Admission and Unit Information - Graduate Diploma in Counselling
Accreditation
The Counselling and Psychotherapy Federation of Australia provides guidelines for clinical training standards, which were revised and strengthened in 2012, and the Graduate Diploma in Counselling at UWS is consistent with these new guidelines. Our program will be submitted to the PACFA Training Committee for accreditation in late 2013.
Admission
Applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline
and
Participate in a group interview on campus to demonstrate their suitability for the program.
Invitations to the interview process will be selective, based on CV and letter, and interviewees will be ranked, as numbers admitted to the program are limited.
Information for applicants about the Interview
Prior to the Interview, applicants will be required to submit a detailed CV to ssap@uws.edu.au and an accompanying letter of application addressing the following:
* Reason for wishing to pursue a counselling qualification
* Relevant life experience
* Relevant work or volunteer experience
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Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to UWS should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and UWS.
Course Structure
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.
Recommended sequence
Part-time
Year 1
First session
Counselling 1 is a foundational unit for postgraduate counselling and therapeutic studies. It forms the first part of a 40 credit point sequence undertaken during the first year. Counselling 1 presents the foundational skills necessary for the successful inception of a productive counselling relationship. The sequenced, progressive presentation of these skills via experiential learning is framed by the simultaneous presentation of key theoretical concepts relevant to the skills in question. Students will be required to analyse the features of their own personalities, and to reflect on feedback that they receive from others in the role of counsellor, in order to develop the self-awareness and sensitivity necessary for this professional role.
Second session
Counselling 2 is a foundational unit for postgraduate counselling and therapeutic studies. It forms the second part of a 40 credit point sequence undertaken during the first year. Counselling 2 offers further practice in foundational counselling skills introduced in Counselling 1. In addition, students are introduced to skills appropriate to the unfolding counselling relationship, those that involve an authentic ‘encounter’ between counsellor and client. Continued skills practice in triads is required, plus completion of eight sessions of counselling with a volunteer client who has already studied in this, or a similar, program.. Assessment tasks will require in-depth analysis of the student’s skills and countertransference in an unfolding counselling relationship. Theoretical perspectives will include concepts of problem-formation and change facilitation across the major paradigms; and stages and change-points in the adult life cycle, with appropriateness of varying therapeutic models to each stage.
Year 2
First session
Clinical Studies (Counselling)
This unit aims to develop clinical practice skills: It will involve preparation for the field placements and group supervision of casework and issues arising from the placements. The unit involves a clinical placement working under the guidance of a clinical supervisor from the professional background of the students under supervision. Students will undertake 150 placement hours.
Second session
Further Clinical Studies (Counselling)
This unit aims to further develop clinical practice skills to the level required for intern membership of a relevant professional body, for example, the Counsellors’ and Psychotherapists’ Association of NSW, Inc’. The unit involves 150 hours [working under the guidance of a clinical supervisor. in an approved agency placement, including 35-50 hours of direct client contact’. It will involve group supervision of casework and in-depth discussion of issues arising from placements.
