The professional preparation of Australian counsellors

Abstract

Some indicate that counsellors are born not made. Others indicate that counselling is an activity that can be learned and developed. Most counselling education programmes recognize that a number of factors influence counselling competence. As a result, various types of counsellor training and education are available in Australia and counselling training is likely to include various aspects of counselling knowledge, awareness, and skill. Counselling training in Australia includes private mentoring and training programmes, tertiary and further education certificates and diplomas, undergraduate programmes, and postgraduate education from the Graduate Certificate through to the Doctor of Philosophy level. Postgraduate and adjunctive training in counselling for those with undergraduate training in related human service fields, such as psychology and social work, is particularly common for counsellors in Australia at this time. Counselling training can take varying amounts of time and serve to develop professional counsellors, researchers, and those who see counselling activities as adjunctive to their other professional duties. This article details the different types of training and education regarding counselling available in Australia. A discussion regarding the setting of minimum training standards for counsellors and the purpose of various levels of counselling training is included. Finally, information on where interested parties can obtain information on various counselling education programmes is provided.