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.

Here’s what you need to know about becoming a counsellor, from what skills you need, what to study, and what you can expect from the industry.

1. Considering whether the job is for you

2. Getting relevant qualifications

3. Getting professional accreditation

4. Starting the job

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.

Counselling involves:

Services offered by counsellors tend to be time-limited to a specific number of weeks or sessions. Counsellors encourage clients to draw and build on their own insights and skills to address problems in their lives such as grief, making difficult transitions (such as a divorce or the birth of a new baby), relationship or career issues, poor self-esteem, and more.

Counsellors can have a range of different specialisations such as:

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.

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

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, getting a formal qualification is an important step towards becoming a professional counsellor, and showing 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.

At a minimum, a one-year Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) at a TAFE or other vocational provider 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 employment opportunities from a diverse array of organisations that employ counsellors, such as:

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.

Counselling is an important profession in supporting Australia’s wellbeing. It also provides well-paying, flexible job opportunities, with plenty of existing and expected future demand for counsellors through a diverse range of settings. It’s a great career option for those who love the idea of empowering people to make positive changes in their own lives.