At the end of January 2003 I began my journey with AIPC.

Working full-time, I found the study packs a lot less onerous than I had anticipated and it was easy to pace myself. Each evening I was ‘staying in’ I started studying at a set time and finished at a set time. I found that if I didn’t set an end time as well that I would often get carried away into the night, which wasn’t appreciated by my work colleagues the next day (Zzzzz)! I was excited and challenged at the same time and thoroughly enjoyed each unit.

Of course there were tough times along the way (particularly after Unit 8 ) but when I calmed down and just approached the work in smaller pieces the answers amazingly flowed. If I got stuck on something and just couldn’t work out the question I was able to email or call the support team for help.

I have learned a lot about myself through this experience and a lot about other people. Judging others is destructive and not listening carefully to family and friends is thoughtless. I have stronger friendships now than I have ever had and I have learned the value of people in my life. I have also learned that in order for me to help others I must accept myself, warts and all, and love myself for who I am.

The best tips I could give anyone embarking on this course are to:

Read the questions very carefully, breaking them up into smaller phrases and taking in what that smaller phrase is saying before tackling the next phrase. It’s easy to jump to conclusions about what the question is asking and I got myself quite agitated, which just ended up frustrating my own efforts. There were no hidden meanings or trick questions or expectations to be some great philosopher! All I had to do was be ME, answer the questions honestly and refer to the text in front of me. It was as simple as that.

Take on board the feedback from the assessors to stay on track. Every time I had a Unit returned I went through the book and read the comments against the questions I could have answered better. This helped me to think a little more laterally and to see the bigger picture. Belinda, Beverley, Cynthia and Zahava had such valuable insight to offer along the way and they were more than willing to share it.

Never under-estimate your own abilities. I completed this course in 22 months! I didn’t think I would achieve that goal because as I got further along in my studies I started to doubt that I would be good enough or smart enough or diligent enough. But each time a Unit came back the comments lifted me up and my confidence had such a boost that I’d plough through the next book. I thrive on recognition and the Team catered very well!

Thank you AIPC for an enjoyable experience!

The six million dollar question when you’re doing this course (Diploma of Professional Counselling) is - will it lead to a paying job and how will I get one.
 
Actually, that’s two questions, but you get the picture. I think just about every conversation I had with fellow students eventually turned to the inevitable “‘what will I do at the end of the course” question. 

I loved this course!  I’m a middle aged PA who returned from 15 years in London in 2004 to Brisbane - a bit of a culture shock, but I had one definite goal - as I’d been lucky enough to work for a drug and alcohol clinic I knew that was where I wanted to work as a counsellor.  So, I started the course in July 2004, finished in December 2005 and began job hunting in January.
 
About a month or two before finishing the course, I had a bit of a meltdown about finishing - that feeling of loss – I looked backwards from my ultimate dream job to where I was now and worked out options on how to get there.  The best advice I was given was that experience is everything.  So true.  If you are lucky enough to know what direction you want to head into with your counselling, then get voluntary work experience in that field - it is invaluable!
 
If you don’t know what field you want to work in, just do as much voluntary work wherever you can get it - there is no substitute for experience and often voluntary work leads to a permanent job. I think generic counselling like Lifeline is a great way to get all round experience - and they offer fabulous training.  It costs (not much - under $400 and it’s tax deductible) but it’s well worth it for the education and training.
 
So, I decided to hunt down drug and alcohol counselling and was lucky to get work as a duty counsellor with Queensland Injector’s Health Network from about September until December last year.  This looks great on my CV and I received a killer reference from my boss there - bless him!
 
Now the fun starts ……. the job hunt.  Now this is hard work and I am not a patient person (anyone who reads this who has met me will marvel at that understatement) but believe me - persistence really does pay!
 
I started by the usual routes - all the job networks on the internet, all newspapers, counselling organisations and surfing the government jobs, charitable organisations and voluntary organisations every day.  But you have to do more.  Since I had a goal industry, I printed off a list of all the drug and alcohol clinics in my region and telephoned every single one of them to get the name of the person best to address an ‘off the cuff’ application to and had a chat with the person on the phone to establish their culture and hope they would remember me when my letter and CV hit their doorstep.  Some said they had nothing and would have nothing due to the structure of their company, but out of the 86 I called, about 78 were genuinely happy to hear from me.
 
These places didn’t have vacancies, but you never know!  I sent a generic covering letter and my CV off - ok, it’s costly and time consuming but it works!  I posted 35 off in my first 10 days here and have since been offered 4 job interviews and 11 telephoned to thank me for writing to them and offered me advice and further leads. My CV looked great - I had my voluntary experience, my qualification, anything even remotely relating to the field I wanted to work in and a membership to the ACA and the AIPC - which I thoroughly recommend as I have been asked in interview if I am a member of any professional bodies - it’s highly thought of, believe me.
 
