How to become a relationship counsellor in Australia: steps and salary expectations

There’s a moment a lot of people hit where they realise they want their work to mean something more and relationship counselling tends to be where that search leads. 

It’s a career built around some of the most important moments in people’s lives. Relationships Australia reported that almost eight in ten Australians felt relationship pressures in 2024, and every single one of them could use a skilled relationship counsellor in their corner.

The people already doing this work understand that pull. The ACA found that 85% of Australian counsellors chose this career because they wanted to make a difference, and more than half say their own life experience influenced that choice. Life experience is a strength here, and the workforce reflects it.

There are multiple pathways into the profession, and none of them require you to have a psychology background. Relationship counselling and marriage counselling are careers you can enter through a diploma or postgraduate qualification, with study options designed around full-time work and life commitments. This article shows you how to become a relationship counsellor and everything else you need to know about the profession.

What a relationship counsellor does

Relationship counsellors work with people during some of the most emotionally demanding situations they’ll face, offering a space where they can navigate difficult conversations safely. They help people resolve conflict, rebuild trust in their relationships, navigate relationship breakdowns and figure out what their next chapter looks like.

The work is as varied as the people who seek it. A counsellor might spend one session helping a couple reconnect after years of emotional distance, and the next supporting someone through the grief of a relationship ending. AIFS research shows that close to half of all divorces in Australia involve children under 18, and couples typically separate 8–9 years before a divorce is finalised. That’s a long window where a skilled counsellor can make a meaningful difference.

For many of those people, relationship pain and mental health challenges go hand in hand. ABS data finds that around 4.3 million Australians experience a mental health condition in any given year, and relationship difficulties can have a part in that. Relationship counsellors focus on the relational and emotional dynamics between people through talk-based approaches, which sets them apart from psychologists and psychiatrists who are trained to diagnose clinical conditions.

Types of relationship counselling careers 

Relationship counselling is a broad field with room for many different specialisations:

Skills and qualifications you need to become a relationship counsellor

People are drawn to relationship counselling for different reasons and the training shapes them into practitioners who are comfortable sitting with other people’s pain and deeply curious about what drives human behaviour. The formal training builds on those qualities and turns them into practice.

And on top of those personal qualities, the role calls for a specific set of professional skills that you’ll develop as you train. These are the core skills for relationship counsellors:

• Emotional resilience
• Cultural sensitivity
• Non-judgmental communication
• Ethical decision-making
• Boundary management

Qualifications and training pathways

The qualification you choose depends on where you want to work and how deeply you want to specialise. There are a few recognised pathways into the profession, each suited to a different type of learner and career goal.

Diploma pathways

A diploma in counselling is the most direct route into practice for most people. AIPC’s Diploma of Counselling covers the core theoretical frameworks and practical skills you need to work with clients, and it’s designed to be completed as you work. Graduates are eligible to apply for membership with professional bodies like the ACA upon completion.

Bachelor degree pathways

A bachelor degree in counselling or a related discipline provides a broader academic foundation and opens doors to a wider range of settings. This pathway suits people who want deeper theoretical grounding or who are considering postgraduate specialisation later. Most bachelor programmes run three to four years full-time.

Postgraduate and specialist training

A Master of Counselling is the highest qualification available in the field and is preferred by employers in clinical settings. AIPC’s Master of Counselling is designed for graduates looking to deepen their clinical expertise and pursue specialist pathways. It also gives practitioners the most flexibility in terms of where and how they work.

If you already have a bachelor degree and want to explore relationship counselling before committing to a full master’s programme, AIPC also offers a Graduate Certificate in Relationship Counselling. The six-month online course covers the core therapeutic approaches to relationship challenges and is FEE-HELP approved. It doesn’t lead to counsellor registration on its own, but it does create a natural stepping stone toward the Master of Counselling.

