Help people overcome personal trauma and difficulty
Rehabilitation counselling is concerned with the development, implementation and evaluation of rehabilitation programs for people and families affected by injury, disability or social disadvantage.

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The aim of rehabilitation is to assist people with disabilities or disadvantage to attain maximum participation in employment and community life through appropriate assessment, counselling, service provision and support.

The Master of Rehabilitation Counselling can be completed over two years full-time or longer via the off-campus (distance education) mode. In 2008, however, the course will be offered on a part-time basis: students in the Master of Rehabilitation Counselling can accelerate their candidature in 2009 and onwards by selecting greater than 12 credit points per semester. 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. Graduates of the Master of Rehabilitation Counselling will also be adequately prepared to participate actively in ongoing research within the field of rehabilitation into the future. 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 Stage 2 of the Master of Rehabilitation Counselling. A student enrolled in the Master of Rehabilitation Counselling who elects to exit early from the Masters must satisfactorily complete the requirements for the Graduate Diploma.

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:

• Ambulance Service of NSW
• Barnados
• House With No Steps, Belrose
• Jarrah House, Prince Henry Hospital
• Mitchells Plain Community Health Centre, South Africa
• Silverwater Correctional Centre
• Wesley Life Skills
• Workcover

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

96 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

Master of Rehabilitation Counselling

Professional recognition

Graduates will be eligible for membership of the peak professional bodies representing rehabilitation counselling, namely the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors and the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia. Both qualifications are recognised for employment overseas in countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Course structure

Course level

Masters by Coursework

Handbook website link

http://www.usyd.edu.au/handbooks/handbooks_admin/health_science.shtml