Master of Counselling
February/July Intakes
Master of Counselling – On campus and External/Online
Course Details Master of Counselling
As a ‘first training’ course, the Master of Counselling is not available to students who already hold a PACFA-accredited qualification, such as a Bachelor of Counselling from a PACFA-accrediting institution. However, if you have completed a non-PACFA accredited course or partial study we may be able to help complete your studies with our accredited course, subject to meeting PACFA training standards.
Successful engagement in the Counselling profession requires a level of personal maturity and self-awareness. PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) therefore recommends that current and prospective Master of Counselling students are assessed for their personal growth and likely suitability for the Counselling profession. Entry to the Master of Counselling is thus subject not only to academic requirements but also personal suitability as assessed through an interview, a personal statement and referee reports.
Duration
2 years full-time
4 years part-time
Commencing
Semester 1
Semester 2
QTAC Code
N/A
CRICOS Code
075672F
Mode
On campus, External/Online
Course Code
SS51
Minimum Selection
Rank (ATAR/RANK)
N/A
Career outcomes from a Master of Counselling
A Social Science degree at CHC prepares you to serve with compassion, insight, and purpose wherever people need care, support, and advocacy. Grounded in a Christian values, our graduates are equipped to understand the complexities of human behaviour and respond with empathy and wisdom. Whether working in counselling, community services, or the broader social sector, a career in Social Science can bring hope, healing, and justice into the lives of others.
Admissions Criteria
I am an aplicant with:
Applicants with recent secondary education are not eligible for entry to this course.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are not eligible for admission to this course.
Applicants with a Bachelor degree in any field (non-PACFA accredited) are eligible for admission to this course.
Applicants with work and life experience are not eligible for admission to this course.
English language proficiency
Applicants for whom English is not their first language must provide certified documentary evidence that their secondary schooling, or tertiary studies of at least one year, was conducted in the English language or they have satisfactory results in an acceptable English Language Proficiency examination (see table below). Results are to be no more than two years old as at the commencement of the course of study.
What to expect
The Master of Counselling combines hands-on skill development with strong academic foundations to equip graduates for meaningful client work. With a focus on personal growth, emerging research in interpersonal neurobiology and mental health, and current best practices, the course prepares students to engage deeply and ethically in the counselling profession. It is accredited by PACFA, allowing graduates to become Graduate Members of affiliated organisations such as CCAA and QCA. As of 2024, the course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
The Graduate Certificate in Trauma Counselling consists of 4 core units:
The Master of Counselling consists of 16 units – 12 core Counselling units, 3 elective Counselling units and 1 unit in research methods.
Master of Counselling students also complete 200 practicum hours (embedded in the units CO667-CO670), 20 hours of their own counselling, 5 site visits to counselling organisations and 15 hours of external professional development events as part of the Master of Counselling. Students who wish to engage in a practicum placement in the area of Child and Adolescent Counselling, or to engage in a practicum placement involving children and young people under the age of 18, must apply for a Blue Card (or equivalent) within the first six months of starting their course.
Students who intend to engage in a practicum placement involving individuals or groups other than children and young people under the age of 18 must make completed a criminal history check prior to engaging in the associated practicum placement.
In planning their course, students must consult the Social Sciences Courses Guide for information regarding course rules and requirements, including unit prerequisite requirements.
Unit outlines available early 2026.
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Find out how to apply
Regardless of whether you have recently completed secondary education or have vocational education and training (VET) study, higher education study, or work and life experience, the process of applying for admission to CHC will depend on whether your preferred course is an undergraduate course or a postgraduate course, and whether you are a domestic student or an international student.
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