ACOM / Study / Units / C5105C Ethical and Professional Issues in Professional Practice

C5105C Ethical and Professional Issues in Professional Practice

This unit provides students with foundational knowledge of ethical and professional practice in counselling.
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Unit Overview

Qualification

Diploma

Unit Availability

Trimester 2 2027

Study Mode

In Person Facilitation (NSW), In Person Facilitation (VIC), In Person Facilitation (QLD), In Person Facilitation (WA)

Placement

N/A

Tuition

Diploma Counselling Fee

Prerequisite

N/A

Corequisite

N/A

Notes

Attendance at the in person practicum days is compulsory for this unit

Schedule
Session Date & Time Location
Online Session 1 Saturday 29 May, 9am – 12pm (AEST) Online
Online Session 2 Saturday 5 June, 9am – 12pm (AEST) Online
Online Session 3 Saturday 12 June, 9am – 12pm (AEST) Online
In Person Practicum Day 1
Attendance is compulsory for this unit		 Monday 5 July, 9am – 5pm Springwood, QLD
Pendle Hill, NSW
Camberwell, VIC
Menora, WA
In Person Practicum Day 2
Attendance is compulsory for this unit		 Tuesday 6 July, 9am – 5pm Springwood, QLD
Pendle Hill, NSW
Camberwell, VIC
Menora, WA

Unit Details

This unit provides students with foundational knowledge of ethical and professional practice in counselling. Students will explore the ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities of counsellors, including confidentiality, boundaries, duty of care, cultural responsiveness, and ethical decision-making. The unit supports the development of reflective practitioners who can apply ethical principles and professional standards in a variety of counselling and helping contexts.

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Explain key ethical theories, professional standards, and legal principles that inform ethical and professional counselling practice
  2. Discuss the ethical, legal, cultural, and professional responsibilities of counsellors, including issues relating to confidentiality, informed consent, professional boundaries, and duty of care
  3. Analyse ethical dilemmas and professional practice issues using recognised ethical decision-making models and relevant professional standards
  4. Demonstrate reflective practice skills by critically examining personal values, assumptions, and professional responsibilities in counselling contexts
  5. Apply ethical principles, professional standards, and legal requirements to respond appropriately to practice scenarios in counselling and helping contexts
  1. Principles of ethics: the concepts of autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence
  2. Confidentiality, trust and informed consent
  3. Managing the multiple relationships found in pastoral and professional settings
  4. Boundaries and boundary violations
  5. Duty of care and fiduciary responsibilities
  6. Power imbalance in relationships
  7. Mandatory reporting obligations
  8. Ethical decision making within a complex working environment

TBC

Unit Details

Key Dates

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I’ve loved my ACOM journey! Every unit has brought practical skills and theoretical knowledge I use every day with my counselling clients and beyond. I’ve grown as a person, and my confidence in academic learning has been supported by highly skilled lecturers in their field. The online learning platform has enabled me to work and balance family life and other commitments. Integrating spirituality and faith throughout every unit has been so refreshing and lovely!
Alison Bury – Bachelor of Counselling

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