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Entry requirements and pathways
International students
Academic entry requirement
Prerequisites
Successful completion of an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent).
Applicants with industry experience will also be considered.
Students who have completed Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling (PHG0001CI) can enter the course via Cognate pathway and receive up to 120 credit points (1 year).
Specialisation - recommended: Health Sciences, Psychology, Behavioural Sciences or other relevant field.
Note: Meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee an offer of a place. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection and there may be limited places available.
English language requirement
6.5 IELTS (Academic) with no individual band less than 6.0.
Please refer to our English Language Requirements page for details of other accepted English Proficiency tests and additional recognised English Language Proficiency Measures, such as English as the language of instruction.
Core participation requirements
Core Participation Requirements are abilities, attributes and behaviours that are required to undertake learning activities and professional experience in your course. These requirements are provided for your information and are not entry requirements. Core Participation Requirements are also referred to as Inherent Requirements by other institutions.
La Trobe University wants you to understand the Core Participation Requirements of your course so you can:
- determine if you may need support during your studies; and
- make an informed decision about whether the course is suitable for you.
If there are any Core Participation Requirements listed below that you do not feel capable of demonstrating, we may be able to make adjustments that may support your studies. Please contact the AccessAbility Hub or your Course Coordinator to discuss any adjustments you may need.
As a La Trobe student, you will also need to abide by the Student Charter and meet any professional accreditation requirements of your course.
Core requirement
Students must be able to manage their own responses and behaviour to work effectively in a range of learning environments with diverse people and tasks. This includes the capacity to be receptive and respond appropriately to constructive feedback. Students should also be able to work with others in a team or group environment and make and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals in order to complete tasks or for professional practice.
See also Student behaviours policy for more information.
Course-specific requirement
Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health must demonstrate strong interpersonal and interpersonal communication skills that will allow them to continuously develop their communication and counselling skills throughout their careers.
Students must be able to manage personal responses, beliefs or preferences in order to work in an ethical and socially responsible manner with diverse groups , for example to be able to work with people from ethnically and religiously diverse backgrounds.
Core requirement
Students must be able to locate, acquire, retain and apply knowledge as part of their learning and for assessment. They must have the ability to sustain their attention over a designated period, maintain their focus in a variety of learning environments and remember information long enough to complete tasks in a reasonable and safe timeframe.
Course-specific requirement
Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health students must be able to use retained knowledge to determine safe and appropriate care decisions. Students must be able to notice, focus their attention and process information in order to respond in an ethically and socially responsible manner that recognises the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and legislative requirements. For example, for a client in a return to work setting they must be able to focus on and respond to changing information from clients in order to respond in an appropriate manner that recognises both the duty of care for the client and the client's rights and responsibilities as stipulated by legislation.
Core requirement
Students should possess the ability to interact with visual, auditory or tactile inputs sufficiently to manage their learning environment and to meet professional performance needs.
Course-specific requirement
Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health students must be able to process visual and or auditory information and monitor the broader environment for client safety, including observing multiple people and events simultaneously. Students must be able to detect changes in client voice, vocal content, posture, movement and other responses to clinical treatments.
Credit for previous study (advanced standing)
Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.
The University will designate courses where there is only admission into Year 1 of the course. In these cases, there is limited credit. See list of limited entry courses.
To check if this course is available for credit, please visit the Advanced standing webpage.
Questions about the course?
Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.
Call (+61 3) 6145 0033
Ask a question
Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.
What you'll study
Sample course structure
Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.
To qualify for the award of Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health, students must complete a total of 240 credit points across 2 years.
Students who opt for a 60-credit point specialisation must attain a minimum of 65% weighted average mark (WAM). Those who fail to meet this WAM criterion will have the option to choose elective subjects instead.
Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
- 105 credit points from chosen Core
- 15 credit points from chosen Core choice
Year 2 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
- 60 credit points from chosen Core
- 60 credit points from chosen Specialisation or Electives
Study options
This is a StudyFlex course
Whether your course is considered on campus, online or a mix of both, a StudyFlex course provides:
- at least one third of its subjects on campus or online; and/or
- at least two StudyFlex majors - that is two eight-subject sequences that offer at least half of their subjects on campus or online.
Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.
| Subject name | Subject code | Year | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE | LTU0AIM | 1 | 0 |
| COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS | PHE5SDS | 1 | 15 |
| EMPLOYMENT AND DISABILITY | PHE5EMD | 1 | 15 |
| REHABILITATION COUNSELLING | PHE5REC | 1 | 15 |
| REHABILITATION COUNSELLING PRACTICUM | PHE5RCP | 1 | 15 |
| SERVICE COORDINATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT | PHE5SCC | 1 | 15 |
| THE SERVICE USER PERSPECTIVE IN HEALTH CARE | PHE5SUP | 1 | 15 |
| VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION | PHE5VOR | 1 | 15 |
| FUNDAMENTALS OF EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COUNSELLING | PHE5004 | 2 | 15 |
| MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLING A | PHE5002 | 2 | 15 |
| MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLING B | PHE5003 | 2 | 15 |
| PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING PRACTICE | PHE5001 | 2 | 15 |
Core choice subjects are one or more subject groups you need to select in your course. Core choice subjects may be specific to your course, major, minor, specialisation or other learning requirements.
| Subject name | Subject code | Year | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADVOCACY IN CONTEMPORARY DISABILITY PRACTICE | ADP5ADP | 1 | 15 |
| MANAGING ATHLETE AND COACH WELFARE | PHE5ACW | 1 | 15 |
| VIRTUAL CARE AND THE INTERNET OF MEDICAL THINGS | DIG5VTH | 1 | 15 |
A specialisation is a sequence of related subjects studied in your course. In some courses, you need to complete at least one specialisation to attain your degree.
Students to select one specialisation
| Course specialisations | Specialisation code |
|---|---|
| Advanced practice StudyFlex | SPE-ADP01 |
| Applied research StudyFlex | SPE-APR01 |
For more information on these please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.
Work-Based Learning
Compulsory placements (Work Based Learning)
During this course, you will participate in one or more supervised Work Based Learning (WBL) placements designed to allow you to practice newly acquired skills, behaviours and knowledge while integrating theory with practice. The placements will immerse you in professional work culture, enabling you to develop and further enhance your skills. WBL provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience at one or more of our local, interstate or international industry partners or agencies. WBL placements will generally be arranged by the College based Placements Operation Team or Experiential Learning Team at La Trobe University. The number of hours undertaken can vary considerably, depending on the requirements of the course. Students may incur additional costs and it may be necessary to travel or relocate to complete a specific placement. Please refer to the individual subject entries for more information.
See La Trobe University Handbook for more details
The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.
View course information for City
Questions about the course?
Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.
Call (+61 3) 6145 0033
Ask a question
Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.
Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health course and career outcomes
However you choose to structure your study, La Trobe recognises your hard work. Here are the pathways you could follow as you move through your course.
Course intended learning outcomes
- Apply advanced and specialist theory, philosophy, research and evaluation methods to facilitate rehabilitation counselling and counselling practice.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate client-centred assessment to facilitate treatment outcomes in complex environments.
- Apply complex and specialised counselling skills and psychological interventions with creativity and initiative to meet complex patient needs in rehabilitation counselling and counselling contexts.
- Generate professional documentation and reports for various stakeholders within complex rehabilitation counselling and counselling contexts.
- Critically reflect on rehabilitation counselling and mental health counselling practice through monitoring and evaluation of own work and develop plans to meet personal and professional development needs.
- Appraise and apply legal, ethical and professional responsibilities of a counsellor and rehabilitation counsellor in complex environments and make referrals where appropriate.
- Design, implement, evaluate and where necessary revise theoretically informed evidence-based counselling and behaviour change interventions to facilitate desired long term vocational and avocational outcomes.
- Practice in an ethical and socially responsible manner as a health care practitioner and/or researcher.
Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health career opportunities
After graduation, you could work across a wide range of industries, including allied health, education, government, sports, and more.
Possible roles include:
- Rehabilitation counsellor
- Support people who are injured or experiencing disability or disadvantage, through the counselling process, to reintegrate into work and/or the community.
- Support people who are injured or experiencing disability or disadvantage, through the counselling process, to reintegrate into work and/or the community.
- Counsellor
- Work with individuals who are experiencing personal difficulties and help them to make meaningful and helpful changes geared toward promotion of wellbeing in their lives.
- Work with individuals who are experiencing personal difficulties and help them to make meaningful and helpful changes geared toward promotion of wellbeing in their lives.
- Mental health counsellor
- Promote individual and/or community mental health and wellbeing through helping individuals, families, groups and/or communities to process difficult emotions, and through assessment and treatment of mental health disorders and trauma.
- Promote individual and/or community mental health and wellbeing through helping individuals, families, groups and/or communities to process difficult emotions, and through assessment and treatment of mental health disorders and trauma.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counsellor
- Assist employees, through the counselling process, with personal problems impacting their work performance, health and/or wellbeing.