Anyway, they were all really impressed with my initiative and every single one I talked to was kind, keen and helpful.  >From the people I spoke to, if they didn’t want my CV, I would ask them if they had any ideas or thoughts on where I could apply to.  From that I received more leads - rehab and detox centres, other government web sites, other job centres - until I can say that my job hunting became a full time job.  I would sit at my computer at 7am, do my internet search, then send off applications and make phone calls and stop for lunch, maybe continue in the afternoon and every night I would do the admin - i.e. write down where I had applied, when I’d sent my CV and so on.  I know it sounds pedantic, but when they start calling you for interviews (and they will) you want to sound like you know what they’re talking about as it’s easy to get lost in all these applications!
 
Being proactive and getting in first is not only a terrific way to get a job, it gets your name out there in the industry and you know you are doing absolutely everything you can to get that dream job.
 
In my first 2 weeks of serious job hunting I had 5 interviews, 3 permanent job offers and an offer of casual work - and they still keep calling ………….. I graduated on the 3rd of December last year and I start my new job next Monday - my dream job that I am so excited and terrified of I can barely breathe! 

The one I got is with the Regional Health Board as a drug and alcohol counsellor for the MERIT program - the Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment Initiative - you’ll know what that means.  A real counsellor!  Can’t decide whether I am more excited or scared but all in all I am thrilled.

I suggest to others to cast your net wide if you can - all that hard work and sacrifices you made whilst studying, the angst and brain strain - it doesn’t end when you graduate - it ends when you have given every thing you have to get that job - then it’s all worthwhile!

I graduated as a counsellor with AIPC after 3 years study. I had always been intrigued by the concept of a counsellor as a helper of people, and I found that university studies did not suit my timeframe and were not very user friendly.

At age 48 I found myself in a position where I could envision myself able to be employed in the near future, but with no particular training other than a considerable knowledge of the earthmoving and civil engineering industry. I investigated the education scene and found an external degree in Education, in the area of Vocational Education and Training, and decided to embark on that course. I gained my degree at age 50 and worked for a time in the education sector as a supply teacher. I found teaching in schools very draining, and embarked on another uni course – a Masters in Anthropology, but found the time constraints too difficult. The deadlines for assignments were just that – deadly!

A chance encounter with a friend who was an AIPC graduate and working in industry, found me phoning Robert Carrigan and asking for an appointment to discuss the course, its validity and an inspection of the curriculum. I was most impressed with the professional approach used and the course design, and I decided then and there to enrol and pay for 2 majors up front. I brought my husband along with me to make him a ‘stakeholder’ in the process. He remarked to Robert Carrigan – “I don’t really think she is capable of doing this work!!!”

Despite a number of intrusive but external events within my family, and several house moves, and a motor-home trip around Australia, I managed to complete my 22 units in around 3 years, and even had a few ‘not yet competents’, which only provided a challenge, and usually meant minimal hiccups in completion of a unit. I often had to set up the computer and printer on the dashboard of the motor home to prepare assignments.

I found the seminars excellent learning opportunities, and I flew in from places far and wide, but thoroughly enjoyed the interaction with staff and fellow students, who, we decided, were all ‘people people’. I have made excellent friends and contacts through these seminars, and of course, had a little retail therapy on the side. Robert Carrigan usually provided a friendly face on arrival and was always very encouraging of us all – and remembered all our names!

I have commenced work in industry as a counsellor with a private provider company, and work with an excellent team of those same ‘people people’, and currently work in an alumina refinery, an aluminium smelter and with the Central Queensland Port Authority.

My clients are predominantly male, present with a wide variety of concerns, and it is really a pleasure to help them help themselves in their journey through life. The background provided by AIPC has been an excellent tool in my work in industry, and I am currently working through a major in grief and loss. What I will do for my other major I don’t yet know. I counsel on site, in the town office, sometimes in the clients’ homes, and occasionally in a café or other venue chosen by the client.

I appreciate that I am in a privileged position within my clients’ lives, and I am well aware of the code of ethics we must use as a guideline. (And I thought the ethics unit would be a complete bore – it was really very interesting – and very necessary.)

Best wishes to everyone studying with AIPC – just plod on and you will get there, and then you will get such a sense of achievement and satisfaction when you finish your course. It truly is worth every minute of it.

Diana Ross said “You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.”

