School of Psychology

Coaching and counselling

General coaching and counselling roles can involve working with people to guide them through difficulties they may be experiencing and offer strategies to manage different aspects of their life. The nature of counselling work requires a high degree of empathy and well-developed listening skills.

Career counselling

Career counsellors help students choose career paths that align with their interests and strengths and build the skills they need for a successful working life.

Your future role

As a career counsellor your tasks may include:

  • helping students develop career skills such as career self-management and lifelong learning
  • developing networks and liaising with key internal stakeholders
  • researching, developing, promoting and conducting group career development workshops and seminars on a range of career and employment-related topics
  • researching, developing and designing a range of innovative digital or print-based resources to meet the needs of students, clients and stakeholders
  • contacting external stakeholders, such as employers, alumni, community organisations or professional bodies to give informed advice to students across a range of disciplines.

Skills and experience

The skills and experience that will help get you started in this role include:

  • demonstrated high-level organisational skills and the ability to be self-motivated and proactive, to work independently or as a member of a small team
  • ability to develop and implement tailored career education workshops, seminars and/or lectures
  • ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds as well as members of the wider business community in a range of written, verbal and digital formats.

Qualifications and requirements

For this role you'll need qualifications and requirements that include:

  • tertiary degree and the completion of a relevant graduate certificate. This is consistent with the requirements of the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners
  • relevant experience in the careers field, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Employers

Career counsellors typically work in educational settings, including high schools, TAFE and universities. They also sometimes work within large organisations (generally in the private sector) and within recruitment agencies.

Rehabilitation counselling (accident/injury)

Your role as a rehabilitation counsellor will involve helping clients with severe injuries return to optimal health.

Your future role

As a rehabilitation counsellor your tasks may include:

  • proactively managing a portfolio of severely injured clients within a specialist team to achieve optimal client outcomes
  • identifying barriers for clients to return to health and/or return to work and implementing strategies to overcome these
  • developing holistic individualised plans and setting expectations
  • presenting at various forums (e.g. court proceedings, conferences, seminars) to provide information, community education and specialist knowledge
  • communicating effectively with key stakeholders
  • visiting and meeting with clients, their families and treatment teams.

Skills and experience

The skills and experience that will help get you started in this role include:

  • an understanding of the Victorian Workers Compensation and ComCare legislation
  • ability to conduct vocational assessments and develop return-to-work plans
  • excellent written and negotiation skills
  • strong time-management skills
  • strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build long-lasting, profitable business relationships.

Qualifications and requirements

For this role you'll need qualifications and requirements that include:

  • registered psychologist or rehabilitation counsellor with accreditation
  • counselling course or undergraduate units in counselling, including HPY210
  • experience with the occupational rehabilitation sector
  • experience in case management of injured workers and performing assessments
  • experience volunteering with a community organisation
  • Police Check.

Employers

There's a range of possible employers in this field both in the public and private sectors. One of the largest organisations is the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

Telephone/digital counselling

Connecting with your clients by phone, you’ll provide support for a range of psychological and personal challenges.

Your future role

As a telephone/digital counsellor your tasks may include:

  • providing client-centred telephone counselling to individuals on a range of issues, including:
    • grief/trauma
    • depression/mental illness
    • alcohol and substance abuse
    • gambling/financial support
    • child protection
    • family/domestic violence
    • sexual assault
    • men's issues
    • issues relating to people who are gender/sexually diverse
  • providing telephone counselling in crisis situations, for example, suicide intervention
  • helping individuals access services
  • assessing and referring callers
  • working closely with other services to provide a holistic service to individuals
  • participating in occupational health and safety processes
  • working in a team environment.

Skills and experience

The skills and experience that will help get you started in this role include:

  • interpersonal skills such as active listening
  • skills in referral – ascertaining what services a person needs and how they might get them
  • ability to follow the policies, procedures and programs of the organisation
  • excellent communication skills, including the ability to build relationships and gain trust
  • high level of resilience and self-awareness.

Qualifications and requirements

For this role you'll need qualifications and requirements that include:

  • qualifications in counselling, social work, psychology or relevant experience in the field
  • Certificate IV in Telephone Counselling
  • counselling course or undergraduate units in counselling, including HPY210
  • experience volunteering with a community organisation
  • Police Check.

Employers

For a list of useful links to services/possible employers, see Lifeworks.

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