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Graduate Certificate of Counselling (GCCO) - GradCertCouns

 External**Online*
Semester intake:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Fees:Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Residential school:Ipswich campus — compulsory 
Standard duration:1 year part-time 
Program articulation:

To: Graduate Diploma of Counselling

Footnotes
**There is a compulsory 5 day residential school for each of the four Foundations of Practice courses.
*Students taking the specialisation in the online mode will not accrue any hours toward eligibility to join a PACFA affiliate upon graduation. The Foundations of Practice specialisation is not available online.

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

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Professional accreditation

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Clinical Supervision) is designed to meet the .

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Mental Health Counselling) is designed to meet the .

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Foundations of Practice) is designed to address most of the training standards in the . There is a week-long mandatory residential school for each of the four Foundations of Practice courses.

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Program aims

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling is available to graduates of human services, health, nursing, psychology and other allied health disciplines. The Graduate Certificate of Counselling is a program that allows students and professionals to develop knowledge and expertise in one of five counselling areas:

  • Alcohol and Drug Studies

  • Child, Youth and Family Therapy

  • Clinical Supervision

  • Mental Health Counselling

  • Foundations of Practice


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Program objectives

On completion of the award, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate understanding of theories and models fundamental to fields associated with counselling

  2. Demonstrate advanced interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills

  3. Demonstrate ability to apply critical reasoning, judgment and problem solving to a range of professional, legal, and ethical practice issues

  4. Demonstrate ability to contextualise knowledge within a counselling context.


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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 08. Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Completion of an Australian university three year Bachelor degree in any area or equivalent.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.


All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

Foundations of Practice specialisation

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Foundations of Practice) consists of four level 5 compulsory courses.

Compulsory Courses  Semester(s) Offered  Mode 
#  EXT 
#  EXT 
#  EXT 
#  EXT 

Footnotes
#This course has a mandatory 5 day residential school.

Alcohol and Drug Studies specialisation

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Alcohol and Drug Studies) consists of four level 5 compulsory courses.

Compulsory Courses  Semester(s) Offered  Mode 
  ONL 
  ONL 
  ONL 
Choose one of the courses below:     
OR  ONL 
  1,2  ONL 

Child, Youth and Family Therapy specialisation

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Child, Youth and Family Therapy) consists of three level 5 compulsory courses and one level 5 approved course.

Compulsory Courses  Semester(s) Offered  Mode 
  ONL 
  ONL 
  ONL 
Choose one of the courses below:     
OR  ONL 
  1,2  ONL 

Clinical Supervision specialisation

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Clinical Supervision) consists of three level 5 and one level 8 compulsory courses.

Compulsory Courses  Semester(s) Offered  Mode 
  1,2  ONL 
  ONL 
+  EXT 
Choose one of the courses below:     
OR  ONL 
  ONL 

Footnotes
+Students are required to undertake a practicum placement for this course

Mental Health Counselling specialisation

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling (Mental Health Counselling) consists of three level 5 compulsory courses and one level 5 approved course.

Compulsory Courses  Semester(s) Offered  Mode 
  ONL 
  ONL 
  ONL 
Choose one of the courses below:     
OR  ONL 
  1,2  ONL 

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Program completion requirements

Students must have successfully completed the core and approved courses (as applicable) to successfully complete the program.

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Required time limits

This program is offered on a part-time basis only. Minimum time to complete is one year. Students have a maximum of 2 years to complete this program.

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IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

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Residential schools

The attendance requirement of residential schools within this degree is indicated by the following letters: V = Voluntary; O = Optional; C = Compulsory; R = Recommended; HR = Highly Recommended; M = Mandatory. Find out more about , visit the to view specific dates for your degree, or visit the .

In the Foundations of Practice specialisation attendance at residential schools is mandatory. The residential schools are held at the Ipswich campus.

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Articulation

A student successfully completing all courses in the Graduate Certificate of Counselling will receive full credit towards the Graduate Diploma of Counselling in the same major area. Students intending to continue with the Graduate Diploma must apply for separate admission and may EITHER Graduate with a Graduate Certificate and receive full credit as exemptions into the Graduate Diploma, OR choose not to graduate with the Graduate Certificate, in order to transfer their grades, maintain their GPA and articulate into the Graduate Diploma and ultimately qualify from this higher award only. Students who wish to transfer their grades and maintain their GPA into the Graduate Diploma, must advise the Faculty in writing (usq.support@usq.edu.au) of their intention to articulate and this must occur prior to completion of the Graduate Certificate of Counselling. Entry into the Master of Counselling requires completion of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling with a GPA of at least 5.0, and an application which is supported by two referees as well as a structured interview.

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Related programs

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling is nested in the Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Master of Counselling.

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Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Foundations of Practice specialisation recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Residential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1 / Semester 1 entry

11MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
11MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
12MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
12MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH

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Alcohol and Drug Studies specialisation recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1 / Semester 1 entry

11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or GCCO or MCCO or MPPS
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or GCCO or MCCO or MPPS

Choose one of the following courses:

     11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or GCCO or MCCO or MPPS
     11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH

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Child, Youth and Family Therapy specialisation recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1 / Semester 1 entry

11
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH

Choose one of the following courses:

     12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
     11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH

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Clinical Supervision specialisation recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1 / Semester 1 entry

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
12
+12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH

Choose one of the following courses:

     11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GCHH
     11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN

Footnotes
+Students are required to undertake a practicum placement for this course.

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Mental Health Counselling specialisation recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1 / Semester 1 entry

11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH

Choose one of the following courses:

     12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
     11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH