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7 Responses to “An introduction to AIPC by Sandra Poletto, CEO.”
Hi there, just wondering if you have any New Zealand contacts or subscribers to this blog? Alternatively, is it possible to set up a New Zealand thread on your blogsite, for Kiwi counsellors?
Thank you for the comment. Whilst we do not run counselling forums or discussions which are locally-based (e.g. a NZ forum), we have a NZ-agent which operates under the following contacts:
New Zealand Institute of Professional Counselling
DX Box 10627, Auckland NZ
Phone 0011-64-9919-4500
Fax 0011-64-9442-2543
Website: http://www.nzipc.co.nz
They may be able to assist you in finding contacts - or training.
I partially completed a Diploma of Counselling course by correspondence with the now defunct Ashby-Allan Institute. One of problems I found was the extreme difficulty of completing the practical side of the course as I could not find any organization intersted in taking a student as an apprentice or trainee. I got no real help in this from the Ashby-Allan Institute. How does AIPC handle this problem?
Thanks for your query, yes being able to access a suitable work placement is a common situation faced by students when studying a counselling course because many counselling organisations do not have the resources (staff or time) available to oversee the student in the workplace.
In these circumstances, it is also very difficult to determine whether the quality of training and assessment conducted in the workplace is suitable to the student’s needs and their completion of their course. There is also some debate as to whether students of counselling should actually be working with real clients prior to being suitably qualified. And it is usual practice in courses that require compulsory work placements, for the training organisation to actively facilitate the work placement process so that the student can continue and complete their course as planned.
AIPC believes that students studying a Diploma should not be working directly with clients until they have fully completed their qualification. Hence, our course does not include any compulsory work-based practical components in our Diploma of Professional Counselling for the reasons of access, quality of training and suitability outlined above. We believe it is better for the student to gain a thorough understanding of the application of counselling skills in a simulated environment in role play situations (in a small group or private assessment setting). This training environment is a lot more supportive for the student where constructive feedback is provided in a timely manner.
Our course also includes latter units which focus specifically on the application of knowledge to counselling applications (eg family therapy, relationships, abuse, etc). So our students have extensive opportunity to competently apply their counselling knowledge prior to working with real clients.
While we encourage students to undertake work experience in a volunteer capacity during the latter half of their course, this is recommended purely for students to gain knowledge of working in a support role (through observation, etc) and to assist employment prospects after their course is completed. We have established contacts at various organisations that students can approach for volunteer work. Our more flexible approach to experience in the workplace respects the varying needs of students and the organisations where they undertake their volunteer work, without jeopardising the student’s progress through and completion of their course.
If you have completed some units of a course with another provider, then you are able to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning for relevant units in our course. Please feel free to contact your nearest AIPC Student Support Centre (www.aipc.net.au/contacts) to discuss your situation further – they will be glad to help.
Thank you very much Sandra, for your detailed response to my question. I shall certainly consider taking up a course with AIPC when I decide to continue my training.
hi, i was wondering how the diploma through AIPC compares with a university graduate diploma in counselling in terms of how it is recognised by employers. from what i have seen i think this course offers more flexibility in its structure, but i also want to ensure that its recognised equivalently . can you advise me on this ?? thanks, ruth
Thanks for your question Ruth. It is difficult to compare a Diploma-level qualification in counselling directly with a Graduate Diploma in counselling. A Diploma is at Level 5 of the Australian Qualifications Framework whereas a Graduate Diploma is at Level 9.
A Diploma level qualification in counselling is considered to be an entry level course and is broader in its coverage, whereas a Graduate Diploma usually covers more specialised aspects of counselling at a more complex level. To gain entry to a Graduate Diploma in counselling, you would normally require a Diploma or Bachelor qualification in counselling or a closely related area.
How an employer perceives either qualification really depends on the role that you are applying for. If it is an entry level role, then a Diploma would usually be considered favourably, however, if the role requires application of a higher level, more specialised level of skill and some experience, then a Graduate Diploma would possibly be preferred. But once again, this depends on the employer and the role.
If you do not have any counselling qualifications, AIPC would recommend that you start with our Diploma of Professional Counselling. After finishing this course, you would then meet the entry requirements to start in our Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling or Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling. Both of these vocational graduate courses are equivalent in educational level on the Australian Qualifications Framework to Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diplomas offered by universities.
You can find out more information about our vocational graduate courses at: www.aipc.net.au/vgd. You will find that our Diploma and Vocational Graduate programs can all be studied flexibly.
