Master of Counselling (Child, Youth and Family Therapy)

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

1. Apply a core body of knowledge, including contemporary theories and models central to counselling assessment, client-centred therapy, and clinical supervision that is both trauma informed and culturally sensitive.
2. Effectively utilise a range of advanced interpersonal, written, oral and digital literacy skills that are appropriate from a decolonising perspective when communicating with culturally diverse audiences including clients and professionals, utilising person-first language.
3. Apply critical reasoning, reflective practice, and professional and ethical judgement 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 counselling within diverse cultural and practice contexts and client groups.
5. Critically evaluate relevant research literature, methodologies and findings to inform practice development and to conduct research.

Recommended study pattern

Year 1

COU5101 Counselling Skills and Applications

COU5041 Trauma Informed Care and Practice

COU6021 Couple and Family Counselling

COU5104 Counselling Frameworks

COU6103 Presenting Issues and Mental Health

COU6022 Child and Youth Counselling

COU5105 Counselling and Diversity Across the Lifespan

COU6102 Professional Counselling Practice, Identity and Ethics

Year 2

HSC6050 Research Methodology for Human Sciences

COU6106 Group Counselling and Other Settings

COU6050 Masters Counselling Practicum

COU6040 Counselling Capstone Project (2-unit)

2 x Approved Courses

Award requirements

Exit points

Graduate Diploma of Counselling, 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 $51,520

The amounts shown here are 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

There are two different admission requirement processes depending on whether you are applying for the qualifying Master of Counselling, or the Master of Counselling (Advanced Entry).

Pathway 1: Qualifying Master of Counselling -

• Completion of an Australian university 3-year bachelor degree, or equivalent, in any area.
• Completion of at least 50% of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling at UniSQ, or equivalent qualification from another institution, and have a grade point average (GPA) of 4 or higher for the Capstone Project research option, and a GPA of 5 or higher for the Research Project option.
• Participate in group reflection with members of School staff and other applicants.
• Provide a report addressing the following selection criteria (informed by the PACFA Training Standards and UniSQ’s inherent requirements). Write a statement of no more than 2 pages that addresses:

(1) Studying for (or holding) a Graduate Diploma of Counselling (UniSQ) with evidence of GPA.

(2) Applicants not currently enrolled in a UniSQ Graduate Diploma of Counselling must supply names and contact details of two referees (preferably including a professional report from an academic, a counsellor, a psychologist, a social worker, or similar professional).

(3) Effective relationship skills, attitudes, and behaviours.

(4) Demonstrated life maturity.

(5) Openness to receiving, considering, and integrating feedback.

(6) Commitment to ethical, professional and trustworthy behaviour.

(7) Commitment to engage fully in the process of counselling training.

(8) Willingness to attend a group reflection with members of school staff and other applicants.

Proof of meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements is also required.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements. For entry to the Master of Counselling (Child, Youth and Family Therapy) program, applicants are required to meet the Category 3 English Language Proficiency requirements.

Residential School requirements to complete practical components of some courses.