Training and 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 / Community Liaison Workers / Youth Workers / Practitioners that specialise in family violence, mental health and drug and alcohol or 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 and Youth Work (Click here for courses recognised by the Australian Association of Social Workers)
- Psychology (Click here for courses recognised by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council)
- Counselling and Family Therapy (Click here for courses approved by the Australian Counselling Association)
- Family Law (Click here for information on legal education available from the Law Council of Australia)
- Community Development and Community Education
Visit the GoingToUni website to identify universities that offer qualifications in various disciplines.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
There are a number of new VET qualifications that have been developed for the family relationship services sector:
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Certificate IV in Children’s Contact Service Work
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Diploma of Children’s Contact Service Work
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Diploma of Family Intake and Support Work
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Vocational Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling
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Vocational Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution
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Certificate IV in Relationship Education
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Diploma of Relationship Education
For information about the baove courses visit the National Training Information Service (NTIS), the database on vocational education and training in Australia.
Professional Development in Family Relationship Services
There are FRSA member organisations in every State and Territory that provide professional training for people working or seeking to work in family relationship services. Some of these organisations are Registered Training Organisations (RTO's) approved to deliver Nationally Recognised Training. Follow the links to find out more about the range of courses available in your area.
ACT & NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
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.
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