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Mental Health Counsellor Courses

Mental Health Counsellors provide counselling and psychotherapy services to clients, either in-person or through telecounselling formats.

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AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).

How do I become a Mental Health Counsellor?

Get qualified to work as a Mental Health Counsellor with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

The average salary for qualified Mental Health Counsellors in Australia is currently $1,327 per week ($69,004 annually). Increase your earning capacity by undertaking post-graduate qualifications and registering with professional organisations like the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

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There are 35,000 fully qualified counsellors working in Australia right now, some of these are Mental Health Counsellors. They work in hospitals, aged care facilities, community health clinics, schools, correctional service facilities, and private workplaces. A large number of Mental Health Counsellors work in private practice.

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You can launch your career as a Mental Health Counsellor in Australia by obtaining a VET Diploma of Counselling and joining the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). However, you will have more employment opportunities by obtaining a Bachelor of Counselling or Master of Counselling and elevating your professional membership with the ACA or PACFA.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023

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Further reading

How to start a career in Mental Health

5th August 2021

What can you do with a Diploma of Mental Health?

13th January 2021

How to start a career in counselling

7th September 2020

All mental health counsellor courses

Mental Health Counsellor careers

Mental Health Counsellors are qualified health professionals who provide counselling and psychotherapy (talk-therapy) services to their clients. They provide either face-to-face counselling in a private office or clinic, or telecounselling services via video conference, telephone, or internet media.

As a Mental Health Counsellor you could be having an initial session with a new client who needs help with anger management, using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help a client navigate a divorce, referring a client with drug and alcohol addictions to a specialist, having a review session with your supervisor, attending professional development training, or writing up your notes after a session with a client.

To be successful in this role you will need to be very organised and have the ability to treat your clients with unconditional positive regard.

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