This year-long unit represents the culmination of students' studies. Here you have the opportunity to demonstrate safe, competent, and reflective practice and an ability to act in a professionally assertive manner. In this unit you will be embedded in a workplace context and so be a voluntary employee of an external organisation. As such, you will uphold the University’s requirements for your study and the policies/procedures of your workplace. The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) also directs core elements of this unit leading to registration and so you must also complete the professional tasks set out by the ACA. Therefore you are expected to: (1) be proactive in completing the requirements of your placement(s) both before and during the placement; (2) attend your workplace for an average of approximately 1 day per week for 38 weeks; and therefore meet, and when possible exceed, the minimum number of counselling hours stipulated by the ACA; (3) attend regular supervision as provided by your line manager and/or the University so as to meet, and when possible exceed, the minimum number of hours of supervision stipulated by the ACA; (5) attend professional development activities; and (6) work collegially, reflectively, ethically, and in a manner which upholds standards of professionalism and best practice..
Unit code: CO3011Z
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 36.0
Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3
Unit discipline: Counselling
Delivery Mode: Practicum
Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Implement effective counselling using a variety of modalities and skills as appropriate to a range of client types/issues. |
| 2. | Use ethical practices in line with the Australian Counselling Association policies and documentation |
| 3. | Incorporate and evaluate good self-care practices |
| 4. | Operate professionally in the workplace through being diligent with respect to client care; showing initiative; being organised; acting in a collegial manner; and being open to accept correction. |
Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 3, semester 1 (terms 1 & 2). Prerequisites: CO1001Z; CO1002Z; CO1003Z; CO1004Z; CO1005Z; CO1006Z; CO1007Z; CO1008Z; CO2001Z; CO2002Z; CO2003Z; CO2004Z OR CO2005Z; CO2006Z; CO2007Z; CO2008Z; CO2009Z OR CO2010Z. Prohibited combinations: This unit cannot be taken with CO3001Z and/or CO3006Z
Experiential learning In practice: Experiential learning dates back to Aristotle. It is learning by doing and incorporates elements of the other pedagogies favoured in this course (e.g., motivation, reflection, and problem-solving). Not only do learners improve their practice of counselling by engaging experiential learning, but they also make new meanings in the process thus developing as professionals. This is achieved by having students complete counselling-related tasks, often under the guidance of an Academic Associate or Clinical Supervisor. Assessments are designed to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate how action, reflection, and problem-solving, come together to create improved outcomes.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | A portfolio of documentation demonstrating required compliance eg logbooks, working with children checks |
0 | 0.0 |
| Personal Reflection | A number of pieces which reflect on placement goals, progress towards the goals and a final self analysis |
3500 | 25.0 |
| Case Study | Two deidentified case studies (3,000 and 3500 words) drawn from the student's client base. The first case will be due approximately 60% of the way through the placement |
6500 | 50.0 |
| Workplace evaluation | A number of evaluations by the workplace and clinical supervisors |
0 | 25.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 27 Oct, 2025
Unit record last updated: 2025-10-27 10:05:32 +1100