In one week I went to four interviews and I was surprised, feeling I must write and let you know. AIPC is well known and respected in the industry. All of the Potential Employers could finish the AIPC letters: Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors and felt that the Diploma had value. They felt it helps develop empathy, client responsibility, with our support and to never sit in judgement of our clients, all essential ingredients in this industry. They all mentioned that AIPC was therefore worthwhile and relevant in Social & Community Work, with both Carers and Clients.

The range of positions I was interviewed for was in the areas of: Disability, Aged, Rehabilitation and Youth Work.

I would like to say that this has really made me feel that we are studying for a very worthwhile item of learning, an important factor to remember when the going gets tough!

Thank you too for all the support you have given me in the last year, as I have had to ride a roller coaster, but it felt so good being offered two jobs in the Disability Industry with all employers recognising and being impressed by my AIPC studies. This makes it all seem worthwhile. I have taken one of the jobs in the Disability Industry, a One-on-One client relationship and feel as if AIPC is even more precious to me now than it ever was.

Noeleen Hankinson

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, recognised 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 I am gaining valuable experience in the counselling field. I have an excellent work/life balance and I am pleased to be able to utilise my Diploma of Professional Counselling and work in the area I have always had an interest in.

Nicole Witham

I’m pleased with my success and I thank the staff of AIPC for their caring and wonderful support!

Cleide Texeira

The course material is packaged in neat A4 booklets which contain excerpts from a range of counselling text books which means you have what you need at your fingertips, without having to search out reference material.

The questions in the student workbooks will help you to explore your understanding of the subjects. Much emphasis is placed upon reflection.

Studying from home is an exercise in discipline, but you will never feel along with all the assistance that the Institute provides. Whenever I have needed assistance, there is always a friendly voice at the end of the phone on the Institute’s Study Assistance Line. I also receive regular mail with encouraging bookmarks, and supportive comments in my workbooks. And, for those who love the internet, AIPC have a great website too!

I have always helped others and people have naturally come to me for assistance within life’s multiple coloured dramas. This course is fine-tuning my natural skills and providing me with a qualification to enable me to get paid for what I love to do!

Bridget Cameron

I have always enjoyed working with people and counselling just became a natural progression as well as providing me with a rewarding career option. I was initially concerned as I had not studied for some 30 years, but the staff at my Student Support Centre and the Education Advisers and everyone associated with AIPC were always supportive and helped in any way they could. It only took a few weeks before I gained confidence and momentum to begin enjoying studying and the challenge it provided.

I loved every moment of being a student and the knowledge I was accumulating. I found the course materials provided were comprehensive and easy to understand, and being able to submit my work via the Internet was terrific. I also liked the fact I could undertake Advanced Study Majors in the areas I found more interesting such as Grief and Loss, and Relationship Counselling. As I was still working, being able to set my own pace was also a huge bonus. It really did take the stress out of studying.

I now have a small counselling practice which I operate from home and I am extremely happy that I took the step and gained my Diploma with AIPC. I would suggest anyone thinking about doing the same get in touch with their nearest Centre.

Susanne Kessel

I commenced study with AIPC in March 2002 and graduated in December 2003. I found the self- paced study better suited my busy lifestyle which consisted of family, part time work, my continued voluntary work and a social life. Time management, balance and self confidence were key life lessons gained during my studies.

I’m proud to say that I am now employed as a Telephone Counsellor Support Officer with a self funded organisation whose work in the community I greatly admire and respect. I also work as a volunteer face to face counsellor within this same organisation. The rewards I gain from this work both intrinsically and from practical experience are priceless.

At this stage in my professional development I am feeling very fulfilled and the skills and knowledge I gained through the AIPC Diploma, greatly assisted me in making my dreams a reality.

Caron Scard

I was determined to finish the course in one year. 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 then I hated it all those

years ago.

Not only did I finish the Diploma of Professional Counselling but I also completed two advanced study majors in 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. It 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.

Jane Oakley-Lohm

Glancing through the paper I came across the advertisement for AIPC. As I researched AIPC, I realised this self-paced study system could be a stepping stone for me, so I commenced studies with AIPC - I was on my way.

