Course and Subject Handbook 2025

Course and Subject Handbook 2025 Courses Postgraduate Courses Master of Guidance and Counselling

Master of Guidance and Counselling

Handbook year
Course code	34704
Course type	Masters Degree (Coursework) (AQF Level 9)
Professional accreditation status	This course is accredited in Australia with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). This accreditation is nationally recognised and indicates that the course meets the Australian industry standard. As an additional benefit for students studying this course in Australia, graduates are eligible to apply for Level 2 professional membership with the ACA. Graduates must reside in Australia to practice and agree to ACA’s terms and conditions, demonstrating their continued commitment to working ethically and effectively. This course is also delivered via the University’s offshore campus in Singapore. The course is recognised in Singapore by the Singapore Association for Counselling. If graduates of this course relocate and reside in Australia, they are eligible to apply for Level 2 professional membership with ACA, providing evidence they reside and practice in Australia. This is in accordance with ACA’s current membership eligibility requirements.
Owner	Academy
College	Arts, Society and Education

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Completion of an AQF Level 7 bachelor degree in a cognate discipline. Cognate disciplines include, but are not limited to, career development, community services, education, life coaching, mental health, pastoral care, health, human services, psychology, social sciences, behavioural science, social work, law or youth work

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the һ��Admissions Policy.

Post admission
requirements

һ��Townsville and External:

Suitability to Work with Children Card (Blue Card):

This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age or vulnerable people. Students admitted to һ��Australia are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) or interstate equivalent before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card or interstate equivalent for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course

For more information, refer to the following, as relevant to your state or territory:

ACT –

NSW –

NT –

QLD -

SA –

TAS –

WA –

һ��Singapore:

This course requires students to provide a Certificate of Clearance issued by the Singapore Police Force to certify the student has no prior criminal conviction in Singapore. For more information, please refer to the .

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

36 credit points as per course structure

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Master of Guidance and Counselling, graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced and integrated understanding of theoretical and professional knowledge, research methods, ethical reasoning principles and recent developments in guidance and counselling, with depth in the Professional Standards of the Australian Counselling Association and their Code of Ethics and Practice, or the Singapore Association for Counselling and their Code of Ethics
Reflect on comprehensive and critical approaches to learning on a range of issues including intercultural sensitivity, the tropics, wellbeing, trauma and sustainability and their application in the guidance counselling and career development
Critically review, analyse and synthesise theoretical propositions, professional practice and research principles and methodologies in guidance and counselling, including intercultural and career development applications
Interpret, evaluate, generate and justify complex ideas, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist stakeholders, using advanced speaking, reading, writing, listening, technological / digital, numeracy and advocacy skills
Identify, theorise and design solutions for complex issues in a range of guidance and counselling practice contexts including mental health and wellbeing, telehealth, trauma, and career development, exercising specialised knowledge and adaptability
Design, plan and ethically execute a substantial research-based project with creativity, initiative and a high level of autonomy and accountability.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Master of Guidance and Counselling.
Reasonable adjustments	All һ��students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

:03 Human Diversity

:03 Foundations of Counselling Theory

:03 Foundations of Counselling Practice

:03 Advanced Counselling Practice

:03 Practicum in Guidance and Counselling

:03 Reflective Practice Research in Guidance and Counselling

:03 Career and Leisure Guidance and Counselling

:03 Assessment and Case Conceptualisation

OPTIONS

Option 1 - Electives

Select 12 credit points of subjects from List 1

Option 2 – Research Pathway

(Course Coordinator approval is required prior to enrolment. A project and supervisor must be confirmed. This option is not available to full-time students commencing in Semester 2)

:06 Research Planning

:06 Research Project

List 1

:03 Introduction to Educational Research

:03 Educational Leadership

:03 Leading for Change in Curriculum and Pedagogy

:03 Education for Sustainability

:03 Social Learning Perspectives for a Sustainable Future

:03 Alcohol and Other Drugs (Students to obtain Course Coordinator approval prior to enrolment in HS5111)

:03 Health Coaching and Behaviour Change

:03 Leading and Managing Organisational Change

:03 Workplace Psychological Health

:03 Community Development

:03 Organisational Practice

:03 Professional Values and Ethics

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
һ��Singapore	Part-time study only
һ��Townsville	Mixed attendance mode: some subjects are only available via external attendance mode. Students must undertake their professional placement in Australia
External	Students must undertake their professional placement in Australia

Candidature

Expected time to complete

һ��Townsville and External: 18 months full-time or part-time equivalent

һ��Singapore: 24 months Part-time

Maximum time to complete

5 years

Maximum leave of absence

2 years

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	Yes Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure. Students may be required to undertake placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled at their own expense.
Special assessment requirements	Refer to Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement policy.
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure
Maximum allowed	18 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 15 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree.
Other restrictions	Credit will not be granted for and . Students who have accrued five years of full-time (or equivalent) professional experience in a cognate discipline area or have an AQF Level 8 cognate qualification may be granted advanced standing of up to 12 credit points for non-core subjects.

Award Details

Award title	MASTER OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
Approved abbreviation	MGuidCouns
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Not applicable
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

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