How to Become a Counsellor in Australia

Counselling is suited to people who want to support the mental health and wellbeing of others and want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Passionate and empathetic counsellors feel rewarded when they see clients tackle challenges in their lives. The profession is much-needed, and offers strong, well-paying, and flexible employment prospects.

If you’ve been asking yourself, “How do I become a counsellor?” This article has the answers. From what skills you need, what to study, and what you can expect from the industry.

1. Get qualified with a Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015)
2. Get professional accreditation by registering with ACA or PACFA
3. Select an organisation or sector to work in and apply for jobs

In Australia, counselling is not a regulated profession. This means that there are no particular qualifications or accreditations required to be a counsellor, although some states (including NSW, Vic, QLD and SA) do require that counsellors abide by a code of practice.

That said, studying counselling in Australia is an important step towards becoming a professional in the field. It shows prospective clients and employers that you understand what the job entails, and how to do it effectively and ethically. Courses will also give you practical experience while you’re still learning.

There are many counselling courses available.

A popular counselling certification is a one-year Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) which can be studied at a TAFE or other vocational provider. This counselling qualification is required for professional accreditation and to start your own accredited counselling practice. However, many advertised counselling jobs require a three-year undergraduate degree such as a Bachelor of Counselling, or similar studies in community services with a counselling major. Postgraduate qualifications such as a graduate diploma or a masters degree are available for those with existing qualifications.

Ongoing professional development is also recommended throughout your career.

As counselling is unregulated, you don’t technically need professional accreditation to practice. However, it’s a good idea to become a member of a professional group such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) which accredits counsellors and psychotherapists.

Accreditation is well-regarded in the field. It will improve your access to jobs, affordable professional insurance, and further education and training.

Once you’re trained and accredited, you can seek counselling careers in a diverse array of organisations and sectors, such as:

• schools and universities
• workplaces
• community health centres
• in-patient settings
• welfare agencies
• aged care settings
• palliative care settings
• settlement services for refugees
• crisis phone lines

Many counsellors also work in private practice, either on their own or as part of a practice team. Either way, counsellors working in private practice are self-employed and offer services to members of the general public.

Nobody can be a perfect counsellor without some experience and training, but it’s worth thinking about whether the job appeals to you, and builds on your natural talents and temperament.

The role of a counsellor

So, what does a counsellor do in their day to day job? It’s a role that typically varies and you’ll find no two days are the same. But there are some common counselling responsibilities you can expect to undertake:

• Talking to clients one-on-one about the issues they’re facing, employing empathy and sensitivity.
• Offering mediation or discussion opportunities for groups of clients, such as in family or couples therapy, or in facilitating support groups.
• Offering specific types of therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
• If you’re self-employed, duties related to running your own business such as marketing, invoicing, maintaining a counselling room, and responding to enquiries.
• Services offered by counsellors tend to be time-limited to a specific number of weeks or sessions. 

Counsellors can have a range of different specialisations such as:

• Mental illness counselling and case management
• Alcohol and/or substance abuse counselling
• Trauma counselling
• Family or relationship counselling, and conflict resolution
• Being a university or school counsellor
• Rehabilitation counselling – working with clients in healthcare settings after they’ve been impacted by an injury or health condition.

According to Job Outlook, full-time counsellors make on average $1,584 per week, which is a little over the average national wage. Average earnings grow over time as you gain more experience. There is very strong expected future jobs growth in the industry as more funding is invested into supporting the population’s mental health. Counselling is also a good profession for people looking to maintain work/life balance – 55% of counsellors work part-time.

Necessary skills

Counsellors require certain skills and traits to thrive in a challenging environment, such as: