Key facts
Domestic students course information. This course is currently not available to international students.
Entry is based on a relevant bachelor, or relevant certificate IV with 5 years full-time relevant work experience.
View full entry requirements- Up to 2 years part-time
| Start Dates and Campus | Trimester 1 – February 2025 | Trimester 2 – June 2025 | Trimester 3 – October 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Offered | Offered | Not Offered |
| Armidale Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
| Sydney Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
Course information
Download course brochure
In today's educational landscape, the demand for effective wellbeing support in schools is on the rise. The UNE Graduate Certificate in School Wellbeing Support equips you with the specialised skills and knowledge needed to meet this demand.
This course is ideal for allied health professionals (such as community and social workers), teachers and teacher aides, who wish to develop their expertise about school wellbeing support. It is also a valuable asset if you are currently working in these roles and are ready to upskill. Delivered entirely online, you can complete this program in as little as one year while studying part-time, fitting your studies around work and life.
Why study the Graduate Certificate in School Wellbeing Support with UNE?
At UNE, you will learn from experienced professionals who bring real-world insights into the classroom. This course focuses on strengthening core interpersonal and counselling skills, to enhance therapeutic engagement. You will be building advanced practice-based knowledge using a culturally sensitive and person-centred approach. During your studies you will gain an in-depth understanding of the ethical, legal, and policy contexts of your work, developing your ability to navigate complex situations in a school setting.
UNE has the longest heritage of any Australian university in offering distance and online courses. We’re also highly rated – year after year, students award UNE 5-star ratings in The Good Universities Guide for Overall Experience and Student Support, so when you study with us, you know you are in good hands.
What makes our course different?
Developed based on industry feedback, the Graduate Certificate in School Wellbeing Support has been strategically designed to equip you with evidence-based strategies to strengthen your interventions and practice. This course integrates a multidisciplinary perspective, emphasising the importance of empathy and rapport-building in fostering supportive, trusting relationships with children and young people. When you study this course with us, you will:
- Gain an integrated understanding of the wellbeing support role and the educational context, including your legal and ethical obligations, practical approaches to challenging behaviour and promoting effective collaboration.
- Build your knowledge, skills and confidence. Learn to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, engaging with educators, parents, carers, and community members to build a supportive and holistic environment for young people.
- Enhance transferable, in-demand skillsets including the ability to think critically and make informed decisions, to solve complex problems, and to communicate effectively and sensitively across diverse communities.
- Study flexibly with online education professionals. With over 70 years of experience in delivering distance (now online) education, you can take advantage of our expertise by studying online and part-time, to balance your postgraduate studies with your existing commitments.
Study online
Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together to build real world networks for the future.
* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.
Entry requirements
This course is offered under two admission rules.
Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in a relevant discipline*
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule B: You have completed a Certificate IV in a relevant discipline* from an Australian TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO) AND you have a minimum of five years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant professional experience* within the past ten years.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).
* Relevant disciplines and professional experience and training includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Children’s services
- Community services
- Counselling
- Education
- Human welfare services
- Nursing
- Pastoral care
- Psychology
- Social work
- Teaching
- Welfare studies
- Youth work
Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
Mandatory intensive schools may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.
Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:
- If you are applying for admission under Rule A, you must provide a certified academic transcript of your completed qualification.
- If you are applying for admission under Rule B, you must provide a certified academic transcript of your completed qualification AND a Statement of Service from your employer/s on company letterhead. Learn about our Statement of Service requirements
Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.
Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.
> Learn how to apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing
Course structure
To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 24 credit points.
24 credit points
Complete the following units- Wellbeing Support in Education (EDUC400) – 6 credit points
- The Skilled Counsellor (HSCS335) – 6 credit points
- Providing Effective Wellbeing Support to Children and Young People (HSSW415) – 6 credit points
- Juvenile Justice and Child Protection (HSSW504) – 6 credit points
See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.
Fees and scholarships
How much will it cost?
Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:
| Fee type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Full Fee | $14,476* |
| Commonwealth Supported Place (quotas apply) | $8,496* |
| Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time | $365 |
What are the course fee payment options?
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a government subsidised place in a university course. The government pays part of your tuition fees, and you pay the remainder.
If you have a CSP in either an undergraduate or postgraduate (coursework) degree, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP Loan, which allows you to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.
Full Fee places are mostly in postgraduate coursework degrees. In a full fee place you pay the tuition fee set for your course, however you may be eligible for a FEE-HELP Loan to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.
