How to Become a Rehabilitation Counsellor in Australia: Guide

Marcus Sellen

October 10, 2025

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5 min read

If you’re passionate about helping people rebuild their confidence and independence after injury, illness, or disadvantage, a career in rehabilitation counselling could be perfect for you.

Rehabilitation counsellors play a vital role in helping individuals return to work, education, and community participation. They use evidence-based approaches to assess abilities, design interventions, and coordinate recovery programs that change lives.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to become a rehabilitation counsellor in Australia — from qualifications and field placements to professional memberships and early career pathways.

What Is a Rehabilitation Counsellor?

Rehabilitation counsellors support people living with physical, psychological, or social challenges. They assess needs, set realistic goals, and collaborate with employers, doctors, and allied health professionals to help clients regain independence.

Typical tasks include:

Assessing vocational and psychosocial needs
Developing rehabilitation and return-to-work plans
Providing individual counselling and case management
Liaising with insurance schemes, employers, and the NDIS

➡️ Explore the official role description on Jobs and Skills Australia – Rehabilitation Counsellors.

For a broader overview of the profession, visit Allied Health Professions Australia – Rehabilitation Counselling.

Is Rehabilitation Counselling Regulated in Australia?

Rehabilitation counselling is a self-regulated profession in Australia. This means it isn’t governed by AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), but instead by a professional association that sets education, ethics, and practice standards.

In 2024, the two peak bodies, the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC) and the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia (RCAA) — announced a merger to create one unified voice for the profession.

➡️ Read about the merger on ASORC – Industry News.
➡️ Learn about the Role of Rehabilitation Counsellors.

What is a Rehabilitation Counsellor's Salary in Australia?

The average salary for a Rehabilitation Counsellor in Australia is $85,000 per year.

Rehabilitation counsellors can earn between $95,000 to $105,000 per year, depending on their experience and location.

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Rehabilitation Counsellor?

As a rehabilitation counsellor, you will have to handle a lot of responsibility.

Some of the skills that you will need to succeed as a rehabilitation counsellor include:

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- The ability to build rapport with clients.

- The ability to empathise with clients.

- The ability to motivate and encourage clients.

- The ability to work independently.

- Strong organisation and time management skills.

- A caring and compassionate nature.

- The ability to handle difficult situations.

What Are the Benefits of Becoming a Rehabilitation Counsellor?

There are many benefits to becoming a rehabilitation counsellor. If you're still not decided, here are some reasons to consider becoming a rehabilitation counsellor:

1) Helping people regain their independence

Rehabilitation counselling is all about helping people to regain their independence.

This can be through assisting them to find employment, and housing, or providing support to help them live independently.

As a rehabilitation counsellor, you'll be working closely with clients to help them overcome any barriers they may face in their lives.

Rehabilitation counselling is a truly rewarding career, as you'll be making a difference in people's lives every day.

2) Working in a challenging and rewarding field

Rehabilitation counselling is a challenging and rewarding field. You'll be working with clients who have a range of disabilities, and you'll need to be able to think on your feet to assist them.

You'll also need to be able to deal with challenging situations, as you'll often be working with clients who are experiencing a range of emotions.

However, the rewards of working in this field are great, as you'll be helping people to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.

If you're looking for a rewarding career, then rehabilitation counselling is a perfect choice.

3) Having the opportunity to work with a variety of people

As a rehabilitation counsellor, you'll have the opportunity to work with a variety of people.

This includes working with clients who have a range of disabilities, as well as their families and carers.

You'll also be working with a variety of professionals, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and psychologists.

This is a great opportunity to learn about different disabilities and how to best support people with them.

4) The satisfaction of seeing clients progress

One of the most satisfying aspects of being a rehabilitation counsellor is seeing clients progress.

This can be through helping them to find employment, or assisting them to live independently.

It's also satisfying to see clients overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.

As a rehabilitation counsellor, you'll be making a difference in people's lives every day.

If you're looking for a rewarding and challenging career, then rehabilitation counselling could be the perfect choice for you.

5) The opportunity to work flexible hours

Another great benefit of being a rehabilitation counsellor is the opportunity to work flexible hours.

This can be particularly beneficial if you have other commitments, such as caring for family or children.

Many rehabilitation counsellors work on a part-time or casual basis, which can offer you great flexibility in your work schedule.

So, if you're looking for a rewarding and challenging career with flexible hours, then rehabilitation counselling could be the perfect choice for you.

Now that you know more about what rehabilitation counselling is and the benefits of becoming a rehabilitation counsellor, let's look at the steps you need to take to become one.

What Are the Steps Needed to Become a Rehabilitation Counsellor in Australia?

If you want to become a rehabilitation counsellor in Australia, follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose an Accredited University Qualification

To become a rehabilitation counsellor, you’ll need to complete an ASORC-accredited degree in rehabilitation counselling or a related human services field.

