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QUALIFICATION

Diploma of Counselling


 National Code: CHC51015
 TAFE SA Code: TP00941


2025 start

Description

This qualification reflects the role of counsellors, who work with clients on personal and psychological issues using established counselling modalities. They use communication, micro-counselling and interviewing skills and draw on varied counselling therapies to assist clients. At this level, the counsellor will be working in defined and supported counselling roles in established agencies rather than in independent practice.
This qualification includes the direct opportunity to participate in supervised counselling and crisis support work experience with Uniting Communities (UC) an organisation creating positive change for South Australian communities for over 120 years. UC will provide on the job training, support and supervision in a placement with a well-known crisis support service. For more information https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChy493OJ8o8LXBShXP3Hy8Q

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Duration
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12 months 

Full Time

Counsellor and Community Worker
Counsellor and Community Worker
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Locations & Applications

Campus / Location
Code
Study Mode
Study Load
Scheduled
Regency Park

852382

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Full Time Full Time
Day Only
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On campus/location

On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.
Online

Online

Online – learn at your own pace, in your own space. Lecturer support will be provided via email and interaction with fellow students may be available via forums and chat groups. Online courses require access to a computer with an internet connection.
Blended

Blended

Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom – online classes are delivered by Collaborate. Collaborate is a web-based online classroom collaboration tool that acts as a real-time virtual classroom.
Workplace

Workplace

Workplace – if you are currently employed in the industry but do not have a formal qualification TAFE SA can recognise the skills you already have. The duration of the course will be determined by your individual study plan.
Full Time

Full Time

Full Time classes
Part Time

Part Time

Part Time classes
Day Classes

Day Classes

Day time classes
Evening Classes

Evening Classes

Evening time classes
International

International

A course available to International students

Course Admission Requirements

If there are more applications for this course than places available, applicants will be ranked by date of application to this course.

Please Read Before Applying

Attendance Requirements (subject to change)
This course is delivered through a blend of two compulsory on-campus workshops a week, and online study.
Workshops are usually from 9.30 to 4.00pm, and occasionally from 9.00 to 5.00pm. Start dates and workshop days:

  • Regency Park – Term 1 (Monday & Tuesday) and Term 3 (Wednesday & Thursday)

Fees

Average cost per semester
Total Fees for the 12 month course
Subsidised
$2,223
$4,446
Concession
$1,368
$2,736
You may be eligible for government subsidised training.
Subsidised Training Eligibility
Subsidised training may require applicants to complete a Core Skills Profile Assessment (CSPA).
What is the CSPA?

This course is part of the Fee Free TAFE initiative. Fee Free TAFE and vocational education is a joint initiative of the Australian and South Australian Governments providing tuition-free training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill. The eligibility check below is an indication only and does not confirm your eligibility status. Eligibility verification will take place before the enrolment process and may include participation in a Language, Literacy and Numeracy pre-assessment. The number of Fee Free TAFE places that are funded is limited by the terms of the skills agreement signed by the Australian and South Australian Governments. Should all available Fee Free TAFE places be taken, subsequent applicants will be offered a subsidised place.

Fee Free Training Eligibility
Full Fee
$6,470
$12,939

  • Help with Fees

    Upfront Payment

    Each semester, fees can be paid online with VISA or Mastercard or at an Australia Post outlet.

    Read More

    VET Student Loan

    This is an interest-free personal loan from the Australian Government that provides eligible students access to capped funding to help pay for their studies.

    Read More

  • Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

    Employment Outcomes

    Support worker, problem gambling worker, family liaison worker.

    Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

    Qualifications & Skills Covered

    Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015)
    This qualification covers crisis situations, counselling relationship and process, interpersonal and interview skills, personality and development theory, learning theories, counselling therapies, case management, working with diverse people, legal and ethical requirements and professional practice. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 13 core units and 4 elective units.

    Note: Students who successfully complete only one or more units of competency but not the full qualification are eligible to receive a Statement of Attainment.

    90%*
    of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.
    87%*
    of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.



    * 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

  • Course Units

    Below is a list of all units that TAFE SA can offer in this qualification. The selection of elective units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend, and the qualification packaging rules described on www.training.gov.au.

    Not all elective units listed below must necessarily be completed to achieve your qualification.

    Core

    Name Nominal Hours
    Apply learning theories in counselling 65
    Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills 60
    Develop, facilitate and review all aspects of case management 75
    Establish and confirm the counselling relationship 100
    Facilitate the counselling relationship and process 120
    Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety 25
    Recognise and respond to crisis situations 45
    Reflect on and improve own professional practice 120
    Research and apply personality and development theories 50
    Select and use counselling therapies 70
    Support counselling clients in decision-making processes 120
    Work legally and ethically 55
    Work with diverse people 40

    Elective

    Name Nominal Hours
    Identify and respond to children and young people at risk 40
    Manage personal stressors in the work environment 25
    Provide loss and grief support 55
    Provide suicide bereavement support 50

  • Credit Transfer

    Studying at TAFE SA is one of the easiest pathways towards a University Degree. Credit Transfer is the formal recognition that parts of a TAFE SA course are equivalent in content and level to parts of some University courses. Below are the Credit Transfer details for this course. View all TAFE SA Credit Transfer Agreements

    University University Course Details
    Bachelor of Social Work
    Bachelor of Arts (Applied Linguistics)
    Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing and Literature)
    Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Studies)
    Bachelor of Arts (History and Global Politics)
    Bachelor of Arts (Aboriginal Studies)
    Bachelor of Arts (Law, Policy and Politics)
    Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
    Bachelor of Arts
    Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
    Bachelor of Arts (Sociology)

Further Information

Brochure

Course guide

Brochure

Pre-enrolment Brochure

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Diploma of Counselling
TP00941
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