How do I become a grief counsellor
Get qualified to work as a grief counsellor with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Grief Counsellor.
Common questions
The average salary for qualified Grief Counsellors in Australia is currently $1,350 per week ($70,200 annually). Increase your earning capacity by undertaking post-graduate qualifications and registering with a professional organisation like the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
Courses.com.au Team
There are 35,000 counsellors working in Australia right now, some of these are Grief Counsellors. They work in hospitals, aged care facilities, community health clinics, and correctional service facilities. Many Grief Counsellors work in private practice.
Courses.com.au Team
The minimum requirement for Grief Counsellors in Australia is a VET Diploma of Counselling that is recognised by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), however you will have more employment opportunities with a Bachelor of Counselling or Master of Counselling. To work as a Grief Counsellor in Australia you should join one of the peak industry bodies: the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
Courses.com.au Team
Further reading
What can you do with a Diploma of Counselling?
11th September 2019
How to start a career in Mental Health
5th August 2021Grief Counsellor careers
Grief Counsellors are registered mental health professionals who counsel and support clients through bereavement, grief, and loss. They use industry-accepted psychotherapy and healing modalities to help their clients manage grief and may refer clients with prolonged grief disorders for medical treatment.
As a Grief Counsellor you could be having an initial contact meeting with a new client who has recently lost their son, using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a client whose partner died in a car accident, referring a client with complicated grief to a psychiatrist, writing up session notes after a client appointment, meeting with your supervisor to discuss some concerns about client responses to psychotherapy, attending professional development training, or just managing your busy calendar.
To be successful in this role you will need a well-developed sense of empathy, outstanding listening skills, and a working knowledge of the most effective psychotherapies for grief and loss recovery.