Most practitioners complete either:

A Bachelor of Human Services / Counselling with a major in rehabilitation counselling; or
A Master of Rehabilitation Counselling (for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree).

➡️ See accredited academic partners on ASORC – Education and CPD.
➡️ Example program: Griffith University – Master of Rehabilitation Counselling.

These programs combine theory, counselling skills, and work-integrated learning to prepare you for practice.

Alternatively if you are seeking a more affordable, entry level avenue our Certificate IV in Alcohol & Other Drugs, Certificate IV in Mental Health or Diploma of Alcohol & Other Drugs are great courses for beginners.

Step 2: Complete Supervised Field Placements

All accredited programs include work placements where you apply your skills in real workplace settings, such as:

Workplace rehabilitation providers
Community health organisations
NDIS or disability employment services
Return-to-work (RTW) programs

Placements are essential for developing professional confidence, reflective practice, and client-centred communication.

Step 3: Join the Professional Association

After graduation, you can apply for ASORC membership. This demonstrates your professional standing and commitment to ethical practice.

Depending on your experience, you may start as a Provisional Member before completing supervised practice to gain Full Membership.

➡️ Learn about membership categories on ASORC – Pathway to Membership.

Membership provides access to professional development, supervision frameworks, and industry updates.

Step 4: Meet Screening and Legal Requirements

Before you can work directly with clients, you’ll need to complete several checks:

Working with Children Check (WWCC) — varies by state or territory (ACIC – Working with Children Checks)
NDIS Worker Screening Check — for roles in NDIS-registered services (NDIS Commission)
National Police Check — required by most employers
Vaccination or health screening — depending on your workplace

These safeguards ensure client safety and uphold ethical standards.

Step 5: Explore Your Career Pathways

Rehabilitation counsellors work in diverse environments — from hospitals and rehabilitation clinics to community agencies and government programs.

Common roles include:

Rehabilitation Consultant / Case Manager
Vocational Counsellor
NDIS Psychosocial Recovery Coach
Return-to-Work Coordinator
Employment Consultant (DES or JobAccess)
Wellbeing or Resilience Advisor

You might also work under major frameworks such as:

Workers’ Compensation & Occupational Rehabilitation – see WorkSafe Victoria – Return to Work Roles or Comcare – Rehabilitation Case Managers
Motor Accident & Lifetime Care Schemes – see icare NSW – Rehabilitation Providers
NDIS & Disability Services – see NDIS Provider Registration Groups

Step 6: Commit to Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

To maintain professional recognition, you’ll undertake ongoing CPD — attending workshops, conferences, and supervision sessions.

Key development areas include:

Complex case management
Vocational evaluation
Psychological injury and trauma
Return-to-work research and policy
Culturally safe and inclusive practice

➡️ Browse CPD options at ASORC – Education & CPD.

Step 7: Build Foundations Through Community Services or Mental Health

If you’re not ready for university study yet, you can begin with a vocational qualification to gain entry-level experience in human services.

At Hader Institute of Education, we offer flexible online courses that build core skills for working in health, rehabilitation, and community sectors:

These nationally recognised qualifications align with the Australian Qualifications Framework and can act as pathways toward a university degree in rehabilitation counselling.

How to Get Started with Rehabilitation Counselling?

If you're interested in becoming a rehabilitation counsellor, then there are a few things you need to do to get started.

Here is a recap of what you need to do:

Complete a Vocational Education Training: This is especially if you just want a pathway into the industry and are not considering getting a university education in the field. A Certificate IV in Mental Health, Diploma of Mental Health, or a Diploma in Counselling are some ideal courses to take.
Do a Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field: This is for those who want to get a university education in rehabilitation counselling. Some ideal courses to take include a Bachelor's Degree in Allied Health, Bachelor's Degree in Health Science, or Bachelor of Social Work.
Do a postgraduate course: If you want to further your education and knowledge in rehabilitation counselling, then you can consider doing a postgraduate course. Ideal courses include Master of Rehabilitation Counselling and Graduate Diploma in Counselling.
Apply and work in the field: After you have completed an accredited rehabilitation counselling course, you will then need to register with the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia (RCAA). Once you have done that, you can start applying for rehab counsellor positions.

Conclusion

Becoming a rehabilitation counsellor is a great way to help people who have been through difficult life experiences.

If you want to become a rehab counsellor, then follow the steps in this guide and you'll be on your way to helping others in no time.

At Hader Institute, we offer a range of courses that will help you get started in the field of rehabilitation counselling such as the Diploma of Mental Health and Certificate IV in Mental Health.

To find out more, contact us today. We'd be happy to answer any questions you have about becoming a rehab counsellor!

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