Qualifications and Universities
There is no specific degree to become a Family Therapist. Common pathways would be a degree in Social Work or Psychology followed by specific training in family therapy.
Training is available at diploma level. Entry to the diploma courses usually requires Year 12. Entry to the degree courses usually requires a pass completion of Year 12 with English. Applicants may also be required to attend an interview. The various institutions have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study.
The Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors offers a Diploma of Professional Counselling by Distance Education. They also offer a Bachelor of Counselling by the same study method.
The following universities all offer a Bachelor of Social Work, a 4 years full time course with those requiring the highest entry score of 76+ being James Cook University in Queensland, Newcastle University, University of Sydney and University of New South Wales in NSW.
Other well regarded universities in this field are RMIT University, Deakin University, Monash University in Victoria; University of Western Sydney in NSW; University of Queensland and Griffith University in Queensland; University of South Australia and Flinders University in South Australia; and University of Tasmania.
A number of dual degrees are offered by some universities such as Australian National University in Canberra (Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work).
University of Western Australia only offers a Masters in Social Work program and no undergraduate course.
Post Graduate studies are offered by many of the universities already mentioned. The Bouverie Centre at Latrobe University offers a Master of Clinical Family Therapy, Master of Couple & Relationship Counselling and Doctor of Clinical Science in Family Therapy.
The entry criteria for tertiary institiutions differs from year to year. The above comments are a guide only. To gain specific entry criteria either contact the relevant university or use Hobson's The Good University Guide.
Relevant Universities Colleges & TAFE
Careernav have trolled through all the universities, specialist colleges and TAFE’s across the nation to identify those courses we consider relevant to this career. We have only focussed on the core single degree and its full time period. We acknowledge many combination degrees are available and different students combine different degrees. Course names also differ by university and we have grouped like courses together. We may have missed the odd course being offered, so we recommend for a more detailed guide check with the universities direct or one of the university course guide books such as Hobson’s. Please note Careernav are totally impartial and do not recommend one tertiary institution over another. To view the A to Z of tertiary institutions that offer relevant courses for this career.
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About the Author
Fiona McIlwaine,
Fiona McIlwaine is a registered Psychologist and Family Therapist. She completed her initial family and couple therapy training in 1993 and in 2000 completed the Masters in Family Therapy at the Bouverie Centre. She has worked in the community sector in the areas of community health, intensive family based services, sexual assault and in the area of child and adolescent psychiatry. Currently Fiona works part-time as a Lecturer/Family Therapist at the Bouverie Centre, teaching in the Clinical Masters Program and has a part-time private practice based in Carlton North Victoria.
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