The following is a list of training institutions recognised by CCAA as offering courses which successfully integrate faith with counselling practice. Most of these institutions offer a variety of different qualifications, some of which meet the CCAA requirements for Provisional Membership and some of which do not. For a full list of courses (both Christian and secular) accredited by PACFA, click here.
To become a counsellor, you can study courses at a diploma level, bachelor degree, graduate diploma or master’s degree in counselling. Some courses are delivered by vocational education providers while others by higher education providers.
A counsellor’s level of qualifications and experience determines which level counsellors can work at within the sector.
What are PACFA Accredited Courses?
Training providers and educational institutions can apply to have counselling and psychotherapy education programs assessed and accredited by PACFA. The accreditation process involves rigorous, independent assessment of counselling and psychotherapy training programs and leads to the designation of ‘PACFA Accredited Course’.
Students selecting a PACFA-accredited course can be assured that the quality of the course meets high standards in counselling and psychotherapy education and that it will be recognised by the profession. Graduates of PACFA-accredited programs are automatically eligible for PACFA membership, registration and listing on the PACFA and ARCAP Registers.
What are TEQSA Accredited Courses?
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory body responsible for all higher education. Higher education providers that have not been granted self-accrediting authority must have their courses of study accredited by TEQSA, guaranteeing quality programs.
Students can check the TEQSA website to ensure a counselling course is accredited.
The following is a list of training institutions recognised by CCAA as offering courses which successfully integrate faith with counselling practice. Most of these institutions offer a variety of different qualifications, some of which meet the CCAA requirements for Provisional Membership (Division 2) and some of which do not.
Courses that meet Provisional (Division 2), Graduate or Clinical Level entry
NSW: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | PACFA accredited courses: meeting PACFA Training Standards, as at March 2019 | TEQSA Accredited or self-accredited Counselling Courses (not listed as a PACFA accredited course), as at March 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Institute Approved Articulation Course in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy – Spiritual) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Charles Sturt University – Master of Pastoral Counselling (Clinical | ✓ | ✓ |
| Excelsia College – Master of Counselling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Morling College – Master of Counselling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Uniting Institute of Education – Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling | ✓ | ✓ |
| University of Notre Dame Australia – Master of Counselling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alphacrucis College – Master of Arts (Counselling) – Bachelor of Applied Social Science | ✓ | |
| Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd (formerly Tabor College (NSW) Ltd) – Bachelor of Social Science | ✓ | |
| Avondale College of Higher Education – Bachelor of Arts (Counselling Specialisation) | ✓ | |
| Excelsia College – Graduate Diploma of Counselling (with Practicum) | ✓ |
QLD: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | PACFA accredited courses: meeting PACFA Training Standards, as at March 2019 | TEQSA Accredited or self-accredited Counselling Courses (not listed as a PACFA accredited course), as at March 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Institute Approved Articulation Course in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy – Spiritual) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Christian Heritage College – Master of Counselling – Bachelor of Counselling | ✓ | ✓ |
SA: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | PACFA accredited courses: meeting PACFA Training Standards, as at March 2019 | TEQSA Accredited or self-accredited Counselling Courses (not listed as a PACFA accredited course), as at March 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Institute Approved Articulation Course in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy – Spiritual) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tabor College - Adelaide and Perth – Masters of Counselling Practice | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tabor College - Adelaide and Perth – Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling) | ✓ |
TAS: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | PACFA accredited courses: meeting PACFA Training Standards, as at March 2019 | TEQSA Accredited or self-accredited Counselling Courses (not listed as a PACFA accredited course), as at March 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Institute Approved Articulation Course in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy – Spiritual) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alpharcrusis College – Master of Counselling – Bachelor of Counselling | ✓ |
VIC: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | PACFA accredited courses: meeting PACFA Training Standards, as at March 2019 | TEQSA Accredited or self-accredited Counselling Courses (not listed as a PACFA accredited course), as at March 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Institute Approved Articulation Course in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy – Spiritual) | ✓ | ✓ |
| University of Divinity (Stirling College) Mulgrave campus – Master of Counselling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Eastern College Australia Incorporated (formerly Tabor College (Victoria) Inc.) – Bachelor of Applied Social Science | ✓ |
WA: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | PACFA accredited courses: meeting PACFA Training Standards, as at March 2019 | TEQSA Accredited or self-accredited Counselling Courses (not listed as a PACFA accredited course), as at March 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Institute Approved Articulation Course in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Integrated Psychotherapy – Spiritual) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tabor College – Adelaide and Perth – Masters of Counselling Practice | ✓ | ✓ |
| University of Notre Dame Australia – Master of Counselling (Fremantle & Sydney) – Bachelor of Counselling (Fremantle) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tabor College – Adelaide and Perth – Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling) | ✓ |
Courses that meet Provisional Division 1 Level Entry
Provisional Membership Division 1, requires the completion of an AQF Level 6 Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree or a Graduate Diploma that does not include a Practicum Placement (40 hours of client contact and 10 hours of clinical supervision).
Australia Wide: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | States |
|---|---|
| Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd (formerly Tabor College (NSW) Ltd) – Associate Degree of Social Science | NSW |
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Advanced Diploma of Counselling and Family Therapy (Christian) 80884ACT | NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia |
| Charles Sturt University – Graduate Diploma of Pastoral Counselling | NSW |
| Excelsia College – Graduate Diploma of Counselling (no Practicum) | NSW |
| Morling College – Graduate Diploma of Counselling (no Practicum) | NSW |
| St Marks National Theological Centre – Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling | NSW |
| Tabor College – Adelaide and Perth – Graduate Diploma in Counselling (no Practicum) | South Australia, Western Australia |
Courses that meet Diploma Level Entry
Australia Wide: Qualifications in Christian Counselling
| Institution | States |
|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Counselling – Diploma of Counselling and Family Therapy (Christian) | NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia |
| College of Counselling Studies (New England/North West) Inc – Diploma of Counselling Studies | NSW |
| St Marks School of Theology – Diploma of Counselling | NSW |
| Tabor College – Adelaide and Perth – Diploma of Counselling | South Australia, Western Australia |