FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
2012
INFORMATION SESSION / ORIENTATION DAY
There is an information evening for all Postgraduate Courses
Date: Tuesday 4th October 2011
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Bouverie Centre,
RSVP: 27th September (or ASAP after this date)
Email: bouverie.academic@latrobe.edu.au
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
What are the course pre-requisites / entry requirements for this course?
Please see the course specific ‘Course Pre-requisites, Structure & Unit Outline 2011’ flyer for more information
What are the selection criteria for this course?
Applicants must lodge a written application that meets the course eligibility requirements and take part in an interview that may include participation in a role-play counselling interview. Applicants will be selected on academic merit, past counselling experience and capacity to work therapeutically with clients in their current work context as demonstrated at interview. Preference will be given to applicants working in a context that allows them to work with couples.
Those students wishing to study the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy unit and Clinical Internship unit in the Masters program must be prepared to fulfil all requirements of specialist training and clinical supervision at RAV. Applications to the Clinical Internship will only be considered after successful completion of the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy and by invitation from RAV (depending on places available and clinical experience).
COURSE STRUCTURE & UNIT OUTLINE
Do you accept mid year admissions?
No.
Is this course available full time?
No, only part time.
Is this course available to international students?
No.
Is this course available via online or distance education?
No.
ELIGIBILITY
Who is eligible to apply for this postgraduate course?
Australian citizens, holders of a humanitarian visa, New Zealand and Permanent residents. Please see the ‘Postgraduate Fee Information - 2011’ flyer for more details
SEMESTER DATES & TIMES
What are the day and time commitments?
This course is a 2-year part-time course. It may take longer than 2 years to complete depending on which subjects you successfully complete and when they are offered. Please see below tables for day, times, semester, year and each unit is offered.
TIMETABLE FOR THE BOUVERIE CENTRE, LA TROBE UNIVERSITY SUBJECTS (FTH5PFF, FTH5QRM, FTH5MTH, FTH5TSA, FTH5SUP) ONLY
The La Trobe University subjects will be conducted at the Bouverie Centre, as follows:
|
DAY |
TIME |
YEAR |
SEMESTER |
UNIT CODE |
UNIT NAME |
TOTAL CREDIT POINT (CP) VALUE |
|
Monday |
9.00am - 12.00pm |
2013 |
1 |
FTH5QRM |
Qualitative Research Methods |
20 |
|
Monday |
9.00am – 12.00pm |
2012 |
1 |
FTH5TSA |
Working Systemically with Trauma & Sexual Abuse |
20 |
|
Monday |
9.00 am- 12.00 pm |
2012 |
2 |
FTH5SUP |
Supervision in Systemic Therapy |
20 |
|
Monday |
9.00am - 12.00pm |
2012 |
1 |
FTH5PFF |
Postmodern Family Formation |
20 |
|
Ongoing |
2012/2013 |
1 |
FTH5MTH |
Minor Thesis # |
30 |
|
|
2012/2013 |
2 |
FTH5MTH |
Minor Thesis # |
30 |
||
# No class attendance is required for FTH5MTH. Teaching is arranged with your supervisor.
Students are allowed to miss a maximum of 2 classes per unit.
Students studying FTH5MTH must successfully complete 60 CP in this subject.
The 2011 semester timetable for subjects taught by The Bouverie Centre is as follows:
|
FIRST SEMESTER |
27th February – 1st June |
|
MID SEMESTER VACATION |
6th April – 13th April |
|
SECOND SEMESTER |
23rd July – 26th October |
|
MID SEMESTER VACATION |
24th – 28th September |
NOTE: The University is closed on Australia Day (26th January), at Easter (Friday 6th April to Tuesday 10th April inclusive), on Anzac Day (25th April), and on Queen’s Birthday (11th June).
The University remains open on Labour Day and
Start and finish dates for semester two are usually altered to allow students and staff to attend the annual Family Therapy Conference. Classes will not be held during these weeks. Dates will be confirmed at the time of interviews. This is not applicable for the Graduate Certificate in Narrative Therapy.
TIMETABLE FOR RELATIONSHIPS AUSTRALIA VICTORIA SUBJECTS (FTH5RAC, FTH5RAI) ONLY
The Specialist Course in Couple Therapy will be conducted biannually at RAV Kew.
The Clinical Internship will be conducted at RAV Kew at times to be arranged between RAV and the Intern. The Intern must make themselves available for one morning (9.00am - 1.00pm) or one afternoon (1.00 - 5.00pm) plus one evening (5.00 - 9.00pm) per week.
VENUE
Where is the course run?
Subjects FTH5PFF, FTH5SUP, FTH5TSA, FTH5QRM and FTH5MTH are offered by The Bouverie Centre,
La
The Bouverie Centre,
(Melways reference Map 29 F 7, UBD reference Map 223 D13)
Students can park in the streets surrounding the Bouverie Centre. There is limited car parking on site.
Subjects Specialist Course in Couple Therapy (FTH5RAC) and Clinical Internship (FTH5RAI) are offered by Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV). Classes for these subjects are held at:
Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) at 46 Princess Street, Kew, VIC 3101.
(Melways reference 45 C5)
RELATIONSHIPS AUSTRALIA VICTORIA (RAV) – SPECIALIST COURSE IN COUPLE THERAPY (SCCT)
- CLINICAL INTERNSHIP (CI)
If I am currently completing the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy (SCCT), can I apply for the Masters?
Yes. You can apply for the Masters prior to completion of the SCCT. If you are offered a place, then once enrolled, advanced standing (credit) for the SCCT can be sought after the SCCT assessment has been successfully completed.
If I’ve already done the Relationships
If you’ve successfully completed the SCCT within the last five years, and you have successfully completed the assessment, you are eligible to apply for advanced standing (credit) for the SCCT to the value of 40 credit points towards the Masters.
Likewise, if you’ve successfully completed the Clinical Internship and assessment within the last five years, you are eligible to apply for advanced standing (credit) for the Clinical Internship to the value of 20 credit points towards the Masters.
To apply for Advanced Standing please also refer to question below about obtaining Advanced Standing.
If you did not complete the assessment at the time you did the SCCT, this assessment task can be undertaken now as long as it is done within five years of completing the SCCT. Please contact RAV to obtain the current assessment task.
To fulfil the requirements for the SCCT assessment, you must pay a fee of $330 (incl. GST) to have your assessment marked. If you fail the assessment your fee is not recoverable. You may be invited to rewrite some of your essay. Alternatively, you may not be able to gain advanced standing (credit) for the SCCT towards the Masters. Either way, your assessment fee will not be recoverable. If the essay requires extensive remarking a remarking fee will apply.
If I completed the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy more than 5 years ago, can I apply for advanced standing (credit) for the Masters?
You can apply for credit under similar criteria to those outlined below for equivalent training. You may have to do the formal assessment task.
What if I haven’t done the Relationships Australia Specialist Course in Couple Therapy, but I’m an experienced couple counsellor and I believe I’ve had equivalent training and professional development and therefore seek advanced standing (credit) for this unit?
a. You will have to provide detailed information about the couple counselling training course that you completed, demonstrating that it had a coherent theoretical underpinning; covered key special topics relevant to working with couples; paid some attention to the self as therapist; included skills development components; and included case discussion. The course would need to have been conducted by a credible provider, be adequately assessed, and be close to or exceed the 100 teaching hours offered by the SCCT.
b. You will need to establish that you have had the equivalent of 5 years full time supervised counselling experience, with a minimum of 20% being conjoint couple counselling.
c. You will need to demonstrate that you have had an ongoing commitment to your development as a couple counsellor through avenues such as: attendance at conferences, workshops etc that have focused on couple counselling; receiving specialist supervision for couple counselling; membership of relevant professional associations; or subscription to relevant journals.
d. You will need to be currently working with couples.
e. You may have to do the formal assessment task.
What is the formal assessment requirement for the SCCT?
For the purposes of claiming prior credit for the SCCT, the formal assessment requirement is a written assignment (6000 words) linking theory to practice. A copy of the assignment question can be supplied on application to Brenda Hayes, phone 9261 8702. All students undertaking the SCCT will also be required to complete a structured reflective journal (6000 words).
How do I obtain advanced standing (credit) towards the Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling for the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy (or equivalent) and/or Clinical Internship?
To apply for advanced standing (credit) for the SCCT and/or Clinical Internship, complete an “Application for Advanced Standing” form available from La Trobe. In addition, certified copies of your qualifications will need to be submitted with the Application for Advanced Standing. If approved, it will be processed and you will achieve 40 credit points for the unit FTH5RAC Specialist Course in Couple Therapy and/or 20 credit points for FTH5RAI Clinical Internship towards the Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling qualification.
What are the criteria for selection into the Clinical Internship?
· Tertiary qualification in an appropriate behavioural/social science.
· Sound knowledge of counselling theory and practice
· Minimum of one year’s face to face counselling experience
· Successful completion of the SCCT
· A well developed capacity for self-reflection
· Openness to new learning
· Capacity to work as part of a team
· Well developed core counselling skills as assessed through the Skills Development Workshop component of the SCCT
Please note: Completion of SCCT will not give automatic entry into the Clinical Internship.
Internship places are limited so fulfilling these criteria does not guarantee a place.
What if I haven’t done the Relationships Australia Clinical Internship, but I’m an experienced couple counsellor and I believe I’ve had equivalent training and professional development and therefore seek advanced standing (credit) for this unit?
Advanced standing (credit) cannot be sought for alternative training to this unit (regardless of level of experience).
What happens if I want to do the Clinical Internship but don’t get selected to do it?
You will need to choose other subjects in the Masters to study.
What is the formal assessment requirement for the Clinical Internship?
You are required to keep a structured weekly internship log (6,000 words in total), hand in a video or audio tape of a couple-counselling session and pass the supervisor assessment report.
Who will mark my assessment for Specialist Course in Couple Therapy and Clinical Internship?
All assessment tasks are marked by the RAV Professional Education team. If you are an employee at RAV Kew, you may be marked by an external assessor.
APPLICATION
How do I apply for the Masters course?
Send in your completed application form to:
Student Services Officer
The Bouverie Centre, La
Closing date for applications is 31st October 2011.
Applicants who meet the criteria for admission to the course will be offered an interview. You will also be notified if you do not succeed in getting an interview.
Note: All applicant details must be written directly on the application form provided with only extra information in attachments.
Please enclose a current photo of yourself.
If you wish to apply for the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy please complete the Relationships Australia Victoria Expression of Interest form and return to:
Brenda Hayes, RAV,
If you require an expression of interest form call Brenda on 9261 8702 or email bhayes@rav.org.au.
What do I need to submit to apply for this Masters course?
· Completed 2010 application form including your signature
· Certified copy of all Academic Transcripts of Results of qualifications gained
· Certified copy of Australian or
· a current photo of yourself
What happens after I apply?
Admission Applications are viewed by the course co-ordinator and eligible applicants will be contacted for an interview in November/December. You will also be notified if you do not succeed in getting an interview or if unsuccessful in the interview.
Acceptance Successful applicants will be sent a letter of offer. Upon return of your letter of offer, if you choose to accept, then enrolment paperwork will be sent to you.
Enrolment Completed enrolment paperwork including method of payment is to be returned to the Bouverie Centre for authorisation and processing.
Payment After your enrolment is processed, a Statement of Account (invoice) will be posted to you from La Trobe for payment.
CONTACT
Who should I contact if I have further queries?
At the Bouverie Centre Student Services Officer
Ph. 03 9385 5100
Fax. 03 9381 0336
Email: bouverie.academic@latrobe.edu.au
Web site: www.bouverie.org.au
At RAV Brenda Hayes
ph. 03 9261 8702
fax: 03 9853 9158
Email: bhayes@rav.org.au
Web: http://relationshipsvictoria.com.au/
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Does this course meet eligibility requirements for membership of a professional association?
After completion of this course you will have a La Trobe University Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling postgraduate qualification.
If you are engaged in supervised practice and meet the following criteria, you will be eligible to apply for Clinical Membership of the Australian Association of Relationship Counsellors (AARC—formerly AAMFC).
§ You have been counselling for 3 years,
§ Have a minimum of 750 hours of clinical experience, (500 of which must be with couples and/or families),
§ Have 75 hours of supervision, (50 hours of which must be one to one),
AARC Clinical Membership, using Pathway C (see www.aarc.org.au) may be applied for when successful completion of the Masters includes the RAV internship with live/or video supervision. Internship supervision hours are included.
If you have completed the Masters without the RAV Internship you will be eligible to apply for AARC Associate Membership. AARC’s Pathways A and B can then be used to apply for Clinical Membership when you meet the other criteria described in the Membership area of the website.
The AARC is a Member Association of PACFA, (the Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia). Once you have been accepted as a clinical member of the AARC you are eligible to apply for inclusion in the Australian Register of Psychotherapists and Counsellors. This provides a clear statement that the registrant is an experienced practitioner in good standing in the profession. Details and application forms for joining the Register are available on the PACFA web site www.pacfa.org.au.
If I do the Masters by coursework and minor thesis, will I still be eligible for membership of the
Australian Association of Relationship Counsellors (AARC)?
The answer to this question will depend on your previous training & clinical experience (see above for outline of clinical experience required). The training requirement for the AARC is a training program of at least 200 hours, 60% of which is specialised training in relationship counselling. If you do not complete the RAV Internship option as part of the Masters, there are other pathways for entry into Clinical Membership of AARC. For further details visit the AARC’s National Website at www.aarc.org.au
Successful completion of the Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling will also qualify you for application to CAPAV (www.capav.org.au).
