formal and/or informal prior learning. More information is available here.
Career opportunities
Counselling graduates work in a wide range of settings including relationship counselling organisations, secondary and post-secondary education, community welfare centres, drug and alcohol agencies, church agencies, and private practice. Other graduates utilise their counselling skills in their existing employment. You might also find employment in Crisis & Trauma counselling, EAP services, Career counselling / Employment Services, Disability, Aged Care, Justice / Community Corrections, Child & Adolescent services.
Professional recognition
The Graduate Diploma in Counselling is a professionally accredited degree. This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
Graduates may meet the requirements for registration with the ACA as a professional member. There may be additional requirements for registration beyond the completion of the course. For further registration requirements, please visit the Australian Counselling Association website .
If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us (https://www.utas.edu.au/enquire) for further information.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Careers Counsellors | $75K to $93K | N/A^ |
| Counsellors | $75K to $93K | Up 12.6% |
| Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
| Social Workers | $75K to $93K | Up 29.8% |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
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You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
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