Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Master of Counselling

Effective from 01-JAN-2026 : Code O18

Are you passionate about helping people navigate life’s challenges and supporting their wellbeing? ECU’s Master of Counselling equips you with the knowledge, skills and experience to work effectively as a professional counsellor across diverse settings. You’ll learn to engage clients through a person-centred approach, while exploring a range of counselling theories and techniques including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic models. You’ll also study specialist areas such as counselling children and adolescents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, counselling in a digital world, mental health, and trauma-informed practice. Along the way, you’ll examine the ethical and professional issues counsellors face, particularly in today’s rapidly changing and increasingly digital environment. Practical learning is at the heart of this course. You’ll complete 220 hours of professional placement in an agency setting, including supervised practice. Here you’ll plan, implement and evaluate counselling sessions, collaborate within interprofessional teams, and reflect on your own practice developing the confidence and competence you’ll need to practice as a counsellor. By graduation, you’ll be prepared to deliver flexible, ethical and culturally responsive counselling to individuals, families and communities.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Clinical or professional work placement Requirement

The final unit of this course requires students to engage in a Professional Field Placement, providing an opportunity for the student to receive supervised practice in an agency setting. Aimed at developing the full identity and competence of the counsellor, students will be required to plan, implement and evaluate counselling sessions, collaborate as part of an inter professional team, engage reflectively in supervision and adhere to agency protocols, policies and procedures.

Duty of care

Students will be required to apply for and supply current Working with Children Check (WWCC) cards and police clearances as part of their eligibility to enroll in the Professional Field Placement unit

Attendance requirements

Students are expected to meet professional standards of punctuality, dependability and responsibility, with a compulsory attendance requirement of no less than 80%.

Professional practice rules

These will be defined by the agencies in which the students attend for their placements.

Implications of failing

Passing the Professional Field Placement unit is a requirement of completing the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Apply high-level interpersonal skills in order to collaborate in interprofessional practice.
2. Apply professional and technical skills to design, implement, and evaluate counselling interventions across a range of different modalities.
3. Communicate in an ethical and culturally responsive manner in professional practice.
4. Critically analyse and apply a complex body of theoretical knowledge and skills based practice in the discipline of counselling.
5. Engage in high level self-management and reflective practice to monitor professional functioning and implement strategies for ongoing development as a professional.
6. Investigate and employ the ethical and legal frameworks relevant to counselling in a range of professional contexts.

Professional Recognition

Course

This course has been Accredited by: Australian Counselling Association (ACA).

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 6)

• Bachelor degree; or
• Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English Language requirement (Band 4)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
• Bachelor degree from a country specified in the Admissions Policy;
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
• Other tests, courses or programs as defined in the Admissions Policy.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to submit an academic transcript, two referee reports, and a personal statement about motivations to complete the course, and attend an interview.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.

Course Duration

• Students will study 40 credit points per trimester over 2 years or part-time equivalent.

Course Delivery

• Joondalup: Part Time, Full Time

Non standard timetable requirements

This course will be completed in a trimester format.

Course Coordinator

Dr Jo CRUYWAGEN

Course Structure