Do you have a burning question you would like to ask about this course before enrolling?
We offer 45-minute Learn More webinars, during which our experienced course facilitators provide information about this course, address any questions you may have, and assist you to make a decision about applying.

Counsellors, family support workers, family and children's contact workers, or equivalent practitioners, seeking to work with individuals and families affected by domestic and family violence.

Applications for this course can be submitted online via the form below. After you have registered your interest in this course a RAV RTO staff member will contact you with further information about enrolment and to organise an interview with a course facilitator.

To gain entry into the Graduate Diploma, a candidate must have one of the following:

• an undergraduate degree or higher qualification in counselling, psychology, social work, social science, or equivalent;
• a Diploma of Counselling from the CHC Community Services Training Package or equivalent; or
• ability to provide documented evidence of previous experience in a family counselling environment in a job role involving:
  • self-directed application of knowledge with substantial depth in some areas
  • exercise of independent judgement and decision-making
  • a range of technical and other skills.

Upon request and where applicable, candidates may request a credit transfer and/or Recognition of Prior Learning process.

All applicants will be interviewed as part of the selection process.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) enables students to have their existing skills and knowledge acknowledged and status granted where appropriate. This is available for people with extensive and relevant experience in counselling or family and domestic violence.

To apply for RPL, you will need to provide evidence of the competencies needed for this course by completing the RPL Application and Assessment Form, which we can provide on request. Please also refer to the RTO Program Manual for more information.

A deposit of $1000 is required on enrolment. The deposit is non-refundable, except under certain conditions. For more information about fees, please see the RTO Program Manual or contact us directly.

Relationship counsellors support individuals and families with a range of complex personal and relational issues affecting individual and family functioning. A relationship counsellor’s role may include family violence service delivery including risk assessment, risk management and multi-disciplinary collaborative practice that is aligned with practice requirements, family violence practice guidelines and legal/statutory obligations.

Our new and enhanced format provides the latest research and evidence-led content and practice theories, enabling you to choose a professional development pathway and learning experience that suits your needs.

The Graduate Diploma is also accredited with Family Safety Victoria in meeting the principles for Family Safety Practitioners, and accredited and recognised with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) for registered members.

Choose from:

1. An intensive, 11-month intake, including face-to face-delivery days, supported by self-paced learning and a placement program. Full-day seminars are held on weekends as well as induction and assessment seminars.
2. An 18-month part-time intake, including face-to face-delivery days, supported by self-paced learning and a placement program. Full-day seminars are held once a month, and induction and assessment seminars.
3. We are also pleased to introduce 11-month rural Victoria intakes. For more information please contact us.

All intake options are split into two semesters.

• The first semester consists of combined self-paced and interactive online learning, together with face-to-face classes and skills workshops.
• The second semester consists of a fully arranged and supported work placement for all students, along with monthly, face-to-face seminars, and some added online learning and field experiences.

As part of the new experiential learning component of this course, we’re also pleased to provide instructor-led guest speaker sessions, forums and excursions to relevant organisations working within the family violence sector.

These experiences allow students to engage with community organisations that work in the field of family violence, learn from experts in the field and broaden their knowledge of the sector.

This course also examines perpetrator characteristics, and characteristics of those who have had violence perpetrated against them.

All students will also take part in a self-paced online Core Inclusion Program on how to work with people across diverse cultural groups.

The Graduate Diploma is delivered by highly experienced and currently practising relationship counsellors who have worked in a range of organisational, private practice and family violence contexts. Trainers have current training and assessment qualifications and relevant industry experience.

Semester one

Module 1: Introduction to Relationship Counselling and Family Violence

Module 2: Skills for Sustainable Practice

Module 3: Diversity of Family Structures

Module 4: Family Violence in Relationship Counselling

Module 5: Risk Assessment, Management, Safety Planning and MARAM

Module 6: Trauma-Informed Theory and Practice

Module 7: Foundations of Counselling Modalities

Module 8: Cultural Diversity

Module 9: Lived Experiences of Family Violence

Module 10: Counselling Practice with Couples

Module 11: Counselling Practice with Children and Young People

Module 12: Counselling Practice with Families

Module 13: Family Violence Screening and Assessment with Couples and Families

Module 14: Separation and the Family: Parenting Arrangements and Family Law

Module 15: Mediation

Semester two

Work placement (50 hours)

• Fully-arranged and supported work placement program allowing students to apply their learnt theories, and frameworks into practice under the supervision of experienced counsellors and practitioners.
• Students have the option of undertaking placements in their workplace or within a RAV-nominated centre.

Please visit www.training.gov.au for detailed information on the course units.

CHCDFV008 Manage responses to domestic and family violence in family work

CHCDFV013 Manage domestic and family violence screening and risk assessment processes

CHCDFV010 Promote accountability and assist users of domestic and family violence to accept responsibility

CHCFAM002 Work with a child-focused approach

CHCDFV002 Provide support to children affected by domestic and family violence

CHCFCS001 Facilitate the family counselling process

CHCFCS002 Provide relationship counselling

CHCFCS003 Provide counselling to children and young people

CHCFAM001 Operate in a family law environment

CHCFAM007 Assist clients to develop parenting arrangements

CHCPRP007 Work within a clinical supervision framework

From 1 January 2015, students undertaking nationally accredited training with RAV (i.e. enrolling into VET courses) will need to set up a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and provide this to RAV’s administration team via email. RAV is required to record and verify a USI for each student.

More information and assistance in applying is available from the USI website and via the links below.

• Unique Student Identifier - Students
• Privacy and the Unique Student Identifier
• USI Privacy Policy

RAV approaches learning as a journey undertaken with the student. RAV will undertake appropriate steps to identify the support needs of learners, and work together with the learner to develop options and solutions to support them in the most appropriate way.

RAV is flexible in its approaches to support and will provide the required tools and supports to ensure the learner is supported through their journey to complete the course. This includes support across administration, career planning, financial payment plans, personal development needs including counselling or mediation services, and learner support provided by a diverse team of support staff.