2. Courses
  3. Community Services
  4. Diploma of Financial Counselling
QUALIFICATION

Diploma of Financial Counselling


 National Code: CHC51122
 TAFE SA Code: TP01399


2025 start

Description

Financial counsellors are experts in financial difficulty and provide advice and support to help clients get back on top of their financial issues. They work from a model of social justice and client empowerment.
Working in community organisations, their services are free, independent, and confidential. Financial counsellors have an extensive knowledge of a range of areas of law and policy, including consumer credit law, debt enforcement practices, the bankruptcy regime, industry hardship policies and government concession frameworks.
Note that this qualification is NOT related to the work performed by financial planners or financial advisers whose role is to provide clients with strategies to address their investment options and requires a financial services licence. This qualification is also not appropriate for financial capability workers.
This qualification does NOT refer to therapeutic counselling, however, a recognition of, and an ability to work within, a counselling framework and the way in which other issues may interact with financial issues is highly relevant to financial counselling practice.

Award Course
Duration
Example Career Profile
Print Course Page
18 months 

Full Time or Part Time equivalent

Counsellor and Community Worker
Counsellor and Community Worker
Print

Locations & Applications

Campus / Location
Code
Study Mode
Study Load
Scheduled
Regency Park

852030

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
Apply Now

Icon Legend

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

  • Certificate IV or higher in a Community Services or Health or Finance related area
If there are more applications for this course than places available, applicants will be ranked by date of application to this course.

Existing Worker Applications

Campus / Location
Code
Study Mode
Study Load
Scheduled
Regency Park

852031

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.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now

Icon Legend

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

  • You must be currently working as a Financial Counsellor
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)
Attendance Requirements (subject to change): The course is delivered through on-line interactive workshops (70%) and face to face workshops (30%). Attendance (on-line or in person) is 1 day per week over 18 months.

Industry Conditions and Skills
You are encouraged to consider your personal wellness and capacity to interact with and be assessed on traumatic course content. You will need sound computer skills and ability to navigate online systems.

Vocational Placements
A minimum of 220 hours in a local industry specific setting. Online vocational placement may be an option.

Mandatory Requirements
You will need to have a current Working with Children Check before starting your placement in an agency. Some industry partners may also require a current National Police Check, COVID-19 and flu vaccinations that you may need to show evidence of.

Fees

Average cost per semester
Total Fees for the 18 month course
Subsidised
$1,917
$5,752
Concession
$1,180
$3,540
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?
Full Fee
$2,827
$8,481

Fees vary depending on subjects you enrol into. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to make any changes necessary. Fee updates will be available prior to offers being made.

  • 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

    Case coordinator, case manager, client service assessor, coordinator family support services, welfare worker, social welfare worker, early intervention coordinator, community 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 Financial Counselling (CHC51122)
    This qualification covers workplace communication strategies, service programs, impacts of sociological factors, diversity, legal and ethical requirements, debriefing and support processes, professional practice and workplace safety. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 12 core units and 8 elective units. To achieve this qualification, students must have completed at least 100 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency.

    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 basic concepts of small business to financial counselling 85
    Apply professional standards in financial counselling 85
    Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills 60
    Establish and confirm the counselling relationship 100
    Establish the financial counselling relationship 120
    Facilitate the interests and rights of clients 100
    Interpret and use legal information 65
    Provide advice, counselling and representation to financial counselling clients 120
    Provide financial counselling and systemic advocacy within a social justice framework 90
    Recognise and respond to crisis situations 45
    Reflect on and improve own professional practice 120
    Support counselling clients in decision-making processes 120
    Work with diverse people 40

    Elective

    Name Nominal Hours
    Develop and implement community programs 125
    Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide 110
    Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety 25
    Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence 50
    Work with clients to identify financial literacy education needs 40

Further Information

Brochure

Course guide

Brochure

Pre-enrolment Brochure

Contact us

Course enquiries and more information

Diploma of Financial Counselling
TP01399
︿
Back to Top