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The Graduate Diploma of Counselling is a comprehensive Christian counselling course that empowers Perth Bible College (PBC) students to develop a range of counselling skills and practices across different counselling areas.
The course is offered in a blended delivery setting and highlights the importance of cultural awareness, as well as person-centred approaches. Students will learn the necessary modalities required to deliver effective counselling, and will also be guided in developing their own professional development.
The Graduate Diploma of Counselling is delivered with a Christian ethos in mind at all times. It also aims to promote the study of the whole person and can be used as a prerequisite that might be required for counselling practice.
Objectives include learning how to work in varied settings and with diverse groups of clients, with a curriculum that emphasises well-developed personal competencies and foundational knowledge that can be applied in their current role, or to a career as a professional counsellor.
Students not only receive a postgraduate qualification that can support their career in a number of professional settings, but they also receive part of the required eligibility for professional counselling association membership through the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
Perth Bible College (PBC) offers a Graduate Diploma of Counselling through a Partnership arrangement with Australian College of Christian Studies (ACCS). ACCS is an accredited Higher Education Provider (Provider ID: PRV12047).
General Admission Requirements
All applicants who endeavour to submit an application must meet the general admission requirements.
All domestic candidates must be Christian and 17 years or older.
Applicants must confess their faith in Christ under the PBC Statement of Faith, be involved regularly in a local church, demonstrate a desire to be involved in church ministry, demonstrate the physical and psychological capacity for studying in a tertiary institution, agree to abide by PBC policies and procedures and agree to abide by the Student Code of Conduct.
Before applying, please ensure you have:
- A Unique Student Identifier number (USI). If you don’t have one, you can apply here. To find your number, click here.
- A colour PDF of your birth certificate, passport, and permanent resident visa (or a certified copy)
- A digital passport-style image
- A colour PDF of previous academic transcripts and certificates of completion(or a certified copy)
- A page or two detailing your testimony, including how you became a Christian and why you believe the Lord would have you train for Christian life and service at PBC
- Contact information for two chosen referees
- Contact information for your Pastor/Leader.
All students will also be required to demonstrate English Proficiency, which is equivalent to an academic IELTS band of 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in only one subset. This can be demonstrated by:
- evidence of the completion of studies undertaken only in the English language;
- evidence of the completion of English studies undertaken at TAFE or an equivalent institution;
- completion of an external assessment of English language, for example an IELTS (Academic Version); and/or completion of an onsite English evaluation. Candidates will be required to attend the PBC campus to complete the evaluation.
In addition to demonstrating English Proficiency, students must either:
- be qualified for admission to an Australian University;
- have other acceptable post-secondary qualifications (e.g. PBC Diploma of Ministry with distinction average); or
- qualify for admission as a mature age student.
When you have all the required supporting information for your application, please apply online here.
Overseas Admission Requirements
‘This course is not available for Overseas Students’
Structure
The course is based on three trimesters, each of twelve weeks duration with eight subjects offered in one year for students studying full time, or part time equivalent.
It is typically completed in 1 year full time or 3 years part time.
Units
The core course content of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling includes:
- SC8102 Counselling Skills 1
- SC8103 Introduction to Marriage and Family Counselling
- SC8104 Counselling Skills 2
- SC8106 Human Lifespan Development
- SC8107 Counselling Theories and Practice
- SC8108 Professional Ethics
- SC8109 Introduction to Psychology
- SC8110 Narrative Therapy and Positive Counselling
Enrolment
Enrolment process
Before the beginning of each semester, each student shall apply for enrolment by completing and lodging an Enrolment Form, obtainable from the Student Office.
The Dean of Students and the Dean of Studies will arrange enrolment appointment days for enrolling new and returning students. These meetings will allow students to receive advice on which units to enrol in, ensuring they will meet the requirements of their course.
Enrolment forms must be completed before attending lectures for that semester. All enrolments must be finalised by the census date. Students cannot add new units or transfer between units after the census date.
Students may apply to change their course enrolment at the beginning of a new semester up until the census date.
Students must complete an Application for Change of Enrolment form to make such an application. Students must meet the requirements outlined in the Course Articulation and Change of Course Policy to qualify to change course enrolment.
Deferment
PBC may permit the deferral of a course enrolment of a student in some circumstances as outlined in the Enrolment – Domestic Students Policy and Enrolment – Overseas Students Policy.
Fees and charges
PBC’s most current fee structure can be found on the Course Fees page.
Academic requirements
Please carefully read the academic requirements as listed on the award that you are interested in pursuing.
Student and Campus Services
Student support is an important aspect at PBC.
We take our students’ success in their studies seriously and understand that good student support requires a holistic approach. As a result of our commitment to our students, we have consistently been ranked above 90% for the student support aspect in the national Student Experience Survey facilitated by the QILT team.
Read more about Student and Campus Services.
Additional Information
Access and equity
PBC does not discriminate in the admission and access to its programs and activities based on disability, age, sex, race, colour of national or ethnic origin.
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“The thing I loved most about PBC was the environment. We have a Christian community on campus, support from the lecturer, lovely students and fellowship. It has encouraged me to feel part of the community.”