What it actually takes to become a Counsellor in Australia
Median $112,008 a year. Four ways in, taught at 9 Australian institutions — what each route costs and what the work is really like.
What the job actually is
A counsellor is not a psychologist, and counselling is not giving advice. Counsellors help people talk through and work on problems such as grief, relationship breakdown, stress, addiction and life changes, using structured therapeutic approaches. They do not diagnose mental illness or prescribe, and many work in community organisations, schools, workplaces or private practice. Anyone can call themselves a counsellor, which is why the training you choose matters. Opinion
Community and not-for-profit services
Family, relationship, drug and alcohol, and crisis services. Estimate
Schools
School counsellors, depending on state rules, which may require teaching or psychology qualifications. Estimate
Private practice
Many experienced counsellors run their own practices. Estimate
Employee assistance programs
Short-term counselling for employees on behalf of employers. Estimate
Specialties
Relationship and family counselling
Couples and families. Estimate
Grief and loss
Bereavement and trauma. Estimate
Drug and alcohol
Addiction services. Estimate
Youth counselling
Young people in schools and community services. Estimate
Career counselling
Helping people make study and work decisions. Estimate
A week, not a day
There is no typical day. There is a typical week, and it is uneven by design.
| Block | Roughly | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Counselling sessions | 55% | One-to-one, couples or group sessions. |
| Notes and case management | 15% | Records and referrals. |
| Supervision and training | 10% | Regular clinical supervision. |
| Liaison and referrals | 10% | Working with GPs, psychologists and services. |
| Administration | 10% | Bookings, billing and reporting. |
Is it right for you?
An honest self-test. The filter is rarely passion — everyone has that.
Strong signs of fit
- You are a patient listener who does not rush to fix things. Opinion
- You can hold boundaries and look after your own wellbeing. Opinion
- You are curious about why people think and act as they do. Opinion
Warning signs
- You expect Medicare rebates for clients. Counselling is generally not covered by Medicare in the way psychology is. Opinion
- You want a quick path to a full-time salary; many roles are part-time or contract. Opinion
- You take other people's problems home with you. Opinion
- You want to diagnose and treat mental illness. That is the role of psychologists and psychiatrists. Opinion
Soft skills
- Active listening
- Empathy without over-involvement
- Boundary setting
- Clear note-taking
Technical skills
- Counselling frameworks
- Risk assessment
- Group facilitation
- Referral pathways
- Ethical practice
Demand, pay and the next twenty years
What changes over the next twenty years
- Telehealth is likely to remain a large part of counselling. Forecast
- Counselling may gain a larger role in funded mental health services, depending on government policy. Forecast
- Self-regulation may move towards a formal scheme. Forecast
A large, mostly part-time profession
51 per cent of counsellors work part-time. Verified fact
About these figures
This group includes school, family, drug and alcohol, rehabilitation and other counsellors. Verified fact
Not registered through Ahpra
Counselling is not one of the professions with a National Board. Verified fact
How counselling is regulated
Ahpra's list of National Boards does not include counselling. Verified fact
The profession self-regulates through bodies such as the Australian Counselling Association and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, which accredit courses and register members. Choose an accredited course. Estimate
Every route in
Tap a route to open it. The tag shows how commonly that route actually delivers the target role — not how hard the study is.
- Complete a counselling degree accredited by a counselling professional body. Estimate
- Join a professional register and work under supervision. Estimate
- Graduates of psychology, social work, teaching or nursing often add a postgraduate counselling qualification. Estimate
- A TAFE or private diploma leads to entry-level roles and can give credit into a degree. Estimate
- Registered psychologists can provide Medicare-rebated services; that route takes six years or more. Estimate
The sequence that actually matters
The qualification varies wildly across people who reach this role. The sequence barely varies at all.
