- This is a fee-for-service course, government funding is not available. Payment plans are available
- Only Australian Citizens and Residents can apply for this course. Limited visa holders can be accepted pending a VEVO check. We are not CRICOS registered and cannot accept Subclass 500 visa holders
- Guaranteed work placement included
Course Overview
The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling will teach you a range of therapy techniques that you can use to get the best result for your clients. It will also give you the skills necessary to communicate effectively, work within a case management framework, and to refer clients to other services when necessary. Upon completion of the counselling course, you will be job-ready and fully qualified for a career as a professional Counsellor.
Studying Open Colleges’ CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling provides you with a great mix of theory and practice, ensures you get the most up-to-date training for in-demand treatment areas, and makes certain you are able to deal effectively with paperwork and case management.
Who's It For?
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.
Job Outcomes
Potential career outcomes could include:
- Case Worker
- Counsellor
- Intake Counsellor
What You'll Learn
The theory and practice of core counselling methods including:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
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Person Centred Therapy
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Solution Focused Therapy
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Narrative Therapy
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Gestalt Therapy
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Acceptance Commitment Therapy
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How to work within a case management system
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The skills to assess clients and select the ideal counselling methods to meet their needs
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How to navigate legal and ethical frameworks
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Communication and how to work as part of a healthcare team
Recognition

Study Method
- OnlineOnline delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
- BlendedBlended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
- In-classIn class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
- VirtualVirtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
Duration Study Load
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Self-paced – maximum of 24 months
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Recommended hours per week: 16h
Delivery
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Online with Work Placement
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements may vary depending on the course. In general, you must be at least 18 years old to enrol. If you’re under 18, you’ll need permission from a parent or guardian.
Please note: This course is not available to student visa holders.
To find out more about the specific entry requirements for this course, download the course guide. If you have any questions or would like guidance on whether this course is the right fit for you, feel free to get in touch.
Work Placement
Duration
This course contains a minimum of 160 hours of work placement.
What are the benefits?
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By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice
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You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate
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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
If you’d like to learn more about the work placement component of this course, get the course guide for further details.
How do I find a work placement?
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Spend your time studying and let Open Colleges organise your work placement for you. In partnership with leading provider SkilTrak, we have introduced Guaranteed Work Placement to provide you with real-world experience in your dream career that’s close to home. Enquire now to learn more.
Recognition Of Prior Learning
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.
Assessment
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Case studies
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Demonstrations
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Knowledge tests
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Portfolio of evidence
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Presentations
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Video
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Workplace assessments
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Written reports
Materials
Your learning materials are accessed through OpenSpace.
These include:
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Learning content
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Additional resources
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Video resources
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Discussion forums
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Links to key online resources
Additional Information
Subjects
About Open Colleges
Open Colleges puts you at the centre of everything we do. As an institution, we measure our success in the success of our students.We have more than 125 years of experience in distance education, and this has given us the time to perfect the ways we deliver education and training to people across Australia. In the last decade alone, we’ve helped more than 450,000 students reach their potential.We understand the needs of adult learners. That’s why we created OpenSpace, our world-class online learning platform that gives you complete flexibility and control to study whenever and wherever you are. OpenSpace provides you with access to learning resources, expert trainers and assessors, a superior support network and the opportunity to connect with other learners just like you.Our nationally recognised courses could help you launch, change or accelerate your career. Now is the time to make your next move. With Open Colleges, everything could happen.Open Colleges Pty Ltd is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 90796)