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Provide life-changing support. The Master of Rehabilitation Counselling prepares you for professional practice as a rehabilitation counsellor. Offered both on campus and by distance/online, you will learn how to assist people with disabilities or disadvantage to achieve maximum participation in employment and community life through assessment, counselling, service provision and support.
During this two-year degree, you will be taught by leading academics as you learn how to provide specialist counselling, rehabilitation, and case management services to people who have experienced injury, disability or social disadvantage. You will have the opportunity to advance your knowledge in specialist areas of mental health, alcohol and drug misuse, developmental disability, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), public offenders, or other interest areas as approved by the course director.
As part of your studies, you will also complete a number of clinical and professional fieldwork opportunities across both the public and private sectors which will enable you to practically apply your knowledge and gain firsthand experience. As a graduate entry program, this course is designed to accommodate all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their previous discipline. However, a formal background in psychology, rehabilitation, or related subjects is desirable.
The Master of Rehabilitation Counselling course an accredited program. As a qualified rehabilitation counsellor, you will have the opportunity to assist diverse clientele across a range of settings including business and industry, tertiary health, social service, advocacy, and private practice.
Why study with us?
How will you learn?
The course is offered on campus and by distance/ online.
Who should study this course?
Health and non-health graduates who are looking to gain the skills required for professional practice as a rehabilitation counsellor.
Learn more about studying health sciences at Sydney.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for this course for eligible domestic students. This means that your course fees are subsidised by the Australian Government and you pay a student contribution amount (SCA). CSP places are limited in number and are allocated based on academic merit.
There are no specialisations for this course.
For academic requirements check the ‘Admission requirements’ section on this page.
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Application dates
Applications open - 1 July of the preceding year
Applications close - 31 January of the commencing year
Offers released: Offers are made throughout the year based on academic merit and subject to availability in the program
We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, offers are made on a rolling basis and places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.
If you would like to be considered for a Commonwealth Supported Place, please submit your application for this course by 30 November 2019
Semester 1 (March)
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Application dates
Applications open - 15 March of the preceding year
Applications close - 31 January of the commencing year
Offers released: Offers are made throughout the year based on academic merit and subject to availability in the program
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines may apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Semester 1 (March)
You will follow a prescribed course of study with a total 96 credit points, including fourteen core units (84cp) and two elective units (12cp).
Sample study plan:
Year |
Sem |
|
|
Year 1 |
S1 |
Rehabilitation Counselling I |
Rehabilitation Resource Management |
Assessment, Evaluation & Planning |
Applied Vocational Rehabilitation |
||
S2 |
Rehabilitation Counselling II |
BioPsychoSocial Aspects of Disability |
|
Disability Management |
Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation |
||
Year 2 |
S1 |
Disability, Public Policy and Change |
Professional Practice 1 |
Disability Research and Evidence in Practice |
Elective |
||
S2 |
Inclusive Community Development |
Professional Practice 2 |
|
Elective |
Rehabilitation Counselling Capstone |
For more information on the course structure and content, view the Health Sciences Handbook.
Mandatory work component = 400 hours.
This translates to 40 hours per week.
This mandatory work component must be completed as part of the award requirements for the course.
To be eligible to apply you will need to fulfill the following criteria:
(This does not guarantee an offer of a place as places are limited and offers are made based on academic merit)
Admission process
For more information on the graduate entry masters admission process for domestic and international applicants, read this document.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent requirements are the essential tasks and activities necessary to be able to achieve the core learning outcomes of a course. They are specific to a particular course or discipline. To assist students to make informed choices about their study, we have identified and set out the inherent requirements for this course.
The academic criteria that are displayed are applicable to currently available courses only, and are updated annually in October and may be changed without notice. The Handbooks Online and the University of Sydney Calendar are the official legal source of information relating to study at the University of Sydney, and you are referred to those documents.
The Master of Rehabilitation Counselling and the Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling are accredited by the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia. (RCAA)
Following course completion, graduates are eligible to apply for membership of RCAA.
RCAA is a member of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA). RCAA members are recognised by the Heads of Workers' Compensation Authority (HWCA); Australian state-based Workers' Compensation Authorities, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) in New Zealand; and provision of services under Life Insurance, Comcare and Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP) schemes.
More information can be obtained from the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia.
Graduates attain professional status as a rehabilitation counsellor and are qualified to provide specialist counselling, rehabilitation, and case management services to people who have experienced injury, disability or social disadvantage.
Rehabilitation counsellors work:
Samridhi on a field trip in Nepal
Samridhi Rana Thapa
Disability Inclusion Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross
"I'm currently based in Nepal and work for people with all types of disability (not just physical) and other vulnerable populations to promote their inclusion, through identification of support services, capacity building activities, proposal development, establishing partners and collaborators and creating evidence to enable formulation of stronger legislation and policies, among others." Read more.
Career timeline
Louise Bilato
Managing Director, IMconcepts, Injury Management Practice
“I have always seen the field of Rehabilitation Counselling as the most well rounded, and grounded, of the Allied Health disciplines. It encompassed elements of positive psychology and biopsychosocial models well before these terms became ‘on trend’ and having a combined focus on vocation, ability, mental health, community engagement and case management skills development blends most effectively with holistic health and well-being management."
Career timeline:
