steady1neddy

Hi
Is there anyone who is doing, or has completed, a Diploma in Counselling in Aus?
In particular I'm looking for advice on the best association to affiliate with and how easy it's been to find work/set up business. thanks, Clare

alkristensen

bump you up

joeyballantyne

this should help with overview of the work:
http://www.myfuture.edu.au/services/...0&ASCO=251300A

...and this gives the entry route and professional association link: (check state!, this is for qld)
http://www.myfuture.edu.au/services/...D&ASCO=251300A

Kernow1

Hi Clare

I did my diploma in the UK but I did start it in Sydney. A friend who completed in Sydney is running her own practice but the problem she encountered was that, unless you are a psychology graduate as well, jobs are difficult to come by. And she has to supplement her income by taking on an office admin job on a part-time basis.

I guess, like anywhere else, you have to see what your options are in the area you live in, what your specific area of expertise is, etc.

I am planning on setting up my own practice when I get to Sydney in June but I have to say that unless I get a fair number of clients, I might not be able to sustain the practice from a financial point of view.

It's a case of doing the diploma, networking with other counsellors, and see how things go from there.

Go for it. Good luck.

annqldau

Just passing through I'll give you another bump up...

kiwi_child

These are the people in OZ to get in touch with about this.

http://www.theaca.net.au/

Centurion

You should bear in mind that workcover and medicare have expanded to cover psychologists but not counsellors so thats probably the reason why jobs are very hard to come by. That and the health funds cover the former and not counsellors.

alkristensen

thanks very much, appreciate it

alkristensen

thanks, that's pretty much the same conclusion i'm coming to as well. Trouble is I can only study or work part time and qualifying as a psychologist would take me 6 years part-time! it's just not feasible. thanks for your view.

alkristensen

thanks very much!

alkristensen

thanks very much, having done more research since i originally posted they seem to be the main one and theirs was the course I was planning to do anyway. nice to have it confirmed. thanks again

alkristensen

yes, have discovered this during my research, seems to be a huge bone of contension with the counselling associations. Unfortunately, I cannot study or work more than part-time so qualifying as a psychologist is just not feasible - it would take me 6 years! I really want to do it so the counselling diploma route seems to be my only option. Lets hope the counselling associations get somewhere with their lobbying and i'll have to brush up on my networking and marketing skills! thanks for your comment, appreciate it.