Advanced Diploma of Counselling (Korean)

The Advanced Diploma of Counselling (Korean) is a two-year qualification for people who want to work as counsellors in Korean-speaking communities in Australia. You study counselling theory and practice in a bilingual setting, which means you learn the professional language of counselling in English while also working in Korean. That matters because many clients in Korean-Australian communities are more comfortable discussing mental health, family conflict or settlement stress in their first language.

What you actually study

An advanced diploma sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree and usually delivered as a vocational qualification. Expect units covering counselling micro-skills, human development across the lifespan, mental health and wellbeing, grief and loss, family and relationship counselling, ethics and professional boundaries, and cross-cultural practice. Assessment is typically a mix of written work, role plays, supervised counselling simulations and reflective journals. Because this is a two-year course rather than the one year a standard advanced diploma often takes, there is room for language and practice development alongside the core counselling content.

How the course is structured

Delivery is organised into study periods, commonly semesters or trimesters, with each unit carrying a set number of credit points. You need to pass the required units and accumulate the credit points set out in the course structure to graduate. Many counselling qualifications at this level include a supervised work placement, where you spend time in a community organisation, settlement service or mental health setting under a qualified supervisor. Placement hours are part of the learning, not an add-on. Confirm the exact unit list, credit points and placement requirements with Iona Trinity College of Higher Education before you enrol.

Who it suits

This course suits bilingual Korean-English speakers who want to support their own community, people already working in community services or aged care who want to move into a counselling role, and students who want a practical qualification before deciding whether to continue to a bachelor degree. It also suits people who tried university study in English and found the academic load heavy without language support. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish, depending on your circumstances. English proficiency is required for entry, and the Student visa has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. Fees are published on the CRICOS register under course code 116933B. Check the official page for current entry requirements, intake dates and tuition.

• Community counsellor in Korean-Australian community organisations, settlement services and multicultural health centres
• Family and relationship support worker in family services and migrant family programs
• Mental health support worker in community mental health teams and psychosocial recovery services
• Grief and loss counsellor in palliative care, hospitals and faith-based organisations
• Aged care and disability support counsellor working with Korean-speaking clients and their families
• School and youth support worker in Korean community language schools and youth programs
• Telephone and online counsellor for help lines and digital mental health services
• Settlement and refugee support worker assisting newly arrived Korean-speaking migrants

Graduates typically work in the community services, health and not-for-profit sectors. Some roles require or prefer registration or membership with a professional body, and some employers ask for a bachelor degree for counselling positions. Check with the relevant professional association and with employers about what they require.