If you already spend part of your working life helping people through relationship difficulties, the Graduate Certificate gives those conversations more structure. Social workers, educators, human resources professionals and allied health workers tend to find themselves in exactly that position. The course gives you a therapeutic background to draw on.

Professional accreditation and memberships

Joining a professional association isn’t legally required in Australia, but it makes a significant difference to your credibility and career prospects. The two main bodies are the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Both require evidence of supervised practice hours and a commitment to ongoing professional development. 

The ACA grew by 26% in 2024, now representing over 18,000 counsellors and psychotherapists across the country. Being a registered member shows clients and employers that you’ve met a recognised professional standard.

How to become a relationship counsellor in Australia

The path to becoming a relationship counsellor or couples therapist in Australia starts with a recognised qualification and supervised practice. From there, the work is as much about accumulating real-world experience as it is about formal study. Here’s the typical sequence:

1. Complete a counselling qualification: A recognised qualification is what makes the rest of the list possible. AIPC’s Diploma of Counselling is a popular starting point for career changers, covering core counselling theory and practical skills in a format designed around working adults. For those aiming for clinical or senior roles, the Master of Counselling is worth considering from the start.
2. Gain placement and supervised experience: Most counselling qualifications include a placement component, but supervised experience doesn’t stop at graduation. Professional associations require a minimum number of supervised practice hours before you can achieve full registration, so accumulating those hours early is worth prioritising.
3. Join a professional association: Registering with the ACA or PACFA gives you professional credibility and access to professional development resources and a broader community of practitioners. Most employers and private practice clients expect to see active membership, so this is a step worth taking early.
4. Build experience in community or support settings: Early-career counsellors tend to find their footing in community organisations and support services before moving into specialist relationship work. These settings give you exposure to a wide variety of presenting issues and build the kind of practical confidence that no course can fully replicate.
5. Specialise in couples or relationship counselling: Once you have foundational experience, you can pursue specialist training through postgraduate study or targeted short courses. AIPC’s Graduate Certificate in Relationship Counselling is designed for those with an existing bachelor degree and covers the core therapeutic approaches to relationship challenges in a six-month online format. Many practitioners also work with a clinical supervisor who specialises in this area.
6. Continue professional development: Relationship counselling is a field where the learning never stops. Both the ACA and PACFA require members to complete ongoing professional development each year, and staying current with emerging research and community needs keeps your practice strong.

How long does it take to become a relationship counsellor?

You could begin working in counselling settings within two years, or you could spend four building a deeper academic foundation. Here’s how long each pathway usually takes:

Relationship counsellor job outlook and career progression

If you’re considering a career change into counselling, the timing is good. Jobs and Skills Australia reports that around 33,800 counsellors are currently employed in Australia, with the profession projected to grow well above the national average for all occupations. 

In just one quarter of 2025, more than 3.4 million Medicare-subsidised mental health services were delivered throughout Australia. That kind of sustained demand has a direct impact on how many counsellors the country needs.

Career progression opportunities

With experience comes choice, and relationship counsellors have plenty of options. Here’s where practitioners can move into:

• Senior counsellor: Take on more complex cases and provide mentoring to less experienced practitioners within an organisation.
• Clinical supervisor: Support other counsellors in their professional development by overseeing their practice and helping them reflect on their work.
• Private practice owner: Build your own client base and set your own hours, with the freedom to specialise in the areas of relationship work that interest you the most.
• Family therapist: Expand your scope to work with whole family systems thanks to additional specialist training in systemic or narrative approaches.
• EAP counsellor: Deliver short-term counselling and wellbeing support to employees through employer-funded assistance programmes.
• Educator/trainer: Once you have enough experience behind you, you can teach or help develop curricula for the next generation of relationship counsellors.

Where relationship counsellors work

Two relationship counsellors can hold the same qualification and work in completely different worlds. Here’s a breakdown of the main settings:

Relationship counsellor salary in Australia

Relationship counsellor salary varies depending on how and where you work. A salaried position in a community organisation offers predictable, award-based income, whilst private practice earnings fluctuate depending on client volume and fee structure. Neither is better than the other, but they do offer completely different types of careers. 

