VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering
From Trimester 1 2020, new students enrolled in the Bachelor of Counselling, Bachelor of Counselling (Minor in Coaching), and Bachelor of Psychological Science & Counselling courses, are required to undertake volunteering as a mandatory part of their course requirements.
Following is a list of the specific course volunteering requirements:
- Bachelor of Counselling students must complete 90 hours of volunteering
- Bachelor of Counselling (Minor in Coaching) students must complete 90 hours of volunteering
- Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling students must complete 140 hours of volunteering
These volunteering hours must be completed prior to commencing the 200-hour student placement.
Volunteering relating to the counselling degrees must be approved by ACAP before students commence volunteering with an agency. Volunteering hours cannot be backdated.
The inclusion of volunteer hours is to ensure the Bachelor of Counselling; Bachelor of Counselling (Minor in Coaching); and Bachelor of Psychological Science & Counselling courses meet accreditation requirements.
Students will receive detailed information on the volunteering requirements on enrolment into the above courses Volunteering Information webinars are run each trimester
The following list outlines various features of the volunteering component:
- Does not require clinical/formal supervision
- Must be in an industry related site approved by ACAP
- Can be spread across the three years of the counselling degrees, however, must be completed prior to commencing placement
- Students can begin accumulating hours once they have submitted a National Criminal Record Check to ACAP
- Cannot be accrued at a student’s workplace
- Can be completed at a maximum of three agencies
- Must be at a different site to the ‘Service-Learning project’ site and counselling placement site
- ‘Volunteering Timesheet’ must be signed off by the agency representative, and submitted to ACAP
How do I find out more information about the volunteering requirements of my course?
- When you enrol into your course you will be emailed a link to ‘Sonia Online’, the Volunteering and Placement management site.
- Volunteering Information Webinars are run each trimester – students will be notified of dates and times via Facebook and email.
A message from ACA
Philip Armstrong, CEO of ACA, clarifies the volunteering requirements for students, (newly enrolled from 2020) in the Bachelor of Counselling degree. Click here to find the letter.
Note: Students enrolled before Trimester 1 2020:
Although this is a mandatory component for new students commencing in Trimester 1 2020, it is optional for students who enrolled prior to Trimester 1 2020. If you intend on applying for ACA membership upon graduation, you will need to inform ACA whether you have completed the voluntary hours.
If you have any enquiries about membership with ACA, please contact ACA directly.
Email all course related volunteering questions to [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
The inclusion of volunteering is to ensure that you meet accreditation requirements.
The types of activities you undertake as part of your volunteering must be counselling related – this includes helping people, serving the community, and supporting community organisations. The volunteer opportunity must allow you to interact with clients and utilise basic counselling skills, such as active listening and attending. You must not carry out face to face counselling.
There are no minimum and maximum hours you are able to complete per day. The volunteer requirements are: 90 hours in B. Counselling and B. Counselling (Minor in Coaching) and 140 hours in B. Psychological Sciences and Counselling.
Yes, if they carry out one to one counselling. However, this agency cannot be used to complete any volunteering hours.
Yes, you are unable to work with family in any capacity.
No, you must complete your volunteering hours before you can commence your placement.
Yes, the volunteering activity must be counselling related and focused on helping people.
Volunteer hours cannot be backdated so you are unable to receive RPL/credit for completion of previous hours.
Also, you cannot receive RPL for the counselling placement.
As previously stated, you cannot receive RPL for the volunteering hours.
It is understandable that students are concerned about the various requirements associated with completing the Counselling course. ACAP provides support to students. This includes: a flexible course schedule, and the opportunity to complete the volunteering hours over approximately two years.
For additional information regarding volunteering, please email: [email protected]
No, you must complete all three activities – Volunteering, Service Learning, and Placement in different agencies.
You must complete your volunteering hours prior to commencing your placement you will be unable to start your placement until volunteering has been completed.
Volunteering on a site different from your placement site enables you to experience a range of helping related services.
The 50-hour Service Learning constitutes a component of the unit ‘COUN2251 Service Learning for Counselling Preparation’. Service learning differs from volunteering with an emphasis on reciprocation and benefits for both the student counsellor and community organisation. The service-learning placement project includes – Planning and undertaking a 50-hour professional service-learning project during the trimester. This 50-hour service-learning project contributes to the mandatory 340 hours of experiential training for the Australian Counselling Association accreditation.
You are not graded for the volunteering undertaken however completion of the hours is mandatory.
No, there are no assignments however you must submit completed timesheets which have been signed off by the agency representative.
If you register your Volunteering with ACAP, you will be covered by ACAP Insurances.
ACAP does not pay for your transport costs or clothing requirements whilst undertaking your volunteering.
Please email: [email protected]
Yes, there are agencies that provide group volunteering opportunities. For example,
- Wesley Youth Resilience Challenge (for groups of 20 to 100)
- Wesley Homeless Food Challenge (for groups of 20 to 100)
For more information, click here.
If at any time, you feel unsafe or encounter challenges whilst undertaking volunteering, please advise your agency representative and ACAP immediately.
The volunteering component in the degree is mandatory for new students enrolling in BCouns/ BCouns (Minor in Coaching)/BPsychSiCouns courses from Trimester 1, 2020.
Volunteering enhances the skills of students in preparation for their ‘Service Learning’ project and attendance at their placement. It will also add great value to your CV and acts as a potential employment opportunity.