HEALTH SCIENCES AT CURTIN - Health Sciences - Curtin University

Graduate Diploma
Occupational Therapy & Social Work
Counselling (Human Services)
HEALTH
SCIENCES
AT CURTIN
Course Code: 142006
Cricos Code: 043336J
This course is
an advanced,
practice-oriented
and experiential
professional course
intended for people
who wish to enhance
or commence a
counselling practice in
their present or future
employment.
Course Overview
Counsellors are concerned with a variety
of issues related to the development of
flexible and positive relationships. The
Human Services Counselling course aims to
produce critical reflective practitioners with
an appreciation of diverse, contemporary
approaches to counselling. Offering
stimulating units delivered in a flexible mode
that assist students to develop unique and
creative counselling styles. Students are
expected to explore their personal beliefs,
life experiences and attitudes that affect the
practice of counselling.
In the Graduate Diploma in Human Services
Counselling you will be introduced to a variety
of counselling theories and approaches,
including strengths-based, narrative
and solution-focused, and examine their
contemporary applications. You will explore
in-depth the therapeutic relationship in terms
of construction/co-construction of meaning
and power relations, and explore notions of
boundaries, systems, alliances and coalitions.
The relationship of ethics to reflective practice will
be considered to ensure you develop the skills for
ethical practice.
Various mind-body approaches to counselling
will be examined and you will consider how
contemporary mindfulness practices and an
attention to spirituality in people’s lives can
contribute to enhancing counselling outcomes.
Students will be required to undertake
approximately four hours per week voluntary or
paid counselling work while studying this course.
This can count towards the fieldwork experience
required for articulation into the Master of Human
Services Counselling.
Entry Requirements
• A three or four-year bachelor degree or
equivalent in behavioural or social sciences.
• Applicants without formal qualifications
but with at least five years’ relevant work
experience may enrol in two units of the
course on an extension basis and articulate
to the Graduate Diploma if a course weighted
average of at least 70 per cent is achieved.
Recognition of Prior
Learning (RPL)
RPL is assessed on an individual basis.
Duration and Availability
Twelve months full-time or equivalent part-time.
All classes are held on the Bentley campus in the
evenings or weekends. Some may be available
externally or as week-intensive units.
healthsciences.curtin.edu.au

Graduate Diploma
All about
Human Services Counselling
Teaching Methods
and Assessment
Social Work employs a range of teaching
methods encouraging student-centred,
self-directed learning. These include lectures,
tutorials, workshops and small-group work.
A range of assessment methods are used
including written essays, oral presentations,
written and oral examinations, interviewing,
projects, portfolios and learning journals.
The teaching staff are involved in both the
practice and theory of counselling. Members
of staff are practising counsellors or therapists
with qualifications in social work, psychology,
counselling and related disciplines. They have
attended intensive training with national and
international leaders in the field and bring different
approaches to counselling, including systemic,
person-centred, solution focused and narrative.
All lecturers share a commitment to providing
relevant, contemporary and practical education
and are available to students for consultation and
guidance throughout the course.
Student Association
Postgraduate students are encouraged to join
the Curtin Postgraduate Student Association
(CUPSA) which offers support and representation
for all postgraduate students enrolled at Curtin.
International Students
International Students studying in
Australia on a student visa can only
study full-time and there are also
specific entry requirements that must be
met. Please refer to international.curtin.
edu.au or phone +61 8 9266 7331 for
further information, as some information
contained in this flyer may not be
applicable to international students.
Australian citizens and permanent
residents and international students
studying outside Australia may have
the choice of full-time, part-time and
external study. Information about TISC
only applies to Australian residents.
Testimonials
School Counsellor
Singapore
“The challenges we faced in class has
prepared me to face the realities of my
counselling situation here and now ...
lecturers were extremely supportive, made
resources easily available and made time
for us to have discussions after class.”
Social Worker
Perth
“Overall, I found the course really helpful
in providing an overview of counselling/
therapy in historical terms, in clarifying
and demystifying various approaches
and schools of counselling – or schools
of thought about counselling. It certainly
offered me the space and opportunity to
think more deeply about practice, and to
then incorporate this into my practice –
with some wonderful outcomes.
At a personal level, the course was also
of great value. There was enormous
opportunity for expansion of academic
knowledge and self awareness during the
course. In particular, the field placement/s
were the component that brought the
course together for me. I feel that the
course has changed the way I work for the
better, and that this is a refl ection of how it
has extended my skills and knowledge.”
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this course may find
employment within government and
non-government agencies specialising in
counselling services. Some may commence a
private counselling practice.
Professional Recognition
Graduates are eligible for membership of the
Australian Counsellors Association (ACA).
How to apply
1. Please submit the following documents
to the Faculty of Health Sciences Student
Services Office
• A completed application form for
Admission to a Postgraduate Coursework
degree, available on the website:
http://students.curtin.edu/administration/
forms.cfm.
• Your curriculum vitae
• A personal statement of up to 500 words
outlining why you wish to enrol in this
course.
• Certified copies of previous degree
certificates.
2. Please nominate two professional referees
who should complete a confidential referee
report form available from the Social Work
website: http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.
au/postgraduate/courseworkforms.cfm and
return it to the Postgraduate Coordinator,
Department of Social Work.
3. Short listed applicants will be required to
attend an interview of approximately 30
minutes to determine suitability for entry.
The interview will assess relevance of
voluntary and paid work experience,
openness to learning, interpersonal skills,
flexibility, self awareness and reflexivity.
Contact
Health Sciences
Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U1987
Perth Western Australia 6845
Tel: +61 8 9266 4583
Fax: +618 9266 4593
E: futurestudents@health.curtin.edu.au
W: healthsciences.curtin.edu.au
International enquiries
Tel: +61 8 9266 7331
Fax: +61 8 9266 2605
E: international@curtin.edu.au
W: international.curtin.edu.au
Curtin aspires to be a leading edge university of technology.
To fulfil this vision, we strive to be innovative and forward-looking
in everything we do. It’s in our approach to teaching and learning.
It’s in our research. It’s in our staff, our students and our graduates.
It’s in the way we think and act. It’s what we call Curtinnovation.
Information in this publication is correct at the time of printing and is valid for 2010, but may be subject to change. In particular, the University
reserves the right to change the content and/or method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw any unit of
study or program which it offers, to impose limitations or enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program.
Part time and external study is only available to Australian resident students and International students studying outside Australia.
Full details of units and course structure can be obtained by contacting the above or electronically from: http://handbook.curtin.edu.au
CRICOS Provider Code 00301J (WA), 02637B (NSW)
HlthSci/OTSW/GD/142006/2010/V1
198889-05-2010