SEEK, Glassdoor and compensation research tools like SalaryExpert each measure salary differently. SEEK shows advertised roles and tends to represent mid-to-senior market rates. Glassdoor draws from self-reported salaries in a broader range of experience levels, and SalaryExpert and the Economic Research Institute use compensation modelling. This is what you can expect from your relationship counsellor salary:

*Salary figures are sourced from SEEK, Glassdoor, SalaryExpert and the Economic Research Institute and should be treated as indicative ranges rather than guaranteed earnings.

Wage differences by state or region

State-level SEEK data shows consistent relationship counsellor salary ranges across most states and territories in Australia:

*State salary figures are sourced from SEEK and should be treated as indicative ranges rather than guaranteed earnings.

What affects a relationship counsellor’s salary?

Your income as a relationship counsellor is largely in your hands. Here’s what affects it the most:

• Experience and specialisation: The longer you practise and the deeper your specialisation, the more you can charge. A counsellor who’s spent years working specifically with couples after infidelity will attract very different clients and rates than someone just starting out.
• Public sector vs private practice: Employed positions offer predictable income and entitlements. Private practice can pay much more, but your earnings move with your caseload. Most practitioners find their own balance between the two over the course of their careers.
• Location and demand: Major cities offer more referrals and a bigger potential client base, but competition is also higher. Regional practitioners often become the go-to provider in their area fairly quickly, which comes with its own advantages.
• Additional certifications: Specialist training in trauma-informed practice or family mediation opens doors to more complex presentations and higher fees. Clients with specific needs actively seek out practitioners with the right credentials.
• Telehealth and online counselling: Building an online practice removes the geographic ceiling on your caseload. You can work with clients across the country from your home office, which can be transformative for practitioners willing to embrace it.

FAQs

Is relationship counsellor a good career in Australia?

Yes, a relationship counsellor is a good career in Australia. Jobs and Skills Australia projects counselling employment to grow well above the national average, and the profession consistently draws high levels of personal satisfaction among practitioners.

Are relationship counsellors in demand in Australia? 

Yes, relationship counsellors are in demand and that demand has grown considerably over recent years. With nearly eight in ten Australians reporting relationship pressures in 2024, there’s no shortage of people who could use a good counsellor in their corner.

Which relationship counsellor roles pay the most?

Private practice specialists and family counsellors with postgraduate qualifications tend to earn the highest rates. Glassdoor data puts family therapist salaries at up to $110,000, while marriage counsellors average around $93,701, according to ERI. Experienced practitioners in private practice can earn above these figures.

Can you become a relationship counsellor without a psychology degree?

Yes you can become a relationship counsellor without a psychology degree. A diploma or Master of Counselling are the standard pathways into the profession, and having a background in psychology isn’t a prerequisite. AIPC’s Diploma of Counselling is designed specifically for people entering the field without a prior degree. 

Can relationship counsellors work online?

Yes, relationship counsellors can work online and many do. Telehealth counselling has expanded in recent years and offers practitioners the flexibility to work with clients across the country without being tied to a fixed location. 

This is work that stays with you

Relationship counselling is one of those rare careers where the work itself is the reward. You’ll sit with people during the hardest moments of their lives and help them find their way through. For many practitioners, that’s exactly what drew them to this work in the first place.

AIPC offers two clear pathways depending on where you want to take your practice. The Diploma of Counselling is designed for career changers building essential skills, while the Master of Counselling suits those aiming for clinical depth from the start. 

If you already have a bachelor degree and want to explore relationship counselling before committing to a full master’s programme, the Graduate Certificate in Relationship Counselling offers a focused six-month option.

Explore AIPC’s counselling courses or speak with an adviser about your options.