This course is your opportunity to enhance your expertise and work confidently with individuals and families facing complex relational issues. Developed with a strong foundation in research and evidence, the program equips you with the practical theories, skills, and experience to navigate everything from everyday relational issues to significant challenges like family and domestic violence. The course uses a blended learning approach that incorporates self-paced modules, online webinars, a field trip, work placements, and placement seminars. It is informed by over 75 years of counselling experience and includes an organised, fully-supported practical work placement. Qualified and skilled facilitators who are also practising practitioners will teach the course. The course is formally accredited by Family Safety Victoria and the Australian Counselling Association, ensuring you receive a qualification that is both industry-recognised and highly respected.
Upon successful completion of the course, graduates can apply for:
The course is accredited with Family Safety Victoria in meeting the principles for Family Safety Practitioners and accredited and recognised with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) for registered members.
This course is delivered over 3 semesters across 18 months. It involves a combination of online, self-paced, and in-person learning, depending on your intake.
| Semesters 1 and 2 |
Interactive and online learning A combination of interactive, self-paced, online learning and workshops provided online or in-person depending on your intake. |
| Semester 3 |
Fully coordinated and supported 50-hour work placement Apply your learnings, theories and frameworks into practice under the supervision of experienced counsellors and practitioners. Choose to undertake a placement in your workplace or within a Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) centre. Monthly placement seminars, and added online learning and field experiences Students will have the opportunity to observe men’s behaviour change program groups during their placement and gain an understanding of family violence court process. |
| Core Inclusion Program |
All students participate in an online, self-paced Core Inclusion Program on working with people across diverse cultural groups. |
| Semesters 1 |
Module 1: Introduction to Relationship Counselling and Family Violence Module 2: Skills for Sustainable Practice |
| Semester 2 |
Module 8: Cultural Diversity |
| Semester 3 |
Placements |
Visit www.training.gov.au for detailed information on the course units.
Course Dates
The next course intake starts on 5 February 2026.
| Workshop | Time | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction webinar | 10am – 12pm | Thursday, February 05, 2026 |
Practice workshops
All workshops will be delivered online from 9:30am - 4:30pm (Victorian local time) daily. Each workshop will be held over multiple days.
| Workshop | Time | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop 1 | Day 1: Foundations of Relationship Counselling Day 2: Counselling Modalities Day 3: Counselling Modalities |
9:30am to 4:30pm | Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Thursday, March 12, 2026 |
| Workshop 2 | Day 4: Risk assessment and safety planning Day 5: Family violence lens in relationship counselling |
9:30am to 4:30pm | Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Thursday, May 28, 2026 |
| Workshop 3 | Day 6: Counselling practice with couples Day 7: Counselling practice with couples |
9:30am to 4:30pm | Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Thursday, July 23, 2026 |
| Workshop 4 | Day 8: Addressing Family Violence through a family systems approach Day 9: Counselling practice with families |
9:30am to 4:30pm | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Thursday, October 22, 2026 |
| Workshop 5 | Day 10: Counselling practice with children & young people Day 11: Separation and the Family & Mediation |
9:30am to 4:30pm | Wednesday, December 02, 2026 Thursday, February 04, 2027 |
Introduction to placement webinar
4 February 2027 from 9:30 - 11:30am (Victorian local time)
Placement seminars
All seminars will be delivered online.
| Placement seminars | Time | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Day 12: Placement Seminar 1 | 9:30am to 12:30pm | Thursday, March 18, 2027 |
| Day 13: Placement Seminar 2 | 9:30am to 12:30pm | Thursday, April 15, 2027 |
| Day 14: Placement Seminar 3 | 9:30am to 12:30pm | Thursday, May 13, 2027 |
| Day 15: Placement Seminar 4 | 9:30am to 12:30pm | Thursday, June 10, 2027 |
| Day 16: Placement Seminar 5 | 9:30am to 12:30pm | Thursday, July 22, 2027 |
To enrol in this course, you must have one or more of the following:
Please note: Students will be submitting recorded counselling role plays and must have access to recording equipment that also provides clear audio quality.
Register to watch our introductory course video and join an experienced course facilitator for a free, one-hour Q&A webinar. The webinars are a relaxed and informative way to learn about the course, placement programs, and accreditation pathways. We'll answer your questions to help you decide about applying.
Relationship counsellors support individuals and families with a range of complex personal and relational issues affecting individual and family functioning. Their role may include family violence service delivery including risk assessment, risk management and multi-disciplinary collaborative practice that is aligned with practice requirements, family violence practice guidelines and legal/statutory obligations.
This course is delivered by highly experienced and currently practising relationship counsellors who have worked in a range of organisational, private practice and family violence contexts.
Trainers have current training and assessment qualifications and relevant industry experience.
RPL enables students to have their existing skills and knowledge relating to FDR acknowledged and status granted where appropriate. This is available for people with extensive and relevant experience in family law, mediation, counselling or family and domestic violence. To apply for RPL, you will need to provide evidence of the competencies needed for FDR by completing our RPL Application and Assessment Form, which we can provide on request.
CHCFCS001 Facilitate the family counselling process
CHCFCS002 Provide relationship counselling
CHCFCS003 Provide counselling to children and young people
CHCDFV008 Manage responses to domestic and family violence in family work
CHCDFV013 Manage domestic and family violence screening and risk assessment processes
CHCDFV010 Promote accountability and assist users of domestic and family violence to accept responsibility
CHCFAM002 Work with a childfocused approach
CHCDFV002 Provide support to children affected by domestic and family violence
CHCFAM001 Operate in a family law environment
CHCFAM007 Assist clients to develop parenting arrangements
CHCPRP007 Work within a clinical supervision framework
Detailed course information, policies and procedures are available in our RTO Program Manual.
$14,500 (payable by instalment). This cost includes the fully supported work placement.
A $1000 deposit is required on enrolment. The deposit is non-refundable, except under certain conditions.
From 1 January 2015, students undertaking nationally accredited training with RAV (i.e. enrolling into VET courses) will need to set up a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and provide this to RAV’s administration team via email. RAV is required to record and verify a USI for each student. More information and assistance in applying is available from the USI website and via the links below.
Read our answers to commonly asked questions. Still have a question? Join our next webinar or send us an enquiry.
All enrolments are covered by RAV’s participant policies, which include information about withdrawals, refunds, conduct, complaints, and grievances. These details will be outlined clearly during your enrolment so you can make an informed decision with confidence.
FAQs and contact information
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