I have worked in a ‘counselling role’ for 10 years, however the day had arrived when I was officially a counsellor - the Diploma I had proudly mounted on the wall told me so. I continued to work in an unofficial ‘counselling role’ with clients who were diagnosed with a serious mental illness. This was after many years of working in welfare with children who were at risk and their families who were desperately trying not to lose them to the system. May 2004 saw me ‘jump head first’ into the depths of starting my own business. I had dreamed of this moment and I knew it was an adventure intertwined with a little trepidation and joy.

My success, you ask, is not a business that is flourishing with clients (not yet anyway!!). My success is believing in myself and knowing this is a journey of hard work and determination. Overcoming the moments of self-doubt as I ponder over the regular income an office job can provide, is my success. I believe the role of a counsellor is a vital contributor to the community and can work in tandem successfully with other professionals and it can, also, stand alone. My success is also in knowing it is a privilege for me to step in to the lives of others as they contemplate taking the first steps towards change. And that I had a part in their journey is the success of my story.

Denise Huges (WA)

However in my close family there were 2 deaths not far apart which left my sister and I in charge of sorting out both wills. This takes time for both the practical work to be done and for yourself to heal and to support one another. Hence the study which hadn’t begun went on hold. AIPC was very supportive through this time and allowed me the time to sort out my personal affairs.

During this time I realised that having been a single parent for many years and having the full on job of Sales and Marketing didn’t leave me a great deal of time to get myself into study. So I took the plunge and took time off from the workforce to put my whole self into study which I believed would change my personal future and outlook in life.

There were challenges as I live in Alice Springs with no next door neighbour doing the same course. I found the in-built support team a huge asset to me and they were all very patient with my phone calls for HELP!

I was determined to finish the course in one year as money was on hold. I remember setting myself a target each week of what I wanted to finish and much to my surprise I managed to hold my target. This was a huge success for me as I hadn’t studied for over 29 years and I hated it all those years ago. I found because I generally had a passion for Counselling and found the study extremely interesting, it flowed through a lot better than I could have imagined. As for the role plays, I took the option to fly to Perth and Melbourne to complete mine, mostly one on one. This gave me enormous feedback and set me in the right stead to plunge on further.

Not only did I finish the Diploma of Professional Counselling but I also completed two advanced study majors of Grief and Loss, and Relationships and Conflict Resolution. I have just started up my own business from home and in the first week of operating I have had doctors referring patients onto me. This is a great feeling to have those professionals believe not just in me but in the AIPC Diploma. For the clients that I have already seen I can see an improvement in them, this is after all a wish of mine come true, to help someone in need. There is no greater satisfaction in life than to see a sad face turn to a smile.

Here I would like to thank each and everyone in the support team for assisting me through this personal journey. I made it because you genuinely cared; it showed that what you teach you also preach.

Rob, you have been a wonderful role model for me and I hope to meet you and the team one day, should any of you come to Alice Springs - you know my number! Come visit my Kangaroos, wild birds and reptiles which feed just outside my counselling room window.

Jane Oakley-Lohm

I decided to undertake the Diploma of Professional Counselling to add a specific skill to my existing Bachelor of Arts Degree, while I waited for my youngest son to reach school age. I knew I wanted to return to work when he started school so I aimed to complete my studies by that date. I thoroughly enjoyed the content of the course and this factor, combined with my ultimate career goal, motivated me to continue.

Upon completion of my studies I spent one month applying for positions when I gained employment as a Vocational Consultant with an Occupational Rehabilitation Provider for three days per week. My counselling skills were well regarded and are, in fact, recognized by the Victorian WorkCover Authority as an Allied Health qualification. My role involves providing vocational and rehabilitation counselling to clients who are unable to return to their employer due to their physical or physiological injury, or clients who require assistance in returning to their pre-injury role on modified/alternative duties.

I enjoy my work immensely and am gaining valuable experience in the counselling field. I have an excellent work/life balance and am pleased to be able to utilise my Diploma of Professional Counselling and work in the area I have always had a penchant for.

Nicole Witham – AIPC Graduate from Ocean Grove, Victoria.

Working full-time, I found the study packs a lot less onerous than I had anticipated and it was easy to pace myself. Each evening I was ‘staying in’ I started studying at a set time and finished at a set time. I found that if I didn’t set an end time as well that I would often get carried away into the night, which wasn’t appreciated by my work colleagues the next day (Zzzzz)! I was excited and challenged at the same time and thoroughly enjoyed each unit.

Of course there were tough times along the way (particularly after Unit 8) but when I calmed down and just approached the work in smaller pieces the answers amazingly flowed. If I got stuck on something and just couldn’t work out the question I was able to email or call the support team for help.

