“By solving other’s problems, while having your own problems, you prove yourself to be courageous. Never let your situation stop you from solving other’s problems.” ― Dr Paul Gitwaza

Are you someone who is enthusiastic about working with people through their issues and helping them live a better quality of life? Then, a career in counselling is meant for you. You can begin your counselling journey with a Diploma in Counselling in Australia.

Counselling in Australia

Counselling is one of the most in-demand jobs in Australia. Psychology, Counselling & Social Work has been designated as one of the 20 most needed jobs in Australia, according to Seek.com. If you pursue a diploma of counselling, you can earn an average salary of AUD 92,887 per year.

Diploma of Counselling Job Opportunities

Here are some top paying counselling jobs that you can pursue with a Diploma of Counselling in Australia.

Family and Relationship Counselling

Family and relationship counsellors help family members, couples, young people, siblings, parents, and children resolve disagreements and help them improve their relationships. Those involved in family counselling identify any existing mental health conditions among family members, create a treatment plan and provide counselling accordingly to the involved persons. The average salary of a family service counsellor in Australia is AUD 83,422.

Mental Health Counselling

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Integrated Health and Mental Health Study, 20% of Australians aged between 16-34 years were suffering from very high levels of psychological distress. Therefore, mental health counsellors are one of the most in-demand category of counsellors in Australia.

Mental health counsellors guide patients for treatment based on their symptoms, behaviours, and perceptions. They help people identify what triggers their emotions or causes them to behave in a particular way. They teach patients techniques that help them overcome their conditions and deal with the factors.

Financial Counselling

Often the term intersects with financial advice or financial planning, but financial counselling is one of the top careers in the counselling arena. According to the Financial Counselling Australia, more than 13% of Australia’s population live in households with high financial stress. Financial counsellors work with people who are under debt burden and find it difficult to meet their expenses. They help people prioritise their debts, create budget plans, weigh the pros and cons of different finance management options, and make them aware of their legal rights in such situations.

Substance Abuse Counselling

A substance abuse counsellor works with people who are under substance abuse, deal with eating disorders and those who struggle with other addictions. The job of a substance abuse counsellor requires them to listen to the patient’s problems, deploy rehabilitation techniques and keep the involved authorities informed of their progress. For some cases, the law might be involved in a patient’s case. They help sufferers find purpose after their recovery, for example, secure a job. Substance counsellors work in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, prisons and even as a private practitioner.

School Counsellor

School counsellors deal with a range of student age groups. They help students with issues arising from family tensions, disagreements with friends and issues at school. They work with parents, teachers, and school management to create a mentally sound and supportive atmosphere for children. This helps student overcome any obstacles in the knowledge gaining process and grow as emotionally mature individuals.

The average salary of a school counsellor is AUD 88,978.

Counselling is an umbrella term and covers an unending list of branches which include career counselling, youth counselling, telephone counselling and more. To become a practicing counsellor in Australia, sign up for a Diploma of Counselling at IHNA (Institute of Health and Nursing Australia).