Master of Counselling

Are you an experienced professional wanting to make inroads into the challenging but rewarding area of counselling? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Master of Counselling is accredited by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia and the Australian Counselling Association. It provides professional training that combines classroom-based study with practical counselling experience. If you already have a Bachelor of Counselling degree or equivalent, the duration of this course may be less. Get in touch to find out more.

Why study this degree?

• Our Master of Counselling is designed to suit the needs of people from various professional backgrounds, including social work, human resources, social welfare, nursing, psychology, and education. At the end of this postgraduate program, you will have the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to work in the counselling field.
• The degree takes an integrative approach to counselling practice, focusing on contemporary and evidence-based approaches, group work, mental health, research skills and counselling across the lifespan. You will also be encouraged to develop self-awareness, identify, and discuss links between theory and practice, and showcase your ability to assess and intervene in response to various presenting issues.
• You will also develop research skills relevant to the field of counselling. In the second year, you will undertake an industry placement. The length of the placement usually is 200 hours, which includes at least 40 hours of client contact and 10 hours of individual clinical supervision.
• By the end of the Master’s degree, you will be able to register as a counsellor and work with clients in various settings.

Learning outcomes

• Upon successful completion of the Master of Counselling graduates will be able to:
• Demonstrate advanced and integrated knowledge of a range of theoretical approaches to Counselling
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional and personal development through training, supervision and counselling
• Apply appropriate research skills relevant to an area of Counselling
• Execute advanced counselling skills, including assessing presenting issues, explaining aetiology, developing therapeutic alliances, and implementing appropriate interventions
• Implement advanced skills in counselling practice in a variety of settings with individuals, couples, and groups
• Research and report original findings through written and/or oral presentations
• Communicate , both orally and in writing, to an advanced level
• Work independently and, where appropriate, in collaboration with others
• Apply professional and ethical standards to clients and colleagues and provide culturally, linguistically, and socially diverse counselling strategies.

Career opportunities

• With a Master of Counselling, you can register as a counsellor and work with clients in various settings. Careers include relationship counsellors, financial counsellors, rehabilitation counsellors, school counsellors, youth workers, family support workers, private practitioners, and psychotherapists.