I finished the Diploma of Professional Counselling in 2005. The feeling of achievement I have as I look at my diploma perched in a special frame in a prominent space in my office far outweighs the anguish, worry and desperation I felt at times during study. My goal to be self employed in a phenomenal personal development business kept me motivated and focused. I created_ a vivid picture in my head of what that might look like and each morning I flicked through it like a slide show of a fabulous journey beyond my expectations.

This course was more than I ever expected, it was about learning theories, skills, strategies, but ultimately it was about me. I found it both challenging and rewarding as I discovered things about myself that I didn’t like but many things I did like. Overcoming yourself is better than overcoming a million enemies in battle. Buddha (568-488).

Doing the Diploma as a self paced course questioned and pushed my boundaries, my beliefs and my brain! Learning is my life, I look for learning in everything that happens within and outside me and to extend this interpretation to others has a profound effect on their lives. Counselling isn’t about fixing problems it is about getting permission to be in the world of another, honouring that space and allowing the other to find their way respectfully and ecologically. I don’t know of another career that allows me to stand in the presence of geniuses every day. I met great teachers during this course and continue to meet great teachers every day through clients and colleagues. I am grateful for what I have and what will come as a result of doing the diploma, it opened up choices and possibilities that I did not realize existed for me.

I have worked in schools and community groups as well as private enterprises but the greatest achievement (along with raising my children) has been for me to have the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and declare to the world that I am ready to contribute what I have so long deprived it of. I believe when we do our best we shine and we give others permission to shine also!

A teacher said to me the other day, “Your work is phenomenal, Philomena, it creates space for possibilities and choice.” Gee, I was honoured to get that compliment from someone who I deeply respect. Quietly I acknowledged myself for having achieving what I had set out to do. The journey isn’t over, each day is the beginning.

Today, let go of those thoughts that are not useful, write down exactly what you want from your study, focus, be committed but flexible, be gentle with yourself, be grateful for what you have and what you will have in the future and you will manifest your goal. Remember you are unique in the universe of abundance, have/do what is rightfully yours, you deserve that! I look forward to meeting you.

Continue the journey, make the decision, Unfold your dream, step into your vision, Be daring, be confident, take the wise breaks, Unique and capable; you’ve got what it takes.

I decided at the age of 52 to pursue study in counselling, after working in administrative roles since leaving school. That was in May 2004. The study took 2 years and 2 months to complete and I’m so happy to have accomplished the Diploma. For many years I had been unsatisfied in my administrative role, although it was well-paid with good conditions, it was also stressful, demanding, unrewarding and I suffered many migraines and disturbed sleep patterns as a consequence.

Initially I thought I wanted to gain the counselling skills and knowledge as a general interest. But as the course progressed, I began to entertain the thought that I could pursue employment with these counselling skills where my caring, empathizing qualities would be utilised. A job that would make a positive difference and contribution in other’s lives, and at the same time provide personal satisfaction and fulfillment.

Since graduating with the Diploma in July 2006 - it’s such an unbelievable feeling to accomplish and also it’s providing opportunities and changes in my life that were not possible a couple of years ago. My lack of self-confidence and deprivation of personal ambitions has now been transformed to pursuing my ideal employment. I am focusing now on developing patience and realism to make my ideal job happen.

The AIPC study has taught me to have faith, confidence and strength in myself, as well as a myriad of other skills, but these personal attributes have enabled me to leave to leave the security of my administrative position in late June 2006. Since that time I’ve been working as a Personal Carer/Support person for 4 days a week. One day a week I do volunteer work with a Child Contact Service where I take phone calls regarding child contact or supervised visits. There is also an opportunity to assist with the supervised visits, and to do emergency relief work, and foster care assistance. I enjoy this volunteer work which is providing me with a variety of excellent work experience that is invaluable. Through this agency, I have recently attended some presentations, such as Child Protection & Safety and Positive Parenting.

I now apply for jobs and constantly search the web, and am thirsty for information and any courses that further my skills with counselling or support work. I now feel confident that with my AIPC Diploma qualification, community work, and volunteer work, I will be successful with my job search. Recently I have had two interviews with a job placement agency for disabled persons and a community agency. Whenever I have mentioned the. AIPC Diploma qualification, I have received a positive reaction and recognition of this study.

Rob Carrigan seems to have endless compassion, time and understanding for people like myself, and has been very helpful and inspirational throughout my units of study, and even now that I’ve graduated, continues the support and assistance. Also other staff at AIPC have been continually supportive, and responsive to all of my requests over the 2 years of study.

I would encourage you to keep trying, don’t give up as it’s well worth the effort. Each unit you finish is another step to achieving your goal, and I wish you all the best.