Graduate Certificate in Counselling

Students apply and are admitted to their course, which is made up of both core and elective units. All new students are required to complete Student Orientation, which involves both signing up for a Student Orientation Session, and taking part in a Student Orientation module through our online learning platform.

All students have access to personalised support through a dedicated Student Engagement Manager (or SEM). Our awesome team of SEMs bring a personal connection and listening ear to students who are spread the length and breadth of the country. SEMs work closely with each student to provide tailored academic and pastoral support, cheering them on every step of their learning journey.

A variety of units will be on offer each trimester for students to enrol in. All of our courses are flexible for students to choose their units and study load according to their time commitments, interests and course plans.

All students study online through our online learning platform, Moodle. This is where all study materials, unit information, assessments and learning activities can be found.

At the point of selecting to study a unit, you will have the opportunity to register in different types of scheduled facilitated events, or ‘facilitations.’ These facilitations are real-time student events run by staff or faculty, designed to assist you with your learning and the requirements of the unit.

ACOM assessments are essay based and do not usually involve exams. Units may include online quizzes and practical assessments that are completed in your ministry setting. Assessment dates are clearly published on our learning platform (Moodle) and all tasks must be submitted to pass the unit.

Required readings are provided for students with online library access for further research. ACOM is continuously improving its digital library of learning resources. We have thousands of specialist books, articles and journals available to our students through our copyright licensing arrangements. Useful for both research and personal study, our students have access to over 100,000 e-books and journals on the Bible, leadership, pastoral care, theology and more.

Some units may require the student to purchase textbooks. This information can be found in the unit description.

To study with ACOM, you will need access to a computer with internet connection. You will also require an email address that we can use to contact you. For assessment writing, we require the use of a word-processing programme such as Microsoft Word. For a full list of hardware and software requirements please see the Student Handbook.

All applications to ACOM are required to submit the following documents:

• Online Application for Admission Form 
• 100 Points of Identification: You must include at least one primary document and at least one document must contain a photograph. File size limit, 8mb. See Identification Guide.
• Certificates/Transcripts of Previous Study: Please supply a colour copy of your transcripts. If you would like to apply for credit for previous study, the transcript must be certified.
• Identification Photo: Please provide a headshot photo for identification (5mb or less). Note this does not need to be passport quality, however we ask that you be facing the camera without hats or sunglasses.

Some students will also need to submit the following additional documents:

• Deferring Tuition using FEE-HELP: For students intending to defer tuition fees onto FEE-HELP, you will need to read the FEE-HELP information, terms and conditions, and submit either an Australian birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate. FEE-HELP forms will be provided electronically to successful applicants after official acceptance to ACOM. Find out more.
• Name Changes: Proof of change of name (marriage certificate/change of name certificate) must be submitted if any ID documents are in a former name.
• Pension Card: For Upfront paying Pension students wishing to claim a pension discount.
• Disability Support: Students with Disabilities and Conditions can request ongoing support to assist them through their studies through the application of a personalised enabling plan. Request an Enabling Plan here.

If you have your documents ready, you will have the opportunity to upload your documents throughout the online Application process. However, if you are still collecting documents you will be able to submit them separately by emailing them to admissions@acom.edu.au.

You can select the ‘Save’ button to save your progress and come back and finish your application later. When saving your progress your data will be captured. However, any uploaded documents may not be and will need to be emailed separately to ACOM.

Note that when reopening a saved application, you will need to copy and paste the link emailed by the site directly into your web browser.

Students have the opportunity to have their previous completed study recognised with ACOM. These studies must be comparable in content, outcomes and level of study to units within ACOM delivered awards, and successfully completed at other institutions.

While you may still be progressing with your application, make sure you check out the schedules for the year including units and facilitations offering, key dates, fees, and the current Student Handbook.

You can also register in units for the upcoming trimester, and our staff will hold these to process after your application has been completed.