How do I become a rehabilitation counsellor
Get qualified to work as a rehabilitation counsellor with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Rehabilitation Counsellor.
Common questions
In Australia, a full time rehabilitation counsellor generally earns $1,600 per week ($83,200 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
Courses.com.au Team
As of May 2019, there were approximately 31,000 counsellors in Australia. That number is expected to grow to nearly 39,000 by May 2024. Though the number of rehabilitation counsellors fell from 2,100 in 2011 to 1,600 in 2016, drug and alcohol workers in particular are expected to see nearly 25% job growth in the next five years.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal - 2019 Occupational Projections, Seek and Australian Government Job Outlook
Courses.com.au Team
To become a rehabilitation counsellor, you often need to pursue a learning pathway in which you obtain a qualification in counselling. A potentially suitable course is a Diploma of Counselling. This can take 24 months to complete depending on whether you study online, on campus or both and if you study full time or part time. Depending on your role, psychology study might also be suggested or required. You might also need to obtain other checks, including a national police check, and a working with vulnerable people and children check.
Courses.com.au Team
Further reading
What can you do with a Diploma of Counselling?
11th September 2019
How to start a career in the treatment of addiction
13th July 2020Rehabilitation Counsellor careers
A Rehabilitation Counsellor helps people navigate everyday issues brought on by disability, injury, addiction and poor health. They often are brought in to help clients after major life events, such as major trauma or diagnosis, that cause large changes. These allied health professionals assist those in need in a variety of ways, including helping them seek out and take advantage of employment and education opportunities and adapting to new ways of living everyday life.
Rehabilitation Counsellors often work not only with the client, but also others in his or her life, including friends, family members and potentially employers or educators. These counsellors are fully equipped with knowledge of helpful resources and know how to use these resources to develop and deliver a rehabilitation plan to clients. Rehabilitation counsellors can specialise in certain areas based on client demographics or issues faced by clients.
