Graduate Diploma of Counselling (GDCN)

Health and Community
GradDipCouns

Graduate Diploma of Counselling (GDCN) - GradDipCouns

	External
Start:	Semester 1 (February) Semester 2 (July)
Fees:	Domestic full fee paying place International full fee paying place
Residential school:	Ipswich or Toowoomba campus — mandatory
Standard duration:	1 year full time; 2 years part-time
Program articulation:	From: Graduate Certificate of Counselling To: Master of Counselling

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

Professional accreditation

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling will be able to apply for membership of the . Membership with the ACA enables registration as a Counsellor with the (ARCAP).

Completion of at least 50% of this program (including two Foundation of Practice courses) is also a requirement for entry into the Master of Counselling.

Program aims

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling aims to provide an introduction to counselling practice and enables registration with the ACA. The Graduate Diploma of Counselling provides an introduction to practice, allows for registration as a counsellor, and prepares students for further study. Depending on specialisation, the Graduate Diploma of Counselling further aims to equip students with in-depth knowledge of one of four specialist areas.

Alcohol and Drug Studies
Child, Youth and Family Therapy
Mental Health Counselling
Foundations of Practice

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling is available to graduates of human services, health, nursing, psychology and other allied disciplines. The Graduate Diploma of Counselling contains mandatory Residential Schools and online tutorials as well as mandatory foundational courses in order to ensure that the training standards required for registration are met

Program objectives

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

Apply a core body of knowledge, including contemporary theories and models central to counselling assessment, and treatment.
Effectively utilise a range of advanced interpersonal, written, oral and digital literacy skills appropriate for communicating with diverse audiences including clients and professionals.
Apply critical reasoning, problem solving, and professional and ethical judgement with initiative to identify and resolve a range of therapeutic, professional, legal and ethical practice issues.
Consolidate theory and practice within an integrative framework to effectively provide counselling within diverse cultural and practice contexts and client groups.
Utilise relevant research literature, methodologies and findings to inform practice development and decision-making processes..

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 .

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 ��ýapp-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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 .

Program structure

Each Graduate Diploma of Counselling consists of 4 Core Courses (; ; ; ) and 3 or 4 courses related to a specialisation. Some specialisations also allow students to select a number of elective courses.

Program completion requirements

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

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 3 years to complete this program.

Specific specialisations

In this section:

Foundations of Practice specialisation
Alcohol and Drug Studies specialisation
Child, Youth and Family Therapy specialisation
Mental Health Counselling specialisation

Foundations of Practice specialisation

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Foundations of Practice) consists of five Level 8 core courses and three approved courses.

Core Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
^#	1	EXT
^#	1	EXT
^#	2	EXT
^#	2	EXT
^#^{^}	1	EXT
Approved Courses
Choose three of the following:
	1	ONL
	1	ONL
	2	ONL
	2	ONL
	1	ONL
	2	ONL
	1	ONL
	1	ONL
	2	ONL
	1,3	ONL
	1,3	ONL

Footnotes
#	This course has a mandatory 4–day residential school and 10 hours of mandatory online tutorials.
^	Please note that in 2021, COU8006 Group Counselling Process and Practice will run in S2 (not S1 as indicated in the enrolment pattern). For 2021, students can choose between taking COU8006 in S2 OR taking COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision, in S1. COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision is in teach-out mode, and will be offered for the last time in 2021.

Alcohol and Drug Studies specialisation

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Alcohol and Drug Studies) consists of eight Level 8 core courses.

Compulsory Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
^#	1	EXT
^#	1	EXT
^#	2	EXT
^#	2	EXT
	1	ONL
	2	ONL
	2	ONL
	1	ONL

Footnotes
#	This course has a mandatory 4–day residential school and 10 hours of mandatory online tutorials.

Child, Youth and Family Therapy specialisation

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Child, Youth and Family Therapy) consists of seven level 8 core courses and one approved course.

Compulsory Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
^#	1	EXT
^#	1	EXT
^#	2	EXT
^#	2	EXT
	1, 3	ONL
	1	ONL
	2	ONL
Choose one of the following courses below: ^#^{^}	2 1 1,3 2	ONL EXT ONL ONL

Footnotes
#	This course has a mandatory 4–day residential school and 10 hours of mandatory online tutorials.
^	Please note that in 2021, COU8006 Group Counselling Process and Practice will run in S2 (not S1 as indicated in the enrolment pattern). For 2021, students can choose between taking COU8006 in S2 OR taking COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision, in S1. COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision is in teach-out mode, and will be offered for the last time in 2021.

