Course overview
Studying to become a counsellor is an interesting and fulfilling way of giving back to a community or working environment. Counselling skills can also be useful for those who work in roles where they have lots of contact with diverse individuals and need the skills to deal with them in a caring and helpful way.
This course can be your first step towards a career in this sector or can formalise skills you are relying on for a current role. The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is a fully comprehensive course which is taught in a practical, entry-level method of delivery. A Structured Workplace Learning component is also included, giving you real experience to learn about the industry and to build up your contact base.
This course will teach you how to develop, facilitate and monitor all aspects of case management and build an effective working relationship with your client. You’ll also learn how to apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills.
Delivered by Open Colleges in partnership with industry leader Integrated Care & Management Training (ICMT), this course is perfect for caring individuals who want to make a meaningful difference in their clients’ lives.
Job outcomes
- Community Organisations
- Counsellor
- Government Support Services
- Telephone Counsellor
Recognition
Study method
- Online
- Blended
- In-class
Duration study load
Maximum 24 months
Entry requirements
Education
There are no formal education entry requirements for this course.
Minimum Age
You will need to be at least 18 years old
Course features
Complete your work placement in Fiji!
Open Colleges have partnered with Action for Children and the Aged (ACATA) Trust Fiji to offer students of the Diploma of Community Services the opportunity to complete their required work placement hours over the course 2 weeks in Fiji. You’ll have the chance to volunteer in communities promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity through basic counselling and providing outreach counselling on smaller Fijian islands if you choose to.
Hoping to go to Uni?
- Further your opportunities in higher education. This course has a formalised pathway into tertiary study with Charles Sturt University. After graduation from this course you may wish to undertake the:
- Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) and receive 18 months of credit transfer into a 3-year degree, or
- Bachelor of Social Work and receive 12 months of credit transfer into a 4-year degree
- There are also OC-awarded $2000 scholarships available for eligible students wishing to enrol in social science or social work degree with Charles Sturt University after completing this course
Case Management Society of Australia and New Zealand (CMSA)
Open Colleges is proud to announce its affiliation with the Case Management Society of Australia and New Zealand (CMSA).
CMSA is the national registration and regulatory body for Certified Case Managers, and is also the peak body for professionals employed in case management roles within Australia and New Zealand.
As a result of this affiliation, students now have unlimited access to CMSA’s Tertiary E-Resource Library, which includes:
- National Standards of Practice for Case Management, 3rd Edition 2013
- National Code of Ethics for Case Management, 2nd Edition 2013
- National Self-Assessment for Case Management Practice Handbook, 1st Edition 2015
- National Skill Set for Effective Case Management in Australia and New Zealand: Skills Workbook
This means that you will not only be able to gain a thorough insight into the core skill of case management in the health and community services industry but also have fantastic learning resources to turn to when doing course assessments!
Work placement
The course contains 160 hours of work placement
You will also need to secure your own Work Placement, however Open Colleges can provide advice and direction through our Work Placement Support Team.
There are a number of statutory checks required by workplaces, such as a Criminal Record Check. These may vary by state. In addition, individual workplaces may impose additional requirements on students undertaking work placement. You will be responsible for the costs of any such checks or requirements. Please see the Workplace Assessment Guide for details on the individual statutory requirements for your state or territory.
Your work placement will need to be completed in Australia, and you will be responsible for the costs of any travel, accommodation, statutory checks or other requirements related to your work placement.
Assessment
- Case studies
- Demonstrations
- Knowledge tests
- Portfolio of evidence
- Presentations
- Workplace assessments
- Written reports
Subjects
- Use a structured approach to counselling
- Establish the nature of the helping relationship
- Confirm the helping relationship
- Recognise reactions to loss and grief
- Engage empathically
- Offer support and information
- Care for self
- Review support provided
- Identify imminent crisis situations
- Address immediate safety concerns
- Provide referral for crisis intervention support
- Care for self
- Assist clients to clarify goals and requirements
- Explore options with clients
- Support client to reach decisions
- Establish respectful relationships with people with mental health issues
- Determine the needs of people with mental health issues
- Work with people with mental health issues to meet aspirations and needs
About Open Colleges
Open Colleges puts you at the centre of everything. As an institution, it measures its success in the success of its students. With more than 100 years of experience in distance learning, Open Colleges has the expertise in delivering education and training to individuals seeking to launch, change or accelerate their careers.
Open Colleges Australia focuses on meeting the specific needs of adult learners by delivering highly flexible, accessible and affordable learning opportunities. Its unique learning model provides you with ultimate control – to study anywhere, anytime and at your own pace. Its online campus – OpenSpace – provides you with access to learning resources, expert trainers and assessors, collaboration with other learners and a comprehensive range of support services. Open Colleges is the perfect solution for time-poor students with busy schedules, as it makes getting your qualification possible from wherever you are.
Open Colleges is a Registered Training Organization (RTO 90796)
