Student Placement Requirements


Graduate Diploma of Counselling (GDC16)

Fieldwork placements are a period of unpaid work experience in a supervised workplace where students have an opportunity to put theory into practice.  Fieldwork placements are also an excellent opportunity for students to develop networks and explore career options and professional pathways.

All Graduate Diploma 16 students are required to complete 2 Fieldwork placements totalling 200 hours:

  • 1 x 100 hour placement after 6 to 8 modules  
  • 1 x 100 hour placement

Note: Theory and Practice of Supervision unit must be completed concurrently with a placement. This placement must include 40 hours of client contact (see below) and 10 hours of clinical supervision (see below) in order for you to be able to complete the assignments for Theory and Practice of Supervision.

Graduate Diploma 16 students are required to meet a minimum of 40hrs of direct client contact and 10hrs of clinical supervision within their placement period.

Client contact is face-to-face or person-to-person counselling or psychotherapy work. This can include up to 10 hours of telephone counselling and 10 hours of counselling work with children.  Counselling or psychotherapeutic group work, psychoeducational groups and co-therapy or co facilitation of a therapy group will be counted as client contact hours as long as the student takes a lead role and is not observing the group or participating as a client in the group. Case management, counselling research and informal work with individuals, children and families would not be considered client contact.

Supervision:

There are 2 levels of supervision; day to day and clinical.

Your day to day supervisor must:

  1. be in a managerial or supervisory role  in the organisation
  2. Have at least 3 years relevant experience in the industry
  3. Not have any other relationship with you (eg family etc)

At some stage of your total student placement hours, GDC 16 students need to have 10 hours of clinical supervision regarding their 40 hours of client contact. Students will present client cases to their Clinical Supervisor. This is a structured opportunity for personal and professional development.

Clinical Supervisor must be suitably qualified and experienced. Check with Student Placement if you are unsure. 

Your Clinical Supervisor must:

  1. Be currently working at a management or supervisory  level as a practitioner
  2. Have at least 3 years post training experience in counselling or psychotherapy
  3. Hold a 2 year minimum qualification in counselling, psychotherapy,  or a relevant degree i.e. psychology, social work etc
  4. Have completed a minimum 750 hours of direct face to face counselling
  5. Have completed 75 hours of clinical supervision post qualification
  6. Not have any other relationship with you (eg family, therapist  etc)

Please note: Your Clinical Supervisor could also be your Day to Day Supervisor, you are not required to have 2 supervisors at each placement.

 Further information can be found on the Student Placement site