Kellie Arndt

"The part of the course I enjoyed the most was the practical side. It really was superb. It was where I learnt how to become a counsellor, not just learning about what a counsellor does."

When I undertook the Diploma of Counselling with AIPC I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into or where it could lead to. I did a lot of research on different counselling providers and found AIPC to be the standout. I knew the course was very comprehensive and that AIPC had a great industry reputation, so I felt it could open the door to many different opportunities for me.

I had a few lightbulb moments throughout the course. Overall, the course really made me understand on a fundamental level what a counsellor does and what their role really is. In a nutshell, a counsellor ‘walks with the person’. It is not about giving advice or labelling a person. It is essentially about empowering others to help them make their own decisions to live the best possible life they can.

The part of the course I enjoyed the most was the practical side. It really was superb. It is where I learnt how to become a counsellor, not just learning about what a counsellor is and does.

In terms of support, AIPC were fantastic. They were always there to answer questions and provide support. The Education team are extremely knowledgeable with the content of the course and it really helped me to understand any aspects that I wasn’t sure on. The administration support was great too. I always felt I could contact the team.

The Diploma of Counselling has really helped open up new opportunities for me. When I first graduated I worked as a family support worker, which I really enjoyed. However, my passion is working with young people. I feel that young people these days are disconnected from their communities. About six months after graduating I was fortunate enough to secure my current position as a school counsellor. In addition to my Diploma of Counselling I also have a Bachelor of Psychology. Even though my psychology study helped, it was my Diploma of Counselling qualification that secured my current job. The school was impressed with how much I had learnt in my counselling studies and how I was able to demonstrate my skill level.

Thank you AIPC! I really enjoyed the course and it has helped me immensely with my current role. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in working with people. It is applicable to all walks of life. You will definitely derive many benefits from doing this course.