If you are enrolled in a Full Fee place and there is a direct connection between your work and your study, you may be able to claim your tuition fees as a tax deduction.
UNE scholarships are open for all to apply and offer financial help while you are studying. There are scholarships for students with high academic achievement, from rural areas, studying specific degrees, in disadvantaged groups, experiencing financial hardship, who excel at sport or want to live in a UNE residential college.
UNE scholarship applications are free and confidential. You may apply for more than one scholarship.
Your career
The Graduate Certificate in School Wellbeing Support provides students with core knowledge and skills, to ensure effective wellbeing support to children and young people in an educational context. This course builds professional expertise, enabling graduates to provide person-centred interventions across a range of educational settings including public, private and independent schools.
This course also develops transferrable skills for broader wellbeing support roles in community, youth work and welfare sectors.
Course outcomes
- articulate the role, function, and strategies underpinning school wellbeing support, and the ethical, legal and policy context;
- exhibit advanced practice-based knowledge, utilising a culturally responsive and person-centred approach to the counselling process to facilitate meaningful therapeutic engagement and change;
- demonstrate an understanding of theory informed counselling and practice, developing assessment and referral skills;
- demonstrate a practical knowledge of law relevant to child protection and juvenile justice, reasoning and writing for ethical practice, and an ability to critically analyse policy issues.
- understand roles, responsibilities and practice within the school context, building a collaborative approach to working with children and young people, educators, parents/carers, community members and external professionals from diverse backgrounds.
- critically analyse effective practice frameworks, considering the complex ethical issues involved with working with young people.
- Knowledge of a Discipline
Graduates have an advanced knowledge of specialised School Wellbeing Support, including an understanding of assessment, formulation and intervention. Graduates will utilise a holistic and collaborative approach in a multidisciplinary team to deliver evidence-based interventions. Graduates utilise culturally responsive and safe frameworks to engage effectively and sensitively to meet the needs of children, young people, families and colleagues.
- Communication Skills
Graduates have effective interpersonal skills to engage young people within a wellbeing support capacity. Graduates utilise their communication skills to engage, assess and advocate for the needs of children in verbal and written modalities. Graduates can tailor their communications to promote collaboration and effective intervention implementation.
- Problem Solving
Graduates are critical thinkers and are able to use problem-solving skills to consider the presenting issues, ethical frameworks and relevant evidence-based interventions. Graduates can effectively problem solve in collaboration with other stakeholders to achieve best outcomes for children and young people, drawing on theoretical, legal, and policy frameworks. Graduates critically evaluate their practice engaging in reflexive practice, further strengthening problem-solving approaches.
- Information Literacy
Graduates have advanced information literacy skills, in research, comprehension, reasoning and writing. Graduates can locate relevant and credible information using search procedures, using critical analysis to build knowledge about contemporary practice.
- Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility
Graduates practice within the legal and ethical frameworks of their wellbeing support role. Graduates have a complex understanding of ethical and social issues, integrating this knowledge in decision-making, building best practice and further strengthening the wellbeing support role. Graduates integrate ethical conduct and social responsibility in their advocacy role in wellbeing support.
- Lifelong Learning
Graduates engage in continuing professional development accessing research and skills training to inform practice. Graduates demonstrate a willingness to seek out learning, integrate new knowledges and evidence into professional practice.
- Independence and Collaboration
Independence and collaboration are essential in school wellbeing support roles.
Graduates are taught to be active learners and develop independent thinking, as well as collaborative practice skills, to ensure the ability to work collaboratively within schools and with external community stakeholders.
A five-star experience
Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row
UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience
Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience
QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience
QILT Student Experience Survey
Five Stars for
Teaching Quality
UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality
Good Universities Guide 2024
Studying online
At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.
We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*
*The Good Universities Guide
Stay connected
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Why study with us?
The most enjoyable part of my studies is the sense of achievement and being part of something bigger than myself.
How to apply
Preparing to apply
You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.
The kind of documents you need will depend on:
- Your preferred course/s
- Your personal circumstances
Important Dates
Different application methods and courses can have different closing dates. To find your correct application method click the Apply Now button below. Please check the appropriate application website for opening and closing dates.
If you are applying online direct to UNE please see below for application dates.
| Intake | Application Closing Date | Trimester Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | 14 February 2025 | 24 February 2025 |
| Trimester 2 | 13 June 2025 | 23 June 2025 |
