Bachelor of Counselling - University of Divinity

How do we manage stress as financial pressures increase? Check out Beyond Blue's practical tips for managing the uncertainties of daily life.

If you're interested in learning more about how to help others manage stress, consider studying with us.

Cost‑of‑living pressures are causing real stress for many Australians.
Here are some tips that can help reduce anxiety in uncertain times.
You can also contact Beyond Blue or National Debt Helpline by phone or webchat.

This week, students will engage with our unit, Trauma-Informed Counselling in the Context of Loss and Grief. Recognising that many helping professionals carry their own trauma histories, the following article presents an integrated way of carrying personal trauma in a way that enhances clinical trauma work. Students are encouraged that personal trauma histories do not disqualify them from becoming counsellors, but are given skills for how to manage their trauma for the benefit of their clients.

Why lived experience strengthens trauma-transformative practice Why lived experience, when ethically supported, strengthens trauma-transformative practice, leadership, and organisational culture.

📢 Do you have a student placement opportunity available? (Melbourne)

Australian Lutheran College (ALC), who delivers the University of Divinity’s counselling program, is looking for placement hosts for some of our third-year Bachelor of Counselling students.

Placement Requirements (12-month duration; commencing periodically from semester 2, 2026):
✅ 80 hours of face-to-face client contact
✅ 200 hours total, including counselling-related admin and professional development tasks such as case notes, file management, meetings, and supervision (a portion of these hours may be completed independently or through ALC)

What ALC provides:
🎓 Ongoing clinical supervision of the student, meeting Australian Counselling Association (ACA) standards
🛡️ Public liability and professional indemnity insurance coverage through the University of Divinity
🤝 A dedicated placement coordinator to support both your organisation and the student throughout

We'd love to hear from a range of counselling practices, clinics, schools, etc, who can offer a supportive environment where our students can put their training into practice.

If you think your organisation might be a good fit or would like to request more information, please email Kate at [email protected]

Our students will engage with an intensive this week for the Intimacy, Sex(ualities) and Gender unit, where they will examine issues such as the one raised in the post below by The Gottman Institute. They will have the opportunity to learn from a s*x and relationship therapist about common issues brought into the counselling room and how to support individuals and couples.

Interested to learn more? Enquire to

📢 Expression of Interest | Lecturer in Counselling at University of Divinity | Semester 2, 2026

We're looking for a practicing counsellor to join our Bachelor of Counselling program as an academic adjunct (.4 FTE, 6-month contract).

This role is well-suited to someone who has ethically and thoughtfully integrated the use of a range of technologies, including AI, into their practice.

Teaching may include some or all of the following units:

📘 Counselling Ethics, the Law, and Best Practice

🤖 Emerging Technologies, AI, and the Business of Counselling

🛋️ Introduction to Counselling

There may also be opportunities to develop content across other units in the program.

The preferred candidate would have experience, or can at least demonstrate understanding, of the critical and creative thinking required to design assessment tasks in an AI-resistant manner.

If this sounds like you, or like someone you know, please email [email protected] to express your interest or ask any questions.💬

Some of our students recently completed the Working With Children, Adolescents and Older Adults unit. Counselling across the lifespan brings unique challenges, and counsellors often find themselves working with parents and carers around parenting issues. Consider how a parent can be T.H.E.R.E for their young person in this post from ReachOut Australia.

Late last year, ACA launched the Class of 2026 initiative, inviting students to share ideas to support future counselling graduates and leave a lasting contribution to the profession.

Following a student survey in November 2025, mentoring emerged as a clear priority. In response, ACA is proud to launch Graduate Connect as the Class of 2026 Legacy Project.

This initiative focuses on building connection, identity and purpose by supporting new practitioners as they transition into the counselling profession and navigate the responsibilities and expectations of practice.

We invite experienced registered counsellors to volunteer as mentors. Graduate Connect will officially begin in April 2026.

Learn more: https://theaca.net.au/graduate-connect