Mental Health Counselling specialisation

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Mental Health Counselling) consists of seven Level 8 core courses and one approved course.

Compulsory Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
^#	1	EXT
^#	1	EXT
^#	2	EXT
^#	2	EXT
	1	ONL
	1	ONL
	2	ONL
Choose one of the following courses below: ^#^{^}	2 1 2 2	ONL EXT ONL ONL

Footnotes
#	This course has a mandatory 4–day residential school and 10 hours of mandatory online tutorials.
^	Please note that in 2021, COU8006 Group Counselling Process and Practice will run in S2 (not S1 as indicated in the enrolment pattern). For 2021, students can choose between taking COU8006 in S2 OR taking COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision, in S1. COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision is in teach-out mode, and will be offered for the last time in 2021.

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.

Residential schools

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

There are mandatory residential schools held at Ipswich or Toowoomba campus, and mandatory synchronous online tutorials for:

Articulation

A student who has successfully completed 50% of the courses in the GDCN Graduate Diploma of Counselling may apply to articulate into the MCCO . Entry into the MCCO is not automatic and students will need to meet additional requirements including having a GPA of at least 5.0, and an application that is supported by two referees as well as a structured interview (refer MCCO handbook entry).

A student articulating into a higher degree will only receive the award of the higher degree that they complete. Such students will be given full credit for all courses completed whilst studying the Graduate Diploma. Students must advise the Faculty in writing of their intention to articulate and this must occur prior to completion of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling.

Related programs

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

Exit points

Students may exit after four courses with a Graduate Certificate of Counselling provided they have met the requirements within the program structure of the Graduate Certificate of Counselling.

Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

Foundations of Practice specialisation recommended enrolment pattern
Alcohol and Drug Studies specialisation recommended enrolment pattern
Child, Youth and Family Therapy specialisation recommended enrolment pattern
Mental Health Counselling specialisation recommended enrolment pattern

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.

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		External (EXT)		Online (ONL)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Year 1 / Semester 1 entry - Full Time Pattern
^#			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^#			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
^#^{^}			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
Semester 2
^#			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^#			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
Choose three courses from the list of approved courses
Approved Courses
						1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
						1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
						1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
						1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
						1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
						1,3		Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
						1,3		Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.

Footnotes
#	Mandatory residential schools
^	Please note that in 2021, COU8006 Group Counselling Process and Practice will run in S2 (not S1 as indicated in the enrolment pattern). For 2021, students can choose between taking COU8006 in S2 OR taking COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision, in S1. COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision is in teach-out mode, and will be offered for the last time in 2021.

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.

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		External (EXT)		Online (ONL)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Year 1 / Semester 1 entry - Full Time Pattern
^*			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^*			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
^*			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^*			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO

Footnotes
*	Mandatory Residential School

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.

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		External (EXT)		Online (ONL)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Year 1 / Semester 1 entry - Full Time Pattern
^*			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^*			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
					1	1, 3		Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
^*			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^*			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
					1	2		Pre-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:
^*^{^}				1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
						1,3		Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO

Footnotes
*	Mandatory Residential School
^	Please note that in 2021, COU8006 Group Counselling Process and Practice will run in S2 (not S1 as indicated in the enrolment pattern). For 2021, students can choose between taking COU8006 in S2 OR taking COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision, in S1. COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision is in teach-out mode, and will be offered for the last time in 2021.

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.

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		External (EXT)		Online (ONL)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Year 1 / Semester 1 entry - Full Time Pattern
^*			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^*			1	1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
^*			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
^*			1	2			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
					1	2		Pre-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:
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
^*^{^}				1			M	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO
						2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCAD or GDCN or MPPS or GCCO or MCCO

Footnotes
*	Mandatory Residential School
^	Please note that in 2021, COU8006 Group Counselling Process and Practice will run in S2 (not S1 as indicated in the enrolment pattern). For 2021, students can choose between taking COU8006 in S2 OR taking COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision, in S1. COU5003 Introduction to Clinical Supervision is in teach-out mode, and will be offered for the last time in 2021.

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