I continued working part time in hospitality while studying, I found the self paced structure was perfect and the Study Assistance Line so helpful, especially at times when I found I was ‘stuck’. Attending the seminars was a wonderful opportunity to meet other students and helped me to realise the ups and downs I was going through were ‘normal’, we were all balancing home life, work and study: ‘not an easy task’. Gaining practical experience and building friendships along the way helped to bring it all together.

I volunteered with the Senior Citizens respite group in my local area and enjoyed the work and the people. So I decided to start applying for positions in the industry a few months before I expected to complete the Diploma. Initially I was unsuccessful in gaining employment, however I managed to secure a full time position as a Family Support Worker with Lifeline Community Care. The position was in my local area and despite the fact that I had yet to complete my last unit, Lifeline recognised that I had the right qualifications for the job!

I graduated from the Diploma and am currently working with women and children escaping Domestic Violence, while this area may sound extremely difficult I find it rewarding. I have to say that I could not wish for a better foundation than the AIPC Diploma. Dealing with a diverse range of people, ages, and pretty startling situations, I am learning every day and it’s a thrill seeing what I have studied being put into practice.

I think I may have caught the study bug as I am now completing two advanced study majors, Abuse and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Grief and Loss. I feel these two majors will compliment my position as a Family Support Worker and University does not appear quite so daunting.

Joy Kite

Resigning from my job wasn’t a problem – plunging into the unknown was really scary but fortunately I had the support of my husband who encouraged me to study and establish my own private practice.

The arrival of my first study pack was greeted with great enthusiasm and I had set myself a deadline of 18 months to complete my Diploma. As I progressed the fear of how I would apply what I had learned practically began to surface. At the same time I noticed an advert for volunteer Parent Aides at the Mater Family Services Unit. Within weeks I was on a training course and working with my first client.

Although the work of a parent aide is not counselling as such, it does involve the use of counselling skills as you assist clients with practical parenting issues, life skills and connecting them with local services. I found the work helped build my confidence.

Just before I completed my Diploma I called Student Care Qld from the AIPC volunteer handbook to see if I could broaden my experiences. They offered me a contract counselling position with their organisation! Already they have put me on a course and are involving me in many aspects of their organisation whilst accepting that I will also be building my own private practice.

I learned the value of volunteer work during my studies and the fact that the opportunities are not going to pick up the phone and call you – you have to take the initiative – the worst they can do is say ‘no’. In the end it took me 2 ½ years to complete my diploma but now I am building my own practice – Positive Steps, Professional Counselling.

Patricia Baird

During the two years we lived apart, I undertook the Advanced Study Major in Grief and Loss with AIPC, and also trained with a national crisis telephone counselling organisation, working in a voluntary capacity on the phones following completion of training. I gained valuable practical experience in this role, where much of the theory presented in the AIPC counselling course was used extensively, and I would strongly encourage students to become involved in voluntary counselling work if such an opportunity presents itself. As well as gaining practical experience, it was a wonderful confidence booster, and I also made some lovely friends!

It became possible for me to relocate to Queensland last year, and I joined my partner in Gladstone in early September. Wishing to become involved in the community, I sought voluntary counselling work, and also applied for a paid position which was advertised in the local paper in October. Happily, I was selected for an interview, and was fortunate in being offered the job! I am delighted to say that I am now working on a permanent part-time basis as the Domestic and Family Violence Court Support Worker with a well-known Queensland welfare organisation, and enjoying the challenge of the position enormously.

However, whilst I feel privileged to have been offered this job, I also know that it didn’t come about purely by accident. Rather, I had worked hard, gained the qualification I set out to achieve, and refused to become discouraged along the way by constant media reports that people over a certain age are continually overlooked by prospective employers!

Judy Marshall

After successfully completing the first few units, (and working through my feelings of uncertainty about my academic abilities), I was very pleasantly surprised by how well the course was presented, how supportive the team at the AIPC were and how relevant the course material was to both my personal and professional life.

Within two months of graduating I have established a wonderful and constantly growing personal growth group for women as well as a steadily growing meditation group. I have seen how the skills the I have acquired through the course are the reasons for my rapid success.

At this stage in my professional development, I am feeling very fulfilled by working with the two groups as I know that I am just at the beginning of an exciting and meaningful career. I am reaping rewards and benefits, too numerous to list, but which inspire me to continue to learn and gain practical experience to pursue further goals.

Lisa Pattison