Qualification Pathways

The family relationship services sector is a diverse and vibrant sector offering a range of career opportunities for those seeking to work in the area of individual and family wellbeing.  Some of the most common positions within services are:

• Family Counsellors
• Family Therapists
• Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners
• Children’s Contact Centre Managers and Staff
• Family Relationship Educators and Skills Trainers
• Child Consultants and Parenting Advisers
• Team Leaders and Service Managers
• Group Work Facilitators
• Indigenous Advisers and Community Liaison Workers
• Youth Workers
• Practitioners with expertise in family violence, mental health or drug & alcohol issues
• Practitioners that specialise in working with specific groups such as men, stepfamilies or cultural communities

The majority of positions in family relationship services require professional or vocational qualifications, though extensive on-the-job-training may also be available.   

Higher Education

It is common for people working in family relationship services to have a bachelor or higher degree in the areas of:

• Social Work;
• Social Sciences;
• Psychology; 
• Counselling;
• Family Therapy;
• Child Development;
• Youth Work;
• Family Law;
• Community Development; or
• Community Education.

The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relations website has a search facility which can be used to identify universities that offer qualifications in various disciplines at GoingToUni. 

Tertiary

Professional association websites may also be useful to search for providers that offer qualifications in various disciplines:

• Click here for social work courses in Australia recognised by the Australian Association of Social Workers;
• Click here for psychology courses recognised by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council;
• Click here for information on courses approved by the Australian Counselling Association; and
• Click here for information on legal education available from the Law Council of Australia. 

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

There are a number of new VET qualifications that have been developed for the family relationship services sector:

• Certificate IV in Children’s Contact Service Work
• Diploma of Children’s Contact Service Work
• Diploma of Family Intake and Support Work
• Vocational Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling
• Vocational Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution
• Certificate IV in Relationship Education
• Diploma of Relationship Education 

These qualifications are yet to be made widely available. Training providers that also operate family relationship services are gradually adding them to their scope.  Information on training providers and upcoming courses is provided on the Professional Development page of this website.

Overseas Qualifications

The Australian Skills Recognition Information (ASRI) website has information on how to get an assessment of occupational qualifications, skills or experience gained overseas, as well as state-specific licensing and registration requirements to practice in Australia. Individual employers may vary with regard to how they assess qualifications gained overseas.