About the Course

Course Description:

The Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Human Services - Counselling) is a two year part-time program which provides students with training in the theory and practice of counselling. The program offers an alternative to the existing Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology which is only available to students with a three-year Australian Psychological Society (APS) accredited sequence in psychology.

The Human Services - Counselling program is designed to meet the needs of people currently employed in the human services (e.g. mental health, general health care, education, law and mediation and the public service). Students are taught a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings and client types.

Prospective students may also wish to consider the Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Human Services - Counselling).

Aims & Objectives:

• Training in basic counselling theory and skills.
• An introduction to the ethical dilemmas faced and ethical conduct required by counsellors in human services industries.
• Training in the theory and practice of helping people with addiction problems.
• An understanding of the special needs of particular population groups and assessment issues such as suicide and dangerousness risk.
• Advanced counselling skills.
• Training in the specialised skill of trauma, loss and grief counselling.

Course Structure:

The Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Human Services - Counselling) is a nested program incorporating the Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Human Services - Counselling) program. Both programs are only offered on a part-time basis and dependent on numbers, day and evening classes will be available.

The graduate diploma program consists of 100 credit points, comprising seven units of study. In each year, 50 credit points (25 credit points each semester) constitutes a part-time load. Units of study normally carry 12.5 credit points except in the case of  HAYC422 Trauma, Loss and Grief Counselling and HAYC423 Supervised Practice which are 25 credit points each.

Units of Study:

Employment Outcomes

Career Opportunities:

The program is primarily designed to give students counselling skills to use within the human services industry in which they may already be employed (eg health, education, pastoral care, welfare etc). For this reason, selection is biased towards those already working within such industries.

Professional recognition:

The Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Human Services-Counselling) seeks to meet the minimum training standards of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), with the exception of the requirement for 50 hours of supervision in counselling practice, which may be completed by students following the program.

PACFA is not currently involved in the formal accreditation of counselling programs, but has plans to do so in the future. When such accreditation procedures are established, this program will be submitted for approval.

Graduate Attributes:

• Improved skills in listening, understanding and responding
• Understanding of ethical and professional practices in the workplace
• Written and oral presentation skills
• A better understanding of the self and others
• Ability to prepare and deliver group projects and presentations
• Development of professional networks

How To Apply

Entry Requirements:

A minimum three-year degree from an Australian university or approved equivalent. Whilst no specific area of study is required as a prerequisite, preference may be given to those with experience in human services. Selection is based on an interview and the applicant’s suitability for the program as determined by academic and work experience, referee reports, and the stated reasons for wishing to undertake the program.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training.

Further details for students considering Higher Education courses: http://www.swin.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/files/stuinf.htm

Course Fees:

In 2008, tuition fees for this program are based on $1350 per 12.5 credit point unit of study. In the event that a unit of study is derived from another program, the applicable fee will be that of the other program.  All fees are reviewed each year and may increase without notice.

HELP
The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent resident humanitarian visas. FEE-HELP (previously PELS) is for eligible fee paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $80,000 indexed annually).

Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.

For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au

Application Procedure:

Find Out More

Information Sessions:

2008 Open Day

Sunday 17 August

10:00 am – 4:00 pm   

Only at Hawthorn, Lilydale and Prahran campuses.

For more information, visit www.swinburne.edu.au/openday

Postgraduate Information Day

Tuesday, 7 Oct 2008

4:00pm – 7:30pm

Atrium, Hawthorn campus

Further information:

Web: Enquire online