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Learn counselling skills. Then go further.
Counsellors and mental health support workers help people through some of life's hardest moments. The CHC51015 Short Course in Counselling is the lowest-risk way to build those core skills, a nationally recognised short course that credits directly into the full Diploma of Counselling if you decide to keep going.
Nationally Recognised Short Course.
Built from real CHC51015 units, it's a first step that gives you genuine exposure to counselling work, then leads directly into the full Diploma when you're ready to go further.
Two ways forward when you're ready.
Complete the short course, then choose your direction. Your units credit directly into the Diploma of Counselling, and the skills set you up well to move into mental health study too.
Short Course in Counselling
Choose your next step
Diploma of Counselling
The direct counselling pathway. The full qualification needed to work as a practising counsellor, and your short course units credit straight in, reducing your remaining study load.
Explore the Diploma →Certificate IV in Mental Health
Prefer a mental health direction? This Cert IV prepares you to support people experiencing mental health challenges across community and health settings, a natural companion to your counselling foundations.
Explore the Cert IV →Counselling & mental health in Australia
Counselling and mental health support sit within Australia's health and community services workforce, helping people through therapy, recovery, education and person-centred support.
Counsellors support people through personal challenges, goal setting and behavioural change across community and health settings.
Health Care and Social Assistance is Australia's largest employing industry, reflecting strong, ongoing demand for support-focused roles.
Counsellors earn a median of $2,154 per week, reflecting the value of communication, support planning and therapeutic practice.
Figures are indicative and sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia and the ABS. The Short Course in Counselling is an introduction; dedicated counsellor roles require the full Diploma of Counselling.
Counselling short course FAQs
Common questions about the online counselling short course, what it covers, and where it can take you.
The Short Course in Counselling is a nationally recognised online short course made up of three units from the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling. This counselling short course builds the core skills used in counselling conversations and is a low-commitment way to explore the field before stepping up to a full qualification.
This counselling and mental health short course suits people in support, education, HR or community roles who want practical counselling skills, as well as anyone exploring counselling as a career. Because it's an online short course with no formal entry requirements, it works equally well for beginners and for those already in support-focused work.
Yes. This is a nationally recognised short course. You complete three CHC51015 units of competency and receive a Statement of Attainment issued by Upskilled (RTO 40374), so the counselling short course carries genuine, recognised standing.
Not from the short course alone. The counselling short course is an introduction that builds foundational skills. To practise as a counsellor, you need the full CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling, and many professional roles expect a Bachelor of Counselling. The short course is the cleanest first step toward those qualifications.
Yes. The three units in the counselling short course are taken directly from CHC51015, so they credit straight into the full Diploma of Counselling. Completing the online short course first reduces your remaining study load when you continue.
The online short course is self-paced with up to four months of access. As a flexible short course, it lets motivated learners finish sooner while fitting study around work and family.
Upskilled's online counselling short course is built around practical, workplace-relevant skills, with support from an Australian-based team and specialist CHC trainers. As a fully online short course, it gives you a clear pathway from foundational counselling skills through to the Diploma and degree-level study.
No prior experience is needed. This introductory counselling short course is open to beginners, with no formal entry requirements. You complete a short language, literacy and numeracy check at enrolment so the short course is the right fit for your goals.
Travis Hackett
Head of Vocational Education — CHC, Upskilled
Travis leads the CHC Community Services stream at Upskilled and brings more than 28 years of frontline and leadership experience across the sector. His career spans disability services, child protection casework with FaCS, youth services, harm minimisation programs with NSW Health, youth justice conferencing, and counselling. Travis is also a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the Attorney-General's Department. He reviews Upskilled's CHC course content to ensure it reflects current sector practice and prepares students for meaningful, impactful work in Community Services roles.
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