Accreditation and Professional Recognition Expand The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and is a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) accredited program. The course sits within level 7 of the Australian Qualifications Framework. The Cairnmillar Institute is also applying for accreditation of the Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). If successful in obtaining both accreditations, graduates will be eligible to: Work professionally as a counsellor. Apply for APAC accredited fourth year psychology programs (e.g., Honours). Apply for a PACFA or ACA accredited Graduate Diploma and many Masters counselling programs. Apply for PACFA membership, to gain registration as a counsellor.
Admission Criteria Expand Non-year 12 international students must apply directly to Cairnmillar and must also advise our admissions team on [email protected]. All other applications are submitted through VTAC. See Cairnmillar’s page on VTAC and the Undergraduate landing page for more detailed information. If you are applying through the Special Consideration Access Scheme (SEAS), see our Undergraduate page for further information. When to apply Non-year 12 international students must apply by 17 January 2023 (5pm). All other applications will close as per VTAC's dates listed below: Application rounds Open Close Application Fee Timely applications 1 August 2022 (9am) 29 September 2022 (5pm) $44 (current year 12 applicants) $62 (all other applicants) Late applications 29 September 2022 (5:15pm) 4 November 2022 (5pm) $126 *Very late applications 4 November 2022 (5:15pm) 2 December 2022 (5pm) $164 January applications 4 January 2023 (10am) 17 January 2023 (5pm) $62 For more information on when and how to apply, please visit VTAC's website here. How to apply There are two main admission pathways for this program: School leavers with an Australia Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) Must have a minimum ATAR of 65 Mature aged applicants (21+ years of age) who do not have an ATAR Must demonstrate: Capacity for successful study at Bachelor level (AQF 7) in their application, via completion of year 12 (or equivalent study of year 12 secondary education) OR Appropriate work experience In addition to the above, documentation required in the application includes: Most recent academic transcript(s) (e.g., university or ATAR transcript). A current Curriculum Vitae (resume). Proof of residency/citizenship (e.g., passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate). Applicants will also be required to answer four short-answer questions in the application, totalling approximately 500 words, that focus on aspirations, qualities, attitude and relevant skills in regard to psychology and counselling. International students, who do not otherwise meet the AHPRA English standards, are also required to undertake The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) of the IELTS test, and a minimum overall band score of 7. For more information, visit: https://www.cairnmillar.org.au/international-students Admission requirements for different applicant groups: Applicants with higher education study Successful completion of at least 0.5 years of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma. Overseas tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications. Completed bridging or enabling course Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program, or other recognised tertiary preparation course. Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study: Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher. Overseas tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications. Applicants with work and life experience: Includes those who left secondary education more than 2 years ago Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience. Applicants with recent secondary education: ATAR-based admission Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years) who will be selected wholly or partly on the basis their ATAR. Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 65. Overseas secondary qualifications considered equivalent to the above.
Admissions Transparency Expand Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made in 2022 (exclusive of any adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points): TBC Lowest Selection Rank to which a recent Year 12 student offer was made in 2022 (including the consideration of any equity or other adjustment factors): TBC Minimum Selection Rank required for consideration: 65 ATAR and selection rank profiles for those offered places wholly or partly based on ATAR in 2022 (as at X Date): (ATAR-based offers only, across all offer rounds) ATAR* (Excluding adjustment factors) Selection Rank* (Including adjustment factors) Highest rank to receive an offer TBC TBC Median rank to receive an offer TBC TBC Lowest rank to receive an offer TBC TBC Admission Profile Information Student Profiles The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students. It provides data on students that commenced this course and passed the census date in Semester 1, 2022, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background 2022 Semester 1 Number of students Percentage of all students (A) Past higher education study(includes a bridging or enabling course) <5 N/P (B) Past vocational education and training (VET) study <5 N/P (C) Work and life experience(Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) <5 N/P (D) Recent secondary education: Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR(regardless of whether this includes the impact of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) N/A N/A Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation with no minimum ATAR) N/A N/A International students N/A N/A All students 8 100% Notes:“<5” – the number of students is less than 5N/A – Students not accepted in this categoryN/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.
