Your Study Support System
Since 1990, we have been proud to set the benchmark for service and support in external counselling studies. We offer a complete external study support system that has been developed over many years of research and through continual feedback from students.
Study Assistance with Degree-qualified Education Advisers
As a student you have unlimited access to the College’s online Study Assistance facilities. Our Degree-qualified Education Advisers are available via email and will provide you with friendly academic support. Their main focus is to support you throughout your studies so that you are able to graduate in the timeframe you set. This includes answering questions on assignment topics, personal coaching on assignment writing, and giving hints and tips on specific concepts. The Study Assistance Line is there if you feel you need the extra guidance.
Practical Experience
The structure of the Diploma of Professional Counselling ensures you graduate with a sufficient level of practical skill so that you can apply your counselling knowledge and skill with confidence. The course includes a number of compulsory practical components that cover a range of topics including Stress and Stress Management, Communication, Counselling and Interview Skills, Practical Application of Counselling Therapies and Group Counselling.
Because we have students who live anywhere in the world, we have a variety of options available to enable timely and effective completion of the practical components. Seminars give you the opportunity to apply the theory you have learned in contemporary counselling scenarios. It is also a great chance to get together with fellow students and participate in casework sessions under the guidance of a qualified Lecturer. To help facilitate your learning, our seminars use case scenarios relating to everyday, contemporary issues and provide a wonderful forum for group discussion and interaction. Seminars are held regularly and you will provided with a timetable upon enrolment.
Those students who may not be able to attend seminars for whatever reason, can elect to complete the practical components through alternate means. Students may choose to attend a one-on-one or small group session with a private assessor. We have qualified assessors available in many areas who are available to assist our students with completing their practical application.
Students are also able to complete their practical components by recording their demonstration of skills on DVD and sending in to us. We have detailed guidelines available to assist students compile their recordings and develop effective role plays to demonstrate their skills.
College Website
The College website contains an Online Resource Centre where you can access many study support and e-learning functions. You can:
• download your workbooks to complete your activities and upload for marking,
• contact an Online Education Adviser for study assistance,
• access a Knowledge Base of the most commonly asked questions for particular activities and concepts
Unique Resources to expand your learning
The College has developed a range of unique resources to help you expand your knowledge and practical skills throughout your studies.
As a student you receive a complementary subscription to The Professional Counsellor magazine. The Professional Counsellor is an industry publication full of practical case studies and counselling scenarios to hone your skills and broaden your knowledge.
Capitalising on the accessibility of the internet, the College has developed two websites to complement your studies. The College’s Articles site at www.aipc.net.au/articles is an online facility where you can browse numerous articles on a variety of counselling topics. And Counselling Connection, the College’s official blog at www.counsellingconnection.com, assists you with accessing the latest information about counselling and what’s happening in the industry.
As you can see, irrespective of where you live, our courses can be effectively studied, with plenty of support and study options available for students.
Pathways merged on the day I applied to begin the Diploma of Professional Counselling - my innate sensitivity and melancholy; my need to work through personal issues in self-acceptance; emotional over-eating; moderate depression and anxiety in earlier years;
I decided at the age of 52 to pursue studies in counselling, after working in administrative roles since leaving school. That was in May 2004. The study took me 2 years and 2 months to complete and I'm so happy to have accomplished it. For many years I had been unsatisfied in my administrative role, although it was well-paid with good conditions, it was also stressful, demanding, unrewarding and I suffered many migraines and disturbed sleep patterns as a consequence.
For many years I have worked in various administration jobs, I had not undertaken any formal study since leaving school and I had a strong desire to work in the Human Services Area.