This article is ideal if you are considering studying the Graduate Diploma in Counselling or Master of Counselling. Information in this article is relevant to the online counselling courses offered by the University of Melbourne.  

Placement is where your counselling skills come to life. It's also, understandably, the part of the course where you may have the most questions. Below, we have answered the questions we hear most often, from managing placement around work and family, to timing and the support in place throughout.

Key takeaways

• You can choose a matched placement or self-source your own, including placement delivered online via a telehealth provider
• Placement is typically two days a week over seven weeks, structured to work around existing commitments
• Support is available to you throughout your placement, including a dedicated placement team and opportunities to connect with your cohort weekly
• Compliance checks are best started early to avoid any delay to your placement commencing.

Do I have to complete placement?  

Yes. Placement is a core requirement of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Master of Counselling. It also provides a direct pathway to professional registration if your goal is to become a practising counsellor.

Can I complete placement without leaving my job or disrupting my family?

For majority of students, yes. Placements are typically structured as two days a week for seven weeks, and both matched and self-sourced options can be arranged around existing commitments where possible. Some placements are also available online via telehealth, which the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) supports in its guidelines.

If you have caring responsibilities or a role you need to keep working around, speak with the placement team early. They work with your circumstances and preferences to help find an arrangement that fits, though an exact match cannot always be guaranteed.

Will I have to compete for a placement, and could I be rejected?

While not every placement is competitive, you may find notice a more thorough selection process with some well-known providers. Being aware of this early means you can better prepare and put your best foot forward.  

If you choose a matched placement, the placement team draws on the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences' networks and works with your location and setting preferences. If you choose to self-source, you have more control over exactly where you are placed, as long as your chosen provider meets all placement requirements. Because self-sourced placement providers can be competitive, we recommend contacting potential providers as soon as you know whether you’ll be completing one placement subject (graduate diploma) or two placement subjects (masters).  

Once a placement opportunity is confirmed, you may be invited to a short interview with the provider. Think of this as a two-way conversation to confirm the placement is the right fit, not a hurdle to clear.

How early will I know my placement dates?

Your placement takes place after your Residential Industry Experience subject, so that gives you a broad sense of timing well in advance.  

For matched placements, the lead time will usually be around six weeks before your placement starts, to give time for paperwork and compliance checks to be processed. Many students find out earlier. Knowing this timeframe in advance means you can start planning leave, travel and care arrangements as soon as you're contacted.

Will I have enough time to organise everything?

You'll start working with the placement team from around your fourth subject, well before placement begins. This gives you time to sort compliance checks (including a National Police check and any state-based checks your placement provider requires), decide between a matched or self-sourced placement, and prepare for any possible interviews.  

Could health requirements prevent me from undertaking placement?

All University of Melbourne placements follow the Victorian Health Placement Standards. If your placement has you working face-to-face with clients or alongside other staff, you will need to meet these requirements. These requirements are covered in detail as part of your pre-placement compliance checks, and the placement team can talk you through what's required for your specific situation.

If you're worried about meeting these requirements, online placements are also available.  

Please be aware that some placement providers may also have their own vaccination or health requirements in addition to the Victorian standards.

How demanding is the practical component, and will it meet ACA requirements?

Across your placement subjects, you'll complete supervised, real-world counselling experience, made up of:

• Client contact hours (in-session counselling, delivered online or in person) and  
• Non-client hours (preparation, note-taking and follow-up work).

This structure is designed to support you in working towards your ACA registration, giving you the credentials and experience employers look for.

Before going on a placement, you'll complete a five-day in-person residential intensive subject in Parkville's biomedical precinct. This combines supervised practice sessions, simulations and structured peer feedback, so you arrive at placement prepared.

Are there additional costs beyond course costs?

Yes. Beyond your subject fees, you'll want to budget for:

• Your compliance checks, including any required vaccinations
• Travel and accommodation for the residential intensive
• Travel and accommodation for placement if required.

If you have a matched placement, the placement team aims to place you close to your location. However, please keep in mind that you may need to travel up to an hour and a half or longer if you're in a regional or remote area. If regular travel isn’t possible for you, telehealth placements may be a more suitable option for you.  

Will attending the residential component be difficult or expensive?

The residential intensive runs for one week in person, during business hours, Monday to Friday, at the Alan Gilbert Building in the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus.

You're responsible for arranging your own travel and accommodation, so it's worth factoring this into your planning early, particularly if you live outside Melbourne.

In-person attendance is compulsory and must be completed before you undertake any placement.

Do I have to take time off from work to undertake placement?

Placement hours are structured to be as manageable as possible around work, but some time away from your usual role is generally required. If your circumstances change or you're finding your current placement difficult, speak with the placement team.  

What support will be available to me throughout placement?

At the University of Melbourne, you're not left to navigate your placement alone. Support includes:

• A dedicated placement team who will be your first point of contact for placement enquiries, typically responding within three business days
• Weekly online integration seminars, running alongside your placement, giving you a regular space to reflect on your experience with peers and supervisors
• Regular check-ins with a member of the placement team, providing a safe space to raise any challenges early and get guidance before small issues become bigger ones
• Special consideration provisions if your attendance is affected by illness or other circumstances, with your Online Educator setting a revised timeframe for completing your assessment
• 24/7 mental health support through the University's mental health crisis support service.

Want the full placement picture?

We know everyone has different circumstances. To understand how placement could work for you, book a call with an Online Education Adviser at a time that suits you. They can talk you through your options and answer any questions you may have about placement or our counselling courses.

Want to know more about our counselling courses?  

Visit our Master of Counselling, Graduate Diploma in Counselling or Graduate Certificate in Counselling course pages for more information on subjects, entry requirements, fees and FEE-HELP.  

Definitions of key terms

• Matched placement: A placement arranged on your behalf by the placement team.
• Self-sourced placement: A placement you find and arrange yourself, with placement team approval, giving you more control over the organisation or focus area.
• Client contact hours: Supervised, in-session counselling time with clients, delivered online or in person.
• Non-client hours: Time spent on preparation, note-taking and follow-up work connected to your placement.
• Residential intensive: A five-day, in-person block at Parkville combining supervised practice, simulations and peer feedback, completed before placement.
• Integration seminar: A weekly online session held during placement, giving you a space to reflect on your experience with peers and supervisors.
• Compliance checks: Requirements you must complete before placement, such as a National Police Check and any state-based or provider-specific checks.
• ACA registration: Formal recognition as a counsellor by the Australian Counselling Association, based on completing the required qualification and supervised placement hours.
• Special consideration: Provisions available if illness or other circumstances affect your ability to attend placement as planned.