Help others improve their wellbeing and create positive change in their lives.
In everyday life, the challenges people face are shaped by the society around us, as well as the internal factors that influence individual behaviour and personality. Through integrated studies in the fields of human services and counselling, this program equips you with the skills and knowledge to understand the causes of personal and social problems, and to create positive change in people’s lives.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- * Subject to to final PACFA and APAC accreditation approval
- * Subject to to final PACFA and APAC accreditation approval
In everyday life, the challenges people face are shaped by the society around us, as well as the internal factors that influence individual behaviour and personality. Through integrated studies in the fields of human services and counselling, this program equips you with the skills and knowledge to understand the causes of personal and social problems, and to create positive change in people’s lives.
- Learn about the nature of contemporary Australian society, including social welfare, community development, social justice, cultural diversity and mental health
- Gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary human services practice, including its grounding in critical, anti-oppressive and ethical approaches to practice with individuals, families, groups and communities
- Develop a thorough understanding of counselling theories and skills, and how to use them in diverse and multicultural workplaces and communities
- Build skills in cognitive behaviour therapy, personal and relational empathy, positive psychology, family counselling and responding to crisis, trauma and loss
- Complete two 250-hour professional placements in human services agencies, working with multidisciplinary teams across a range of counselling and other roles
Career opportunities
A wide range of government and non-government human services including community health, telephone counselling, working with individuals, families and groups, disability support, government departments, youth work, welfare work, child protection, corrections, aged services, community development, mental health, administration of counselling services, community corrections and justice, and more.
Accreditation
This program is designed to meet the national accreditation requirements for the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), and the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA).
Note: Subject to final accreditation approval.
The program includes two professional placements. The Counselling placement meets the requirements of the Australian counselling associations, and the Human Services placement is designed to meet the requirements of the Australian Community Workers Association.
Program structure
Introductory courses (1) 12 units
COR109 Hydrology and Geomorphology
Counselling courses
Introductory courses (3) 36 units
COU101 Biodiversity and Ecology
COU176 Foundations of Sustainability
COU180 Measuring Sustainability
Developing and Graduate courses (7) 84 units
COU200 Communication and Thought
COU265 Theories of Counselling: From Freud to Integrative Practice
COU300 Group Processes and Practice
COU301 Introductory Counselling Skills
COU362 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications
COU364 Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches
COU381 Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss
Human Services courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
SCS101 Positive Psychology for Counselling
SCS110 Counselling Development and Supervision 2
SCS130 Counselling Placement 2
SWK172 Developmental and Family Counselling
Developing and Graduate courses (12) 156 units
SCS201 Foundations of Human Behaviour
SCS225 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SCS235 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS251 Social Work and Human Services Practice
SCS273 International Community Development and Global Justice(24 units)
SCS290 Social Research
SWK277 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SWK278 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People
SWK285 Human Services Placement 1
SWK302 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK303 Working With Children, Youth and Families
SWK407 Ethical Practice in the Helping Professions
Elective courses (4) 48 units
Select 1 elective course (12 units) from List A:
SCS230 Health & Mental Health in Australia
SCS210 Community Development and Social Action
CRM101 Complexity and Social Work: Group-Based Approaches
JST101 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
BUS104 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
Select 1 elective course (12 units) from List B:
SCS295 Indigenous Australia and the State
SWK286 Introduction to Criminology
CRM101 Justice and the Australian Legal System
JST101 Introduction to Management
BUS104 Gender and Culture
GEO310 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
Select 1 elective course (12 units) from List C:
SWK402 Introduction to Criminology
CRM303 Justice and the Australian Legal System
HRM311 Introduction to Management
SCS210 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
Select 1 elective course (12 units) (200, 300 or 400 coded) from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law) or (Science, Health, Education and Engineering)
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
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In order to commence field education placement you must:
- Hold a valid Blue Card, throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- Travel to attend field education placements
- Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester