Advanced Diploma of Integrative Practice – Counselling
11207NAT
Add accredited counselling to the helping career you already have.
If you already hold a qualification in counselling, community services, AOD, youth work, mental health, financial counselling, or coaching, you may be closer to a recognised counselling pathway than you think. The Advanced Diploma of Integrative Practice – Counselling helps eligible students build practical counselling capability on the experience and study they already have.
Duration: 12 months full-time or 18 months part-time
Delivery mode: Live online study, seminar days and fully supported
Funding options available for eligible students
Credit towards a Bachelor of Counselling
Professional Recognition ACA-accredited Course
Enrol Now30 years as aifc. Continuing as Tov Academy.
ACA Accredited Course
Add counselling to the work you already do
Many people working in community services, alcohol and other drugs, youth work, mental health, coaching, pastoral care and related fields already spend their days supporting people through complexity and change.
The Advanced Diploma creates a pathway for eligible professionals to add structured, accredited counselling capability without disregarding the experience and qualifications they already hold.
At Tov Academy, this development is shaped by professional practice and a Christian vision of human flourishing. You will deepen your ability to work with people ethically, compassionately and within a clearer counselling framework.
“I work in a helping profession, but I do not hold a counselling qualification.”
Approved entry pathways are available for people with eligible qualifications in community services, youth work, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, financial counselling, coaching and related helping fields.
“I do not want to start my professional education all over again.”
This course is designed to build on relevant qualifications and experience you already hold. Each application is assessed individually so your most suitable entry pathway can be identified.
“I need a qualification that leads to professional recognition.”
The Advanced Diploma is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association. Graduates may apply for ACA Level 1 registration, subject to ACA’s current registration requirements.
“I need the practical component to work around my current employment.”
Your current workplace may be suitable where genuine counselling activity, appropriate supervision, client consent and assessment evidence can be approved by Tov Academy.
Who This Is Built For
This pathway is designed for people who already hold a Diploma of Counselling or substantial counselling or coaching training, as well as eligible professionals qualified in Youth Work, Community Services, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Mental Health, Financial Counselling, Child, Youth and Family Intervention, Coaching or a related helping field.
It suits adults who want to add accredited counselling capability to their current role, move toward professional counselling, deepen an existing practice or prepare for further study. Entry is assessed individually so Tov Academy can confirm your qualification, readiness and proposed practice setting before enrolment.
Advanced Diploma of Integrative Practice- Counselling:
1. Build recognised counselling capability
Develop advanced skills in counselling assessment, intervention, case conceptualisation, ethical practice and trauma-informed care. The course helps you translate prior helping experience into a clearer and more accountable counselling framework.
2. Integrate counselling and coaching responsibly
Learn how counselling and coaching approaches can complement one another while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. You will explore how to select methods according to client needs, goals, safety and scope of practice.
3. Strengthen your future practice
Apply your learning to real client situations, reflective practice and professional development. Build the judgement, confidence and practical capability needed for counselling roles, an existing helping career or further study.
Depending on the qualifications you already hold, further study may include a Bachelor pathway with advanced standing or, for degree-qualified applicants, progression toward Tov Academy’s Graduate Diploma and associated Master’s pathway. Entry and credit decisions are subject to current course requirements.
We provide the practice.
You provide the heart.
Step from classroom to vocation through the tov | Centre for Human Flourishing, our community-based professional practice hub.
- 100 Total Hours: Professional supervised experience integrated into your study.
- 40 Direct Hours: Real-world counselling providing care to the community.
- Fully Managed: tov Academy coordinates your entire placement. No external sourcing is required.
Real-world ready
Ready to Begin?
Book an advisory session to explore whether tov Academy is the right formation pathway for where you are—and where you’re becoming.
Professional counselling shaped by Christian faith
Credible counselling education must equip students to work carefully with presenting concerns, safety, goals, relationships and the experiences that shape a person’s wellbeing.
At Tov Academy, this professional preparation is integrated with a Christian understanding of the whole person. Students consider emotional wellbeing, relationships, identity, purpose, faith, culture and community while developing evidence-informed counselling skills and ethical professional judgement.
Christian faith shapes the course, but it does not replace professional boundaries, ethical practice or evidence-informed care. We are preparing counsellors who can respond with competence, humility and compassion, helping people move toward greater wholeness, stability and hope.
Build on the career you already have
Your current qualification and professional experience have already taught you how to support people, navigate complexity and work responsibly within a helping role. Your next step does not have to leave that valuable foundation behind.
The Advanced Diploma can help you add counselling capability to work in community services, alcohol and other drugs, youth work, mental health, ministry, chaplaincy, coaching or another people-focused setting.
The value is not simply another credential. It is a more clearly defined professional capability that may support counselling employment, an existing practice, private practice development or further study, subject to registration, employer and entry requirements.
Where this qualification may take you
The Advanced Diploma is designed to strengthen the work you are already doing and open a clearer route into counselling. Graduates may use the qualification to add counselling within an existing helping role, pursue counselling opportunities or deepen an established practice.
The course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association, and graduates may apply for ACA Level 1 registration subject to ACA’s current requirements. Professional registration, supervision, insurance and the requirements of individual roles still apply.
Your further-study pathway will depend on the qualifications you already hold. It may include a Bachelor pathway with advanced standing or, for degree-qualified applicants, progression toward Graduate Diploma and Master’s study. A Course Advisory Session will help you map the most suitable route before applying.
Book a Course Advisory Session with our team to talk through your options, ask your questions, and explore whether this counselling pathway fits the season you are in.
Ancient Wisdom,
New Way to Learn
At Tov Academy, learning combines reflective practice, applied projects and practical counselling development.
AI-supported simulations provide safe, realistic opportunities to practise decision-making, professional judgement and counselling responses before working directly with clients.
Live online learning, scheduled seminar days and support from qualified trainers and assessors help you remain connected and supported throughout the course.
Course Details
Entry Requirements
Entry is open to applicants aged 18 or older who hold one of the following qualifications or an approved equivalent:
- Diploma of Counselling or higher
- Diploma of Youth Work or higher
- Diploma of Community Services or higher
- Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs or higher
- Diploma of Mental Health or higher
- Diploma of Financial Counselling or higher
- Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention or higher
- Diploma of Coaching or higher
- Another approved counselling or helping qualification
- Substantial non-accredited counselling or coaching study assessed by Tov Academy
All applications are assessed individually. Applicants must complete Tov Academy’s Pre-Enrolment Questionnaire, including the language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy self-assessment, and provide evidence of identity, prior qualifications and a Unique Student Identifier.
Applicants seeking a VET Student Loan must also meet the applicable academic suitability and government eligibility requirements.
| Spiritual Formation Journey | Topic | Unit Code and Name |
| Heart & Identity | Apply specific and specialised communication skills in the client-counsellor relationship. Assess the client’s wellbeing, safety concerns and goals, and use counselling skills with a structured approach to counselling to work with clients on personal and psychological issues. | NAT10900002 Establish and apply counselling skills |
| Explore the influence your faith has on your professional practice. Analyse own values, goals and professional wellbeing as part of an ongoing review for sustaining professional effectiveness. | Faith In Practice CHCPRP006 – Lead own professional practice | |
| Mind & Body | Build on established helping skills, develop coaching skills to explore client goals, and apply coaching models to support the client’s accountability and progress. | NAT11207001 Apply Coaching skills |
| Apply a narrative approach to explore the impact of fear and anxiety in clients and own professional practice. Using counselling and coaching skills through a cognitive behavioural approach to support clients in overcoming the fear and anxiety impacting their lives. | NAT11207002 Support clients to overcome fear and anxiety | |
| Relationships and Community & Disciplines and Practices | Researching and applying a systemic approach to individual counselling or coaching clients to assess how personal relationships, behaviour patterns, and life choices impact their wellbeing and assist the client towards self-differentiation. | Research and apply systems theory CHCPOL003 – Research and apply evidence to practice |
| Assess clients’ wellbeing, safety concerns and goals, using coaching skills within an ethical and structured approach to work with clients on personal concerns and spiritual growth | NAT11207003 Support Spiritual Formation with clients | |
| Vocation & Culture
| Build a thriving professional business through analysis of current marking, develop and implement marketing strategies and expanding client care offerings through online platforms. | NAT10900011 Identify and develop counselling business opportunities |
| Assess clients’ wellbeing, safety concerns and goals and use an integration of counselling and coaching skills within an ethical and structured approach to work with clients on personal issues. | NAT11207004 Apply an integrative approach for client wellbeing |
Counselling Speciality Steam Electives
Students choose 4 of the following:
NAT11207007
Apply attachment theory with
clients
CHCFCS004
Grief and Loss Counselling
NAT10900004
Work with complex
contemporary and ethical issues
in counselling
NAT10900005
Apply Christian Counselling to
common spiritual issues
NAT11207006
Provide counselling for
neurodiversity support
The 11207NAT Advanced Diploma of Integrative Practice consists of 12 units of competency and can be completed over 12 or 18 months full-time.
- 18 months = 2 units per term – approx. 27 hours per week
All teaching is delivered online, with each unit including two 2-hour live classes at the beginning of each term to support your learning and engagement.
Assessment and Workplace Requirements
All assessment tasks are completed through aifc’s online learning platform and include a combination of written responses, case studies, and counselling sessions conducted with real external clients.
Students are responsible for sourcing and conducting counselling sessions with suitable clients as part of their course requirements. These sessions allow students to apply advanced counselling skills in real-world contexts under the guidance of their trainer and assessor.
While many assessment activities include workplace-simulated role plays, the Advanced Diploma also requires students to demonstrate competence through actual client work.
At tov, we believe that learning happens best when students are supported personally, academically, and spiritually. Throughout your study, you’ll have access to a wide range of services designed to help you succeed and flourish.
Academic and Study Support
Each student is allocated a qualified trainer and assessor who journeys with them academically and pastorally through each unit of study.
- One-on-one assistance from trainers and assessors is available throughout the course.
- Access to study skills resources, academic writing guidance, and structured feedback.
- Individualised support plans are available for students who need additional academic, learning, or wellbeing support.
- Extensions and reasonable adjustments may be provided where appropriate to ensure equitable participation.
Wellbeing and Pastoral Care
Tov provides a caring, faith-based environment that recognises the whole person.
- Students have access to free counselling sessions through trainee counsellors under supervision, or may choose to access support from Abound counsellors for confidential emotional and wellbeing support.
- Pastoral care is available through the Student Services team and Course Managers.
- Optional group sessions and community-building activities help foster connection and belonging throughout your study.
- Where needed, tov can assist students in connecting with external support services for specialised care.
Disability, Cultural and Learning Support
If you have a disability, learning difference, or personal circumstances that may affect your studies, we encourage you to let us know early. This enables aifc to provide appropriate, reasonable adjustments, develop individualised support plans, and connect you with the right resources to support your success.
The fees for the 11207NAT Advanced Diploma of Integrative Practice (Counselling) are found in the Course Guide
For a full breakdown of payment options, invoicing, and the cooling-off period, please refer to the Course Fees page.
For information regarding refunds, withdrawals, or deferrals, please refer to the Withdraw, Defer or Change Enrolment Process & Procedure.
Austudy / ABSTUDY
Some students may be eligible to apply for Australian Government student payments while studying an approved course with an approved education provider.
Austudy provides financial assistance for eligible students aged 25 years or older who are studying or undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship. Students generally need to be studying full time and meet Services Australia’s eligibility requirements.
ABSTUDY provides support for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students undertaking approved study or training. To receive ABSTUDY, students must be studying an approved course with an approved institution.
Students may be asked by Services Australia to provide evidence of enrolment, such as a confirmation of enrolment letter.
RTO Provider Code: 88037
The following Tov Academy courses are approved for Centrelink/student payment purposes, subject to Services Australia’s assessment of the student’s individual eligibility:
- CHC42315 Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care
- CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling
- 11207NAT Advanced Diploma of Integrative Practice
- 10900NAT Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Christian)
- 11384NAT Graduate Diploma of Counselling
Applying for Austudy or ABSTUDY is the responsibility of the student. Tov cannot determine student payment eligibility or guarantee approval of a claim.
For more information, students should contact Services Australia:
- Austudy / Youth and Students line: 132 490
- ABSTUDY line: 1800 132 317
There are no specific licensing requirements attached to this qualification.
However, graduates who already hold a CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling (or equivalent) are expected to maintain or obtain professional membership with either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Christian Counsellors Association of Australia (CCAA). Note that this cannot be student level.
Professional membership ensures that graduates meet industry-recognised standards of ethical practice, supervision, and continuing professional development (CPD) required for practising counsellors in Australia.
Student who entre this course without the Diploma of Counselling are required to obtain Student Membership with either ACA or CCAA.
“The Advanced Diploma of Integrative Practice played an important role in building my confidence as a counsellor. It helped me grow in skill, deepen my practice, and broaden the way I support clients. The course gave me a stronger foundation for professional practice, and since completing it, I have gone on to run a successful private practice.”
"I noticed that many male teenagers and men are falling through the gaps, with their mental health often overlooked. Many struggle with identity, and God has given me a passion to support them. Through aifc, I'm learning how to collaborate with others and engage in crucial conversations. Studying Christian Counselling at aifc has been inclusive and has transformed my perspective."
Ready to Begin?
You’ve been considering this for a while. Perhaps sensing a call to helping work, wondering if formal training is right for you, asking whether it’s too late or too soon. The next step is simple: a conversation. Book an advisory session to explore whether tov Academy is the right formation pathway for where you are—and where you’re becoming.
8,000+ practitioners formed through real-world practice
Formation that stays with you.
Across decades, roles, and places — people return to what they learned here.
- 16K+formed through AIFC and tov Academy programmes
- 49countries represented in our learning community
- 1M+counsellings sessions held by our alumni
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