Griffith University

Master of Rehabilitation Counselling Online

  • Delivery: Online
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Course Type: Master's

Help people overcome injury, disability and vocational barriers through ASORC-accredited study in rehabilitation counselling, combining client-centred practice with 200 hours of supervised professional experience.

Course overview

Griffith University's Master of Rehabilitation Counselling prepares graduates and professionals to support people experiencing disability, injury or vocational disadvantage. The course focuses on helping individuals access services, strengthen independence and participate in education and employment through evidence-informed rehabilitation counselling.

You will explore vocational evaluation, injury and disability management, applied counselling and job development. Learning connects client-centred assessment with rehabilitation planning, considering the lived experience of disability and the social, psychological and workplace factors that influence recovery, participation and employment outcomes.

Practical experience is a central component of the course, including a supervised rehabilitation counselling practicum of at least 200 hours. Students apply theoretical knowledge in a professional setting while developing counselling, case management and rehabilitation skills. Depending on the study pathway, the program also offers opportunities to explore related specialist areas or undertake research-focused learning.

Delivered online with mandatory on-site placement, the course can be completed in one to one and a half years full-time, depending on prior study and experience. Accredited by the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors, it supports professional development across rehabilitation, disability employment and injury management services, with graduates eligible to apply for ASORC membership subject to additional requirements.

"Throughout my learning, I felt supported, encouraged and empowered to succeed. Putting the theory I learned into practice has been instrumental in guiding Virgin Australia to achieve positive outcomes through our Disability Management program."

Bron Taylor, Master of Rehabilitation Counselling, Group Workers Compensation Manager, Virgin Australia Airlines

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
More Information
Including mandatory placement
Course Type
Master's
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time.
12 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
From $3,375
More Information
The estimated fee is determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.
Intake
March, 2027
July, 2027
November, 2027
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
12
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans and HECS-HELP loans are available to assist eligible domestic students with the cost of a university program.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

To earn the Master of Rehabilitation Counselling, you must successfully complete courses totalling 120 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 10 credit points.

The course offers three pathways depending on previous qualifications and relevant work experience.

Pathway 1

Complete 120 credit points comprising:

  • 40 credit points from Prior Learning
  • 80 credit points for all Core units

Core units

Complete all of the following:

  • Introduction to Rehabilitation Counselling
  • Vocational Evaluation
  • Injury and Disability Management
  • Rehabilitation Counselling Practicum
  • Foundations of Research Inquiry
  • Applied Counselling
  • The Lived Experience of Disability
  • Job Development and Placement

Prior learning 

40 credit points are awarded for approved recognised prior study and/or work experience.

Pathway 2
Pathway 3

Students must complete a supervised rehabilitation counselling practicum involving at least 200 hours of on-site professional practice in a suitable rehabilitation counselling setting. The practicum is normally completed in the final trimester.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Applicants may complete this course in one year or 1.5 years, depending on previous study and work experience.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the requirements for one of the following pathways:

Pathway 1 – One year (80 credit points of study)

  • A recognised bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a related discipline and two years of relevant work experience.
  • A Graduate Certificate in Case Management and Mental Health (3404) or Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies (3370), or equivalent.

Pathway 2 – 1.5 years (120 credit points of study – related degree)

  • A recognised bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a related discipline.

Pathway 3 – 1.5 years (120 credit points of study – any degree)

  • A recognised bachelor's degree or higher qualification.

Related discipline includes vocational rehabilitation, psychology, clinical exercise physiology, counselling, exercise science, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, occupational health nursing, human services, social work, industrial relations, human resource management, occupational health and safety.

Relevant work experience includes disability, rehabilitation, mental health, counselling, NDIS support or related human services practice.

A higher qualification refers to a qualification at a higher level than a bachelor's qualification, which includes any of the following: a bachelor honours degree; graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master's degree, MPhil or PhD.

Professional practice requirements

Students must complete a supervised rehabilitation counselling practicum involving at least 200 hours of on-site professional practice in a suitable rehabilitation counselling setting. The practicum is normally completed in the final trimester. Placement arrangements are negotiated with the course convenor, student, host organisation and placement officer approximately six to 12 months beforehand.

Students must meet all applicable pre-placement requirements, including vaccinations, health checks, licences, certificates and online training, by the end of their first trimester of study. Contact the university for further information.

English language requirements

Applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English must provide evidence of English language proficiency through at least one of the following accepted options:

  • IELTS Academic: overall score of 7.0, with no sub-score below 7.0
  • TOEFL: minimum score of 580
  • TOEFL iBT: overall score of 92, with no sub-score below 22
  • ISLPR: minimum score of 4 in each skill, conducted by ISLPR Language Services only
  • Cambridge C2 Proficiency: overall score of 185, with no score below 176
  • PTE Academic: overall score of 65, with no score below 65

English language test results must be no more than two years old. The Direct Entry Program (DEP) pathway is not accepted for this course.

These English language requirements are higher than those stipulated in Griffith University's standard policy. Applicants should refer to the University's Admission Procedure for further information. Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Students entering through the one-year pathway may receive 40 credit points for approved recognised prior study and/or work experience. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Graduates may pursue opportunities in rehabilitation counselling across:

  • Government
  • Insurance
  • Workers' compensation and motor accident rehabilitation
  • Disability employment services
  • National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
  • Private and not-for-profit providers

Relevant work may involve vocational assessment, counselling, case management, life skills training and social support for clients with disability, injury or vocational disadvantage. The qualification may also support leadership, research and specialist practice roles in rehabilitation counselling.

Fees and CSP/FEE-HELP

Commonwealth Supported Place

Indicative unit fee in 2027: Details coming soon
Indicative annual fee in 2027: Details coming soon
Indicative full-course fee: Details coming soon

Full-fee paying place

Indicative unit fee in 2027: $3,375 (10-credit-point unit)
Indicative annual fee in 2027: $27,000
Indicative full-course fee: $40,500

The average full-course fee shown is calculated based on the 120 credit point course structure completed over 1.5 years.

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

  • The number of units studied.
  • Choice of units.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
  • Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.