| Stage | Typical age | What you are buying | How people get stuck here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited training | 18 and over | Membership of a counselling body | Choosing a course no professional body recognises. |
| Supervised practice | 21 and over | Hours towards higher membership levels | Not arranging regular supervision. |
| Paid roles | 22 and over | Experience in community services | Starting private practice too early. |
| Specialisation | 25 and over | Expertise in a client group | Burnout from emotionally heavy caseloads. |
Pathways compared
Compare them on what they cost you, not just where they end. The last column matters most — it is where the pathway leaves you if the target role never arrives.
| Pathway | Live example | Years | Study cost | Difficulty | Biggest risk | If it doesn’t work out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 12 to Bachelor of Counselling | A direct route Estimate | 3 years Estimate | Up to about $54,000 at the 2027 society and culture rate, deferrable Estimate | Moderate | Limited Medicare funding for counselling | Community services, case management, further study |
| Another degree then postgraduate counselling | The most common route Estimate | 4 to 5 years Estimate | Varies; postgraduate places often full-fee Estimate | Moderate | Full fees | A first profession already |
Experience that runs alongside study
This matters more than marks. Every one of these is available before you graduate.
Supervised counselling placements
Accredited degrees include supervised client work. Estimate
Crisis line volunteering
Crisis support lines train volunteers in phone counselling. Estimate
Student membership of a counselling body
Counselling bodies offer student membership. Estimate
Community service networks
Local services share roles and training. Estimate
Choose accredited training
Counselling has no National Board. Verified fact
Why accreditation matters
Counselling is not regulated by a National Board under Ahpra. Verified fact
Employers and clients look for membership of a recognised counselling body. Opinion
Where you can study this
Two questions decide this table: do you want a specialist network from year one, or maximum optionality if you leave the field?
| Institution | State | Course | Selection rank | Duration | Study modes | Placement | What it’s good at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACAP University College Adelaide | NSW | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | The register records 200 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 200 hours Verified fact | A specialist counselling and psychology college with campuses in several capitals. Opinion |
| Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors Haymarket | NSW | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | The register records 336 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 336 hours Verified fact | A specialist counselling provider. Opinion |
| Emmaus Bible College Burwood | NSW | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | The register records 125 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 125 hours Verified fact | A small faith-based college. Opinion |
| Southern Cross University Bilinga | NSW | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | The register records 200 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 200 hours Verified fact | A public university program across three campuses. Opinion |
| Christian Heritage College Carindale | QLD | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | No mandatory placement recorded inside the degree. | A faith-based college in Brisbane. Opinion |
| Griffith University Nathan | QLD | Bachelor of Counselling | 67.00, indicative only: UAC January Round 1 2026 reports no Year 12 offers at this course code Verified fact | 3 years | full-time | The register records 280 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 280 hours Verified fact | A public university program at Nathan and Gold Coast. Opinion |
| University of the Sunshine Coast Petrie | QLD | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | The register records 500 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 500 hours Verified fact | The register records 500 hours of required work component, the highest in this list. Opinion |
| Australian University College of Divinity Karrinyup | WA | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | The register records 270 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 270 hours Verified fact | A faith-based college in Perth. Opinion |
| The University of Notre Dame Australia Broadway | WA | Bachelor of Counselling | Not verified for this edition — confirm with your state admissions centre Estimate | 3 years | full-time | The register records 120 hours of required work component for this course, so there is a placement or practical element inside the degree. 120 hours Verified fact | A private Catholic university. Opinion |
Postgraduate study
Usually a mid-career decision, not a next step. The honest question is whether it adds anything your first three jobs would not.