- Assist employees, through the counselling process, with personal problems impacting their work performance, health and/or wellbeing.
- Student wellbeing coordinator
- Provide welfare support, through the counselling process and coordinate development and wellbeing programs for students.
Professional recognition
The Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health is accredited by the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC) and accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Graduates of the Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health may apply for membership with ASORC and the ACA. Membership may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.
Questions about the course?
Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.
Call (+61 3) 6145 0033
Ask a question
Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.
Fees and scholarships
Estimated course fees for international students
Estimated fees per year (2024):
Indicative based on 2023 fees
A$39 000 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.
Scholarships:
The International estimated fees are indicative only. The tuition fees you pay will depend on the subjects you choose to study, with each subject having its own cost. In some cases, your course fees may be higher than the indicated fees because of the subjects you choose.
International scholarships
Destination Australia – an Australian Government initiative
The Destination Australia scheme supports new international students to study in regional Australia and offers students a high-quality learning experience. For eligible applicants, these scholarships are worth up to A$15 000 per annum for up to four years.
Find out more about Destination Australia scholarships.
If you're a La Trobe graduate, you may be eligible for a 10 per cent fee reduction when you apply for a full-fee postgraduate coursework program. See our Alumni Advantage page for further details.
International students applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate course to study at La Trobe University can be rewarded a bonus grant for completing their admission process early. Recipients will automatically be eligible to receive an Early Bird Acceptance Grant of 5% of the first-year tuition fees.
If you’re a high-achieving international student from either Vietnam, Cambodia or the Philippines and are considering full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study, you can apply to receive a 50 - 100 per cent tuition fees scholarship for the duration of your studies from 2024.
Do you have an excellent academic record? La Trobe High Achiever Scholarships are awarded to high-achieving international students and provide up to a 25 per cent reduction in course fees for selected courses.
Note: You must first have an offer to study at La Trobe before you are eligible to apply for a La Trobe scholarship.
Questions about fees and scholarships?
Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.
Call (+61 3) 6145 0033
Ask a question
Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.
How to apply
Apply now or ask us a question if you need more help. You can also call us on +61 3 9627 4805.
Note: Some courses start earlier than the standard semester, term or study period. Applications for these courses close one week prior. Always check your course’s start date to ensure your application is submitted in time.
CRICOS code: 114007A
Ready to apply?
Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.
Call (+61 3) 6145 0033
Ask a question
Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.
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Overview
Key facts
| Award | Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health |
|---|---|
| CRICOS code | 114007A |
| Start dates |
Indicative based on 2023 start dates Semester 1 (March 2024), Semester 2 (July 2024) |
| Duration | 2 years full-time |
| Available locations | City, Online |
| Scholarships | View fees and scholarships |
| Specialisations | |
| Annual tuition fee |
Indicative based on 2023 fees A$39 000 per 120 credit points.Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year. |
About the Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health
If you'd like to build a career that makes a meaningful difference, La Trobe's accredited Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health will give you the foundations for a rewarding career that supports others through huge life changes.
Develop your professional knowledge, skills and expertise with this unique combination of rehabilitation counselling and mental health subjects.
You'll get hands-on experience and will graduate prepared to work in rehabilitation counselling, as well as broader counselling settings such as mental health and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselling.
Explore a diverse range of workplaces and cultures. You'll learn how to support individuals and communities through disability, disadvantage and injury – helping them to reach their full potential and reintegrate into work and the community.
You'll learn:
- Professional counselling practice
- Acquire skills that are essential for effective counselling practice through examining professional, ethical and legal issues that affect counselling practice in Australia.
- Acquire skills that are essential for effective counselling practice through examining professional, ethical and legal issues that affect counselling practice in Australia.
- Mental health counselling
- Understand the different types of mental health conditions and how they're diagnosed. Learn how to effectively treat clinical and sub-clinical mental health conditions.
- Understand the different types of mental health conditions and how they're diagnosed. Learn how to effectively treat clinical and sub-clinical mental health conditions.
- Rehabilitation counselling
- Understand the interpersonal helping process, especially as it applies to rehabilitation and behaviour change. Explore different counselling models and techniques (e.g. Motivational Interviewing).
- Employee Assistance Program counselling
- Develop specialised skills to work effectively and ethically as a counsellor in workplace settings.
The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 9 - Masters Degree.
Have questions?
Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.
Call (+61 3) 6145 0033
Ask a question
Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.
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