I have learned a lot about myself through this experience and a lot about other people. Judging others is destructive and not listening carefully to family and friends is thoughtless. I have stronger friendships now than I have ever had and I have learned the value of people in my life. I have also learned that in order for me to help others I must accept myself, warts and all, and love myself for who I am.

The best tips I could give anyone embarking on this course are to:

Read the questions very carefully, breaking them up into smaller phrases and taking in what that smaller phrase is saying before tackling the next phrase. It’s easy to jump to conclusions about what the question is asking and I got myself quite agitated, which just ended up frustrating my own efforts. There were no hidden meanings or trick questions or expectations to be some great philosopher! All I had to do was be ME, answer the questions honestly and refer to the text in front of me. It was as simple as that.

Take on board the feedback from the assessors to stay on track. Every time I had a Unit returned I went through the book and read the comments against the questions I could have answered better. This helped me to think a little more laterally and to see the bigger picture. Belinda, Beverley, Cynthia and Zahava had such valuable insight to offer along the way and they were more than willing to share it.

Never under-estimate your own abilities. I completed this course in 22 months! I didn’t think I would achieve that goal because as I got further along in my studies I started to doubt that I would be good enough or smart enough or diligent enough. But each time a Unit came back the comments lifted me up and my confidence had such a boost that I’d plough through the next book. I thrive on recognition and the Team catered very well!

Thank you AIPC for an enjoyable experience.

Genevieve Ballarin
AIPC Graduate, QLD

I started a part time course in London which went swimmingly for the first year, until the following year’s study was cancelled ‘due to lack of interest’. My desire to become a counsellor was further exacerbated by a terrific opportunity to work in a drug and alcohol clinic in London. Even though I was working in an administrative capacity, I found it absolutely fascinating and became very involved with the team and the clients – I had found my direction.

Circumstances in life led me back to Brisbane in May last year. With only one year of a UK course completed and a burning desire to complete my studies and find work in a drug and alcohol clinic. I researched every possible accredited, part time course available in Australia that could fit in with my lifestyle while in the UK – the AIPC course was all that and more.

For 18 months I dedicated my weekends to study, finding it fascinating and exciting. In August last year I became thoroughly fed up with the time it was taking to complete the course so I quit work to become a full time student. All along I have been thoroughly supported by the AIPC team in Brisbane – making an already enjoyable course even more so. Studying on your own can be lonely and isolating, but with the weekend seminars and the team at the end of the phone that were happy for you to pop in for a chat, I never felt unsupported or lost – my direction was always clear. In November, 2005 I managed to complete the Diploma and attend the graduation ceremony in December – a very exciting and proud moment for me.

The only concern I had was how I was going to link my studies here with my life back in the UK as I plan to leave Brisbane early this year and I couldn’t quite see how a seamless transition could take place. Thanks to Rob, I now have that in place. I have found some volunteer work with QuIHN (Queensland Injector’s Health Network) in the Valley and on Rob’s recommendation, have taken on more hours as voluntary work in the field you wish to continue working is invaluable. Since taking on more work, QuIHN have offered me a specific project to undertake – an exciting opportunity of linking up with other organisations in Brisbane who may require voluntary work or who we could work with in the future – i.e. arts and crafts, community centres, charities – creating a network. Rob also offered me invaluable advice on a practical route to take to establish contacts and maintain them in the UK – all in all I can, for the first time in my life (at the ripe old age of 43) see a mapped out future – that’s so bright I need sunglasses.

I don’t know exactly what will happen when I return to London, but I do know that I am supported and have a solid foot in the door and a starting point. AIPC have not only given me the chance to qualify, but have also offered me the opportunity of establishing an exciting and challenging future.

Louise Gourley
AIPC Graduate, QLD

Working full-time, I found the study packs a lot less onerous than I had anticipated and it was easy to pace myself. Each evening I was ‘staying in’, I started studying at a set time and finished at a set time. I found that if I didn’t set an end time as well that I would often get carried away into the night, which wasn’t appreciated by my work colleagues the next day (Zzzzz)! I was excited and challenged at the same time and thoroughly enjoyed each unit.

Of course there were tough times along the way (particularly after Unit 8) but when I calmed down and just approached the work in smaller pieces the answers amazingly flowed. If I got stuck on something and just couldn’t work out the question I was able to email or call the support team for help.

I have learned a lot about myself through this experience and a lot about other people. Judging others is destructive and not listening carefully to family and friends is thoughtless. I have stronger friendships now than I have ever had and I have learned the value of people in my life. I have also learned that in order for me to help others I must accept myself ‘worts and all’, and love myself for who I am.

Thank you AIPC for an enjoyable experience!

Genevieve Ballarin