I hope this information is useful Ruth. Please let me know if you have any further questions and I’ll be glad to help.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Hi there, just wondering if you have any New Zealand contacts or subscribers to this blog? Alternatively, is it possible to set up a New Zealand thread on your blogsite, for Kiwi counsellors?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Hi Steve,
Thank you for the comment. Whilst we do not run counselling forums or discussions which are locally-based (e.g. a NZ forum), we have a NZ-agent which operates under the following contacts:
New Zealand Institute of Professional Counselling
DX Box 10627, Auckland NZ
Phone 0011-64-9919-4500
Fax 0011-64-9442-2543
Website: http://www.nzipc.co.nz
They may be able to assist you in finding contacts - or training.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Hi,
I partially completed a Diploma of Counselling course by correspondence with the now defunct Ashby-Allan Institute. One of problems I found was the extreme difficulty of completing the practical side of the course as I could not find any organization intersted in taking a student as an apprentice or trainee. I got no real help in this from the Ashby-Allan Institute. How does AIPC handle this problem?
June 13th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Hi Bhaskaran
Thanks for your query, yes being able to access a suitable work placement is a common situation faced by students when studying a counselling course because many counselling organisations do not have the resources (staff or time) available to oversee the student in the workplace.
In these circumstances, it is also very difficult to determine whether the quality of training and assessment conducted in the workplace is suitable to the student’s needs and their completion of their course. There is also some debate as to whether students of counselling should actually be working with real clients prior to being suitably qualified. And it is usual practice in courses that require compulsory work placements, for the training organisation to actively facilitate the work placement process so that the student can continue and complete their course as planned.
AIPC believes that students studying a Diploma should not be working directly with clients until they have fully completed their qualification. Hence, our course does not include any compulsory work-based practical components in our Diploma of Professional Counselling for the reasons of access, quality of training and suitability outlined above. We believe it is better for the student to gain a thorough understanding of the application of counselling skills in a simulated environment in role play situations (in a small group or private assessment setting). This training environment is a lot more supportive for the student where constructive feedback is provided in a timely manner.
Our course also includes latter units which focus specifically on the application of knowledge to counselling applications (eg family therapy, relationships, abuse, etc). So our students have extensive opportunity to competently apply their counselling knowledge prior to working with real clients.
While we encourage students to undertake work experience in a volunteer capacity during the latter half of their course, this is recommended purely for students to gain knowledge of working in a support role (through observation, etc) and to assist employment prospects after their course is completed. We have established contacts at various organisations that students can approach for volunteer work. Our more flexible approach to experience in the workplace respects the varying needs of students and the organisations where they undertake their volunteer work, without jeopardising the student’s progress through and completion of their course.
If you have completed some units of a course with another provider, then you are able to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning for relevant units in our course. Please feel free to contact your nearest AIPC Student Support Centre (www.aipc.net.au/contacts) to discuss your situation further – they will be glad to help.
Best wishes,
Sandra.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Thank you very much Sandra, for your detailed response to my question. I shall certainly consider taking up a course with AIPC when I decide to continue my training.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
hi, i was wondering how the diploma through AIPC compares with a university graduate diploma in counselling in terms of how it is recognised by employers. from what i have seen i think this course offers more flexibility in its structure, but i also want to ensure that its recognised equivalently . can you advise me on this ?? thanks, ruth
November 21st, 2008 at 9:05 am
Thanks for your question Ruth. It is difficult to compare a Diploma-level qualification in counselling directly with a Graduate Diploma in counselling. A Diploma is at Level 5 of the Australian Qualifications Framework whereas a Graduate Diploma is at Level 9.
A Diploma level qualification in counselling is considered to be an entry level course and is broader in its coverage, whereas a Graduate Diploma usually covers more specialised aspects of counselling at a more complex level. To gain entry to a Graduate Diploma in counselling, you would normally require a Diploma or Bachelor qualification in counselling or a closely related area.
How an employer perceives either qualification really depends on the role that you are applying for. If it is an entry level role, then a Diploma would usually be considered favourably, however, if the role requires application of a higher level, more specialised level of skill and some experience, then a Graduate Diploma would possibly be preferred. But once again, this depends on the employer and the role.
If you do not have any counselling qualifications, AIPC would recommend that you start with our Diploma of Professional Counselling. After finishing this course, you would then meet the entry requirements to start in our Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling or Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling. Both of these vocational graduate courses are equivalent in educational level on the Australian Qualifications Framework to Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diplomas offered by universities.
You can find out more information about our vocational graduate courses at: www.aipc.net.au/vgd. You will find that our Diploma and Vocational Graduate programs can all be studied flexibly.
I hope this information is useful Ruth. Please let me know if you have any further questions and I’ll be glad to help.
Kind regards,
Sandra Poletto
AIPC CEO