Career Opportunities Expand Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling graduates will develop a broad range of skills that prepare graduates for employment in: Administration Advertising Business Community services (e.g., child protection) Counselling Government and policy development Human rights and advocacy Media Public relations Publishing Research And many more! Upon receiving accreditation by PACFA, graduates will be eligible to apply for PACFA membership, which in turn enables registration as a counsellor with the Australian Register of Counselling and Psychotherapists (ARCAP). Graduates may also apply to study the Graduate Diploma or Masters of Counselling & Psychotherapy, to take their counselling skills to the next level. Graduates will also be eligible to apply for further study under an APAC accredited 4th year program, such as the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) to continue a study pathway towards general registration as a psychologist. Note: completion of this degree alone is not sufficient for registration with AHPRA as a psychologist. Additional study will be required. Students who obtain a 70 average in the psychology major (PSY) units of the program will be eligible for automatic entry to the Cairnmillar Institute’s Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in the next academic intake, should they choose to apply.
Course Structure Expand The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling consists of 300 credit points. Students undertake a total of 24 units of study, consisting of 22 coursework units (275 credit points) and two placement units (25 credit points). Full-Time Year One Full-Time Year Two PSY101 Foundations of Psychology PSY201 Social Psychology PSY102 Research Methodology and Statistics I PSY202 Research Methodology and Statistics II CAP101 Counselling Theories and Models CAP201 Cognitive Behavioural Therapies CAP102 Person-Centred Counselling PCN201 Psychopathology and Mental Health PSY103 Behavioural Psychology and Learning PSY203 Organisational Behaviour PSY104 Cognitive Psychology PSY204 Personality PCN101 Development Across the Lifespan CAP202 Assessment Process Counselling PCN102 Ethical Paradigms and Philosophy PCN202 Practical Skills for Group Facilitation Full-Time Year Three PSY301 Neuroscience PSY302 Research Methodology and Statistics III CAP301 Counselling Children and Adolescents CAP360 Counselling Placement/Practice 1 PSY303 Health Psychology, Health Promotion, and Behavioural Medicine CAP302 Trauma-Informed Practice CAP361 Counselling Placement/Practice 2 PCN301 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Mental Health The suggested part-time course structure is as follows: Part-Time Year One Part-Time Year Two PSY101 Foundations of Psychology CAP101 Counselling Theories and Models PSY102 Research Methodology and Statistics I CAP102 Person-Centred Counselling PCN101 Development Across the Lifespan PSY103 Behavioural Psychology and Learning PCN102 Ethical Paradigms and Philosophy PSY104 Cognitive Psychology Part-Time Year Three Part-Time Year Four PSY202 Research Methodology and Statistics II PSY201 Social Psychology CAP201 Cognitive Behavioural Therapies PCN201 Psychopathology and Mental Health PSY203 Organisational Behaviour CAP202 Assessment Process Counselling PSY204 Personality PCN202 Practical Skills for Group Facilitation Part-Time Year Five Part-Time Year Six PSY302 Research Methodology and Statistics III PSY301 Neuroscience CAP301 Counselling Children and Adolescents CAP360 Counselling Placement/Practice 1 PSY303 Health Psychology, Health Promotion, and Behavioural Medicine CAP361 Counselling Placement/Practice 2 CAP302 Trauma-Informed Practice PCN301 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Mental Health
Fees and Scholarships Expand **Estimated only. Annual tuition fee review and possible increases applies, see: cairnmillar.org.au/course-fees For information on what scholarships might apply to this course, please visit our scholarships page here.
Graduate Learning Outcomes Expand Students who satisfactorily complete this course will have achieved advanced knowledge and skills in the following areas of study: Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge of the key principles, theories, and concepts from the major disciplines in psychology and counselling. Prepare and deliver written and oral communications across a range of mediums for a variety of audiences that critique, problem solve and apply the theories and current issues in research and practice to psychology and counselling practice. Written and oral communications include essays, empirical reports, class presentations, recorded practice sessions and more. Conduct and critique research in psychology in regard to research methodology, data analysis, statistics and data sciences, and scientific and digital literacy. Apply knowledge of psychology and counselling in a way that is culturally sensitive and ethically and legally aware, employs evidence of reflexive thinking, effective delivery and receipt of feedback, and effective teamwork skills. Develop and propose sound solutions to current problems in psychology and counselling that are relevant in local, national, and international contexts. Employ autonomy, responsibility, and accountability in self-directed learning that facilitates ongoing learning beyond the course.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Expand Students applying for this program may enter a process in which they may be granted credit or partial credit towards the qualification in recognition of previous experience where an equivalence of earlier learning can be established. Students may only be given credit for coursework if it is from a successfully completed approved course at the appropriate AQF level. Credit or partial credit is not granted in recognition of knowledge or skills gained through work or life experience. Cairnmillar’s RPL policy can be viewed here.
Where to get further information Expand Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching CompareED The Higher Education Standards Panel Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013 Cairnmillar Institute - SSP007-Student Grievance Policy and Procedures Academic and Non-Academic Matters