A mental health counsellor supports people through emotional and mental health challenges, using conversation-based support to help them understand what they're going through and find ways to cope. In Australia, most counsellors begin with a Diploma of Counselling or a degree in counselling, then register with a professional body such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

This article covers the usual pathway into the profession, including the qualifications, registration, how long it can take and what counsellors earn.

What does a mental health counsellor do?

Counsellors work with people dealing with grief and loss, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, addictions and family challenges. Sessions are conversation-based, and the focus is on understanding, coping skills and direction rather than medical treatment.

Many counsellors work in community services, health services, schools and private practice. Some specialise in areas such as youth, grief and loss, addictions, trauma or relationship counselling.

Counsellor, therapist or clinician: what's the difference?

These words are often used as if they mean the same thing, but they don't always.

• Counsellor: a professional who provides conversation-based support and registers with a body such as ACA or PACFA.
• Psychologist: a profession registered through AHPRA, which typically takes around six years of study and supervised training.
• Clinician: a broad term for professionals who assess and treat mental health conditions, such as psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health nurses.
• Therapist: a general word used for several professions, including counsellors and psychologists.

The rest of this article focuses on the counsellor pathway.

Mental health counsellor qualifications and pathways

Counselling isn't registered through AHPRA the way psychology is. Qualifications are instead recognised through professional bodies, and the two main ones are ACA and PACFA. ACA accepts these counselling qualifications:

• Diploma of Counselling (AQF level 5): the usual VET entry point, which can lead to ACA Level 1 registration.
• Bachelor of Counselling (AQF level 7): a degree pathway that opens the higher ACA levels, since Levels 3 and 4 require a bachelor's or master's degree.
• Graduate Diploma of Counselling (AQF level 8): a postgraduate option that can lead as high as ACA Level 2.
• Master of Counselling (AQF level 9): also opens the higher levels, and is a popular route for graduates from other fields.

PACFA, the other main body, generally expects a bachelor's or master's degree.

Qualifications in psychology, social work and mental health lead to different careers, and ACA doesn't accept them for counsellor registration. That includes the Certificate IV in Mental Health and the Diploma of Mental Health, which are more often a way into support roles, such as mental health peer work or mental health support work.

How registration works

ACA and PACFA together run the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP), which lists registered counsellors from both bodies. ACA has four levels. Level 1 is the entry tier for counsellors with a diploma or higher counselling qualification, and the higher levels need a bachelor's or master's degree along with supervised practice. ACA also lists which qualifications it accepts.

Registered counsellors also complete professional development each year, which Open Universities Australia puts at about 25 hours for ACA members and 20 hours for PACFA members.

The usual path

Most counsellors follow a path like this:

1. A counselling qualification, such as a Diploma of Counselling or a Bachelor of Counselling
2. Practical experience, through supervised placement, volunteering or helpline work
3. Registration with ACA or PACFA
4. Supervised practice after graduating, which counts toward higher registration levels
5. Ongoing professional development

How long does it take?

Under the Australian Qualifications Framework, a diploma generally takes one to two years, a bachelor's degree about three years and a master's degree one to two years. Providers vary, and part-time or online study can stretch these timeframes. The higher ACA levels also require supervised practice after graduating, so reaching them takes additional years.

Where practical experience comes from

Practical experience looks different from course to course. Many counselling degrees include supervised placements, while some diploma courses don't require one, so students often build experience through volunteering with community organisations and helplines such as Lifeline. For courses that do include a placement, a placement provider, SkilTrak can help students find a suitable host organisation. Our article on mental health placements in Australia covers how that works.

What counsellors earn and the outlook

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, around 40,100 people work as counsellors in Australia, and median earnings for full-time workers are $2,154 a week before tax, which is roughly $112,000 a year. About half of counsellors (51%) work part-time, so earnings vary with hours, setting and experience. Employment grew by around 2,800 over the past year.

Demand reflects how common mental health challenges are. The latest ABS survey found that 21.5% of Australians aged 16 to 85 had a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.

Final thoughts

Becoming a mental health counsellor in Australia usually starts with a counselling qualification, followed by registration and supervised experience. A Diploma of Counselling is a common starting point, degrees open the higher registration levels, and the pathway can grow as experience builds.

If you are looking to complete your placement as a mental health counsellor. SkilTrak will help you find the right placement spot for you. Contact us now!