Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Foundations of Practice)

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

1. Apply a core body of knowledge, including contemporary theories and models central to counseling assessment and client-centered therapy that is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive.
2. Effectively utilize a range of advanced interpersonal, written, oral, and digital literacy skills that are appropriate from a decolonizing perspective when communicating with culturally diverse audiences, including clients and professionals, utilizing person-first language.
3. Apply critical reasoning, reflective practice, and professional and ethical judgment with initiative to identify and resolve a range of therapeutic, professional, legal, and ethical practice issues.
4. Consolidate theory and practice within a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive integrative framework to effectively provide counseling within diverse cultural and practice contexts and client groups.
5. Utilize relevant research literature, methodologies, and findings to inform practice development and decision-making processes.

Recommended study pattern

Year 1

COU5101 Counselling Skills and Applications

COU6103 Presenting Issues and Mental Health

COU5104 Counselling Frameworks

COU5105 Counselling and Diversity Across the Lifespan

COU6102 Professional Counselling Practice, Identity and Ethics

3 x Approved Courses

Award requirements

Choose your subjects

Majors

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

Electives

Approved Course List

COU8011 Assessment for Substance Misuse

COU8012 Motivational Interviewing

COU8013 Introduction to Psychoactive Drugs

COU8014 Relapse Prevention

COU8021 Couple and Family Counselling

COU8022 Child and Youth Counselling

COU8031 Contexts of Mental Health Counselling

COU8032 Mental Health Practice 1

COU8033 Mental Health Practice 2

EDU5325 Child Abuse and Neglect: Intervention, Protection and Prevention

EDU5335 Emotional and Behavioural Problems of Children and Adolescents.

Exit points

Graduate Certificate of Counselling.

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

Indicative total fee $26,640

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.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

25

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements. For entry to the Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Foundations of Practice) program, applicants are required to meet the Category 3 English Language Proficiency requirements.

Residential School requirements to complete practical components of some courses.