COURSE GUIDE

Diploma of Counselling CHC51015

Introduction

Our nationally recognised CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is designed to progress your career while helping others reach their goals. Gain a comprehensive introduction to counselling and therapy and transform yourself into an in-demand counsellor ready to change people’s lives for the better.

Course Breakdown

E1202

CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling

Course duration: Self-paced - maximum of 24 months

Recommended hours per week: 16h

Qualification level: Diploma

Delivery method: Online with Work Placement

Awarded by: Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd (Provider number: 90197)

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Is this course for you?

If you have a passion for helping people, and enjoy the challenge of changing lives, then the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is the perfect course for you.

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note - limitations do apply.

What you will learn

The theory and practice of core counselling methods including:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Person Centred Therapy
  • Solution Focused Therapy
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Gestalt Therapy
  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy
  • How to work within a case management system
  • The skills to assess clients and select the ideal counselling methods to meet their needs
  • How to navigate legal and ethical frameworks
  • Communication and how to work as part of a healthcare team

Learning Material

Your learning materials are accessed through OpenSpace.

These include:

  • Learning content
  • Additional resources
  • Video resources
  • Discussion forums
  • Links to key online resources

Your trainer

Kelly Merchant
Kelly has worked at Open Colleges for the past 5 years as a Trainer & Assessor and has worked within the industry of counselling for the past 15 years. Along with her Bachelor of Behavioural Science (psyc) Degree and Post Graduate Diploma of Counselling, she has comprehensive experience in training and counselling students through academic and personal challenges, to motivate and empower them to achieve their goals.
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Academic Information

Open Colleges may make changes to the course from time to time to reflect changes introduced to the relevant Training Package or other regulatory requirements.

Diploma of Counselling

CHCCSL001
Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
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  • Use a structured approach to counselling
  • Establish the nature of the helping relationship
  • Confirm the helping relationship
CHCLEG001
Work legally and ethically
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  • Identify and respond to legal requirements
  • Identify and meet ethical responsibilities
  • Contribute to workplace improvements
CHCDIV001
Work with diverse people
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  • Reflect on own perspectives
  • Appreciate diversity and inclusiveness, and their benefits
  • Communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and situations
  • Promote understanding across diverse groups
CHCDIV002
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
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  • Identify cultural safety issues in the workplace
  • Model cultural safety in own work
  • Develop strategies for improved cultural safety
  • Evaluate cultural safety strategies
CHCCSL002
Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
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  • Communicate effectively
  • Use specialised counselling interviewing skills
  • Evaluate own communication
5/ modules
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Assessment Details

  • Multiple choice Quiz
  • Projects
  • Role plays
  • Video
  • Work Placement
  • Written assignments

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

We understand that you may already have many skills and areas of expertise that you have obtained in different ways and these are recognised through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.

Our Credit Transfer & Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, available in the Key Student Information section of our website, provides more information about our RPL process. Alternatively, you can contact an Enrolment Consultant to discuss your RPL options.

Course Duration

The duration for the course is maximum 24 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

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Work Placement

This course contains a minimum of 160 hours of work placement.

What are the benefits?

  • By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
  • You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
  • Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

How do I find a work placement?

You’ll need to find a work placement yourself and ensure it’s approved by Open Colleges. When looking for a suitable work placement host organisation, have a think about the following:

  • Are you already working or volunteering in the industry your course is related to? You could potentially do your work placement at your current place of work or have contacts that could recommend a suitable work place. Ask around!
  • If you’re entering a new industry, do some research and start thinking about organisations you could approach. We have plenty of resources available to help with approaching and finding a suitable work placement organisation.

Cost of work placement

All costs of work placement, including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or Open Colleges), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student. These fees will vary and are dependent on your location within Australia.

  • Costs for statutory checks will range between $0 - $100 dependent on the type of check you select and your state.
  • Costs for vaccinations will very between practitioners, please refer to your GP for approximate costs.
  • Placement fees will vary, please discuss this with your intended host organisation for approximate costs.

Host organisation

You will need to secure your own Work Placement, however Open Colleges can provide advice and direction through our Work Placement Support Team.

There are a number of statutory checks that may be required by workplaces, such as a National Police Check, Working with Children Check (or state equivalent), a First Aid Certificate and signing of a Confidentiality Agreement and Code of Conduct. These may vary by state. In addition, individual workplaces may impose additional requirements on students undertaking work placement. You will be responsible for the costs of any such checks or requirements.

Your work placement will need to be completed in Australia, and you will be responsible for the costs of any travel, accommodation, statutory checks or other requirements related to your work placement.

Immunisations

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Supervisor requirements

Your workplace supervisor is required to have:

  • At least 3 years’ experience within industry, and/or
  • Hold a minimum qualification of the Diploma of Counselling or equivalent.

Recommendation

Open Colleges recommends that you consider the work placement options in your local area prior to enrolling in this course.

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Study and pay, your way

Payment Options

Pay Upfront
Save 30%
$6,643.70 Save $2,847.30
was $9,491.00
Week to week
Pay as you go
Save 12%
Pay in 100 instalments over the length of your course.
$80.91 Weekly
Total course cost: $8,291.00
was $9,491.00
Full course breakdown
TBD

Studying online with Open Colleges

Flexibility - study at your own pace

When you study online with Open Colleges you’re in control.

You can choose to complete your course quickly, or keep to a steady pace. Learning is fully flexible so you can fit your everyday commitments around your studies.

Everything you need to study is online so you can study wherever you like – but that doesn’t mean you’re on your own.

OpenSpace is our online learning platform. It’s where you’ll go to access your learning materials, contact your expert trainers and assessors and upload your assessments.

What is OpenSpace?

It’s important to us that we deliver a superior, online learning platform that meets our students’ needs. That’s why we have upgraded to our brand new, custom-designed learning platform, OpenSpace.

OpenSpace provides you with a user-friendly interface, that is mobile responsive. This means that you can complete your coursework using your laptop, iPad, or mobile device. All coursework is automatically saved, providing you with the flexibility you need to complete your studies anywhere, anytime.

How to get support?

Learning Support

The learning support team will be with you every step of the way, from enrolment to graduation. They’re here to help you get the most out of your online course. They can assist by providing non-academic support - like helping you craft an achievable study plan so that you can graduate in a realistic timeframe. If you’re finding it tough to stay motivated throughout your course, they’ll be there to help keep you on track.

Student support

The Student Support team is your one-stop service centre for all student administrative issues – including enrolment, change of contact details, OpenSpace support, assessment results and certification.

You can access the Student Support team by email or phone