Graduate Diploma or Master of Counselling
The main route for people with a degree in another field. Opinion
9 providers on the register, most of them private
The table below is built from the CRICOS register, not from memory. Verified fact
How to read this table
Institution names, course names, campuses, durations and work hours are copied from the CRICOS register. Verified fact
CRICOS lists courses open to international students, so a domestic-only course will not appear here even if it is well established. Opinion
Check each course's accreditation with a counselling professional body, since counselling has no national registration. Opinion
1 of 9 institutions carry a real, dated selection rank from UAC or TISC. Ranks published for a different course or an unidentifiable campus were not reused; the rest read not verified. Opinion
Admissions centres also list these courses that are not in this field of the register: Edith Cowan University, Bachelor of Counselling, TISC minimum and lowest offered 70.00; Torrens University Australia and ACAP also appear in UAC's list without a published rank. Verified fact
The gates
What actually stands between you and a place. Where a gate does not apply, that is stated rather than omitted — an absent requirement is decision-relevant information.
Adjustment and access schemes
Points added to a raw rank. These are systematically under-claimed relative to eligibility — check every one.
Educational access schemes
Adjustments for students affected by financial hardship, illness, caring duties or disrupted schooling, applied for through your state admissions centre. Many eligible students never apply. Estimate
Rural and regional adjustments
Points added for applicants from regional areas, especially at regional universities. Estimate
Early entry
Offers made before results are released. Applications usually open around August and cost nothing.
Schools recommendation and early offer schemes
Offers based on Year 11 results and school recommendations, made before ATARs are released. Applications usually open around August of Year 12. Estimate
Alternative and back-door entries
No rank closes most careers. It only changes the first two years.
Diploma of Counselling
A shorter qualification that can give credit into a degree. Estimate
Mature-age entry
Many counsellors begin study later in life. Estimate
Postgraduate counselling
After a degree in another field. Estimate
Pathway programs
Preparation programs for students without an ATAR. Estimate
Which route is realistic depends on your selection rank, whether you already hold a degree, your state and your budget; a personalised plan can work through that with you. Opinion
Subject selection — General advice for all states; check your state's subject names
Take these
- English. Opinion
- Psychology if available. Opinion
- Any subject that builds writing and reflection. Opinion
Think twice about
- Assuming counselling is a shortcut to psychology; the training and funding differ. Opinion
Money to help you get there
Far more scholarship money is offered than is claimed. Rounds close early, often in September.
Rural and regional scholarships
University scholarships for students from rural and regional areas. Estimate
Indigenous scholarships
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in human services degrees. Estimate
University equity scholarships
Means-tested scholarships offered by every university to students from low-income, regional or disadvantaged backgrounds. Estimate
Entry is open; accreditation is the test
Most programs are not highly competitive. Opinion
Before you apply
Check accreditation with a counselling body. Opinion
Expect a Working with Children Check and police check before placements. Estimate
General information only — not financial advice
The figures in this section are indicative estimates only and are general in nature. They are modelled from published rates and typical costs, and they take no account of your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.
They are not quotes, and they are not a projection of what you personally will pay or earn. Course fees, indexation rates, salaries and repayment thresholds all change.
Before you act on any of it, speak to a qualified financial adviser about your own circumstances, and confirm course costs and fees directly with the institution and your state admissions centre.
What it actually costs
Set your own situation. Everything updates live, and every figure is calculated in your browser from the assumptions listed below — none of it is a number quoted at you.
Every line, three ways
Minimum, average and premium. The deferrable column is the one most people misread — a deferred cost is repaid through the tax system, not paid up front.
| Cost | Minimum | Average | Premium | Deferrable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student contribution (tuition) Society and culture units are capped at $18,025 per full-time year in 2027 for Commonwealth supported places; private colleges charge their own fees, often through FEE-HELP. Verified fact | $54,075 | $54,075 | $54,075 | Yes |
| Student services and amenities fee Capped at $386 a year for full-time students in 2027 and deferrable through SA-HELP. Verified fact | $1,158 | $1,158 | $1,158 | Yes |
| Checks and supervision Checks, plus paid clinical supervision some programs require. Estimate | $200 | $600 | $1,500 | No |
| Laptop and technology A standard laptop is enough. Estimate | $900 | $1,200 | $2,000 | No |
| Textbooks Most readings are in the library. Estimate | $600 | $1,200 | $2,000 | No |
| Living costs while studying Zero if living at home for the whole degree; the average column assumes moving out for about two years, the premium column for all 3. Estimate | $0 | $30,000 | $66,000 | No |
Return and assumptions
What these numbers assume
A starting salary of $70,000, typical of community sector counselling roles. Estimate
Compulsory HELP repayments start at $69,528 of repayment income in 2026-27, at 15 cents per dollar above that threshold, so early repayments are a small share of salary. Verified fact
Lifetime earnings assume long-run pay growth of 2.5 per cent a year over 40 years. A projection, not a promise. Forecast
Tuition and the amenities fee can be deferred through HECS-HELP and SA-HELP and repaid through the tax system once income passes the threshold. Verified fact
Private colleges usually charge full fees, which can be deferred through FEE-HELP. Estimate
Expensive per year for a modestly paid career
The society and culture rate is the highest student contribution band, so compare providers carefully. Opinion
The verdict
Several ways of asking “which is best”, answered separately — because the best pathway depends entirely on what you are optimising for.
Best value
An accredited counselling degree at a public university
Commonwealth supported places are usually cheaper than private college fees. Opinion
Which one is yours depends on your selection rank · which providers are near you
Fastest
A three-year accredited Bachelor of Counselling
Three years to entry-level registration with a counselling body. Opinion
Which one is yours depends on accreditation of the course
Most prestigious
A university program with strong supervised placements
Placement quality matters more than brand. Opinion
Which one is yours depends on which state you can study in
Lowest cost
A diploma first, then a degree with credit
Credit shortens the most expensive part. Opinion
Which one is yours depends on whether credit is offered
Best long-term return
A related registered profession plus counselling skills
Psychology or social work open funded roles that counselling alone does not. Opinion
Which one is yours depends on your long-term goals
Best for mature-age students
Part-time or online study at an accredited provider
Life experience is valued in counselling. Opinion
Which one is yours depends on your work and family commitments
Best for career changers
A graduate diploma or master's in counselling
Shorter for people with another degree. Opinion
Which one is yours depends on your first degree · whether you can afford full fees
Get your personalised plan
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Your action plan
Concrete, dated and checkable. Tick these off as you go — your progress is saved in this browser.
This year
First three years
By five years
By ten years
Decision points and contingencies
The last column is the useful one. A plan with no fallback is a wish.
| Decision point | When | Preferred move | If that’s unavailable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choosing a course | Before enrolling | An accredited counselling degree | Take psychology or social work and add counselling later. Estimate |
| Funding | Before enrolling | A Commonwealth supported place | Private colleges can be deferred through FEE-HELP. Estimate |
| First job | Final year | A community service with supervision | Combine part-time roles while building experience. Estimate |
| Private practice | Several years in | Start once experienced | Stay employed while building a practice part-time. Estimate |
If the whole pathway closes
If counselling does not suit you, the training leads to case management, community services, human resources and further study in psychology or social work. Estimate
Mistakes to avoid
The most common
- Assuming counselling clients get Medicare rebates. Opinion
- Choosing an unaccredited course. Opinion
- Starting private practice without experience. Opinion
And the less obvious
- Skipping supervision. Opinion
- Ignoring your own wellbeing. Opinion
What to read, watch and do
Generic to the career, not to you — start anywhere. Most of these cost nothing.
Australian Counselling Association
A professional body that registers counsellors and accredits courses. Estimate
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
A peak body for counselling and psychotherapy. Estimate
Ahpra National Boards list
Shows which professions are nationally registered, and that counselling is not one of them. Verified fact
Mental Health First Aid
A short course in responding to someone in crisis. Opinion
On Becoming a Person, by Carl Rogers
A classic of person-centred counselling. Opinion
Meaningful work with modest pay and little regulation
Counselling suits patient listeners who want to help people through hard times. Opinion
Choose accredited training, expect part-time and community roles early, and consider whether psychology or social work suits your goals better. Opinion