Graduate Certificate in Loss, Grief and Trauma Counselling

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions such as work experience, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

This course aims to:

increase awareness among helping professionals about the prevalence and nature of loss and trauma experiences of those with whom they work
advance the knowledge and skills of students from relevant professional backgrounds about practice with those experiencing loss, grief and trauma
inform students about the connections and differences between loss theory and trauma theory
review trends in loss and trauma research and knowledge development
highlight the diversity of loss and trauma experiences associated with various lifespan stages, different cultural perspectives, and specific life events
introduce students to a range of practice methods and approaches, including arts-based interventions and culturally-sensitive responses
allow students to pursue areas of study about loss and trauma that are of particular interest to their practice or professional development.

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:

identify and describe a range of practice models and approaches used in work with persons experiencing loss and/or trauma
utlilise community resources available to assist with loss and/or trauma issues
articulate and implement strategies for assisting individuals or groups who have experienced loss and/or trauma
recognise the connections between the body of knowledge about loss/trauma and relevant issues encountered in the students’ practice environments
respond in a more culturally-sensitive manner to a range of loss and trauma experiences
demonstrate how their practice has improved in the areas of loss/trauma knowledge and skills.

Program of study

A student's program of study must be approved by the Program Approver.

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Loss, Grief and Trauma Counselling, a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

Core - Year 1 topics

13.5 units comprising:

SOAD8008 Bereavement and Loss (4.5 units)
SOAD8009 Interventions in Situations of Trauma (4.5 units)
SOAD8010 Professional Practice Project (loss and grief) (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

plus 4.5 units selected from:

SOAD8006 Interventions with Children and Young People (4.5 units)
EDUC9845 Creating Calmer Classrooms: A Trauma Sensitive Approach (4.5 units)

Except with permission of the Dean (Education):

the program must be completed full-time in one semester or the equivalent part-time
no topic may be attempted more than twice
a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken.

Every effort has been made to ensure the information published on the Course Rule pages is accurate at the time of publication. Flinders University reserves the right to amend its curriculum without prior notice, and will update the Course Rules to reflect any amendments at the earliest opportunity.