This course offers professional development for students wishing to add to their existing qualifications in social sciences or health sciences. Graduates attain professional status as a rehabilitation counsellor and are qualified to provide specialist counselling, rehabilitation, vocational and case management services to people who have experienced injury, disability or social disadvantage.

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The Graduate Diploma of Rehabilitation Counselling can be completed on a one year full-time basis or longer via the off-campus (distance education) mode. In 2008, however, the course will be offered on a part-time basis. Upon completion of the program, students will have attained a knowledge base in disability (psychosocial, medical and legal aspects), counselling, vocational assessment, job placement and case management (relevant to a variety of disability populations).

Graduates may work in government/public, community or private rehabilitation settings, as rehabilitation coordinators in industry, vocational/social trainers, counsellors in drug and alcohol, psychiatric and correctional settings. They also work as human resource managers and private rehabilitation consultants. Supervised practical experience in work settings ensures students make vital links with industry.

Applicants who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling within the previous five years with a credit grade average or better, may apply to enter the Master of Rehabilitation Counselling.

Clinical & professional fieldwork
A number of clinical and professional fieldwork opportunities are scheduled as part of your course. This will give you the hands on experience with real clients in a supervised environment to allow you to combine the academic sections of your course with the practical abilities required of the rehabilitation counselling profession. Some of the clinical and professional fieldwork sites that students have attended previously include:

• Agape Family Ministries, South Africa
• Department of Defence, Mental Health Unit
• Lithgow Community Mental Health Team
• Mission Australia
• NSW Sport & Recreation, Sports Unit for Athletes with Disability
• Probation and Parole Service: Bankstown, Parramatta, Penrith
• Triple Care Farm, Robertson
• Westmead Hospital, Department of Rehab Medicine

There are a number of essential requirements that students need to prepare for before attending any site for clinical and professional fieldwork. Further information on these and more is available at our Clinical & Professional Fieldwork website.

Commonwealth Supported Places
The Faculty has a number of Commonwealth Supported Places available for this program. These places offer a considerable reduction in fees and are awarded to applicants who rank highest in their Grade Point Average. You will be notified with your offer if you qualify for a Commonwealth Supported Place.

Course completion requirements

48 credit points: students are to complete all core, elective and general elective units of study shown in the Table of units of study for the award as set out in the Faculty of Health Sciences handbook.

On campus attendance pattern

Full time, Part time

End qualification

Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling

Professional recognition

Graduates will be eligible for membership of the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia and the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors.

Articulation courses

M.Rehab.Clng. (SC147)

Similar courses

M.Rehab.Clng. (SC147)

Course level

Postgraduate Diploma