Graduate Certificate of Counselling

With many career prospects to explore, the employment opportunities that may suit you will depend on the specialisation you choose to study. At UniSQ, you can choose from a number of specialisations that align with your career interests including Addiction counselling; Child, Youth and Family Therapy; Mental Health Practice; and Trauma Focused Practice.

A Graduate Certificate of Counselling qualification from UniSQ can open up many opportunities for employment in a variety of counselling and human services roles including:

• government
• private organisations
• private practice.

If you want to enhance your counselling knowledge in your chosen specialisation, use your Graduate Certificate in Counselling as a stepping-stone to study a Graduate Diploma of Counselling or Master of Counselling. 

A career in counselling is a challenging yet rewarding career with vast employment opportunities. By following your passion with a Graduate Certificate in Counselling online, you’ll use your specialised knowledge and expertise to positively impact the lives of others. If you are passionate about helping others, the Graduate Certificate of Counselling might be for you.

UniSQ’s online counselling degree is designed to develop your career within the health, psychology or human services profession and is an exciting professional development opportunity for psychologists and social workers. 

The Graduate Certificate of Counselling major that’s right for you will vary depending on your interests and goals. At UniSQ we have four different majors to choose from.

• Addiction - acquire practical skills needed to counsel people struggling with substance and behavioural addiction.
• Child, Youth & Family Therapy - learn about child abuse prevention and intervention, along with relationship, family, child and youth counselling.
• Mental Health Practice - support those in our community with mental health conditions by learning about therapeutic interventions, assessment models and psychopharmacology.
• Trauma Focused Practice - explore the impact of trauma and the various models and approaches to recognising and treating trauma.

If you are unsure which path is right for you, get in touch with one of our degree advisors to talk through your options. 

A Graduate Certificate of Counselling will take you approximately one year to complete. Some students choose to study part-time which increases the time it takes to complete the required courses.

There are many great reasons to study a Master of Counselling:

• UniSQ's staff are leaders in Psychology and Human Services and are dedicated to ensuring you have the skills needed to make meaningful impacts.
• UniSQ is rated 5/5 stars for postgraduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2025).
• Graduate from UniSQ as a skilled professional able to develop, support and advance the social and psychological wellbeing of individuals and communities within in-demand industry.
• UniSQ offers a number of bachelor degrees as a pathway to the Graduate Certificate of Counselling if you don’t meet the entry requirements. 

UniSQ’s Graduate Certificate of Counselling provides a solid foundation if you want to build on your current skill set or undertake professional development.

If you want to become registered as a counsellor in Australia you can study a Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Master of Counselling at UniSQ. Depending on your chosen specialisation you will then be able to apply for membership of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and register as a counsellor with the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP).