How much does a Diploma of Counselling cost? A complete fee breakdown

A Diploma of Counselling at Hader Institute of Education costs AU$7,995.00 in full, AU$7,195.50 if you pay upfront, or from AU$77/week on a payment plan. Getting to a straight number is harder than it should be on most course websites: you’ll find a headline figure on one page, a payment plan on another, and very little about what the fee does and doesn’t cover.

This guide sets out those fees for the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling plainly: the full price, the payment options, and exactly what’s included. If you’re weighing up whether this qualification fits your budget, you’ll have the numbers you need by the end of this page.

The full cost of a Diploma of Counselling at Hader

Here are the current fees for the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling:

Paying upfront brings the fee down from AU$7,995.00 to AU$7,195.50: a saving of AU$799.50. That’s the only discount applied, and it’s applied at enrolment rather than claimed back later.

If paying the full amount at once isn’t realistic, the weekly and fortnightly plans break the same fee into regular instalments, with no interest charged on your tuition balance. The Diploma of Counselling is structured over 12 months, and most learners finish within 12 to 18 months depending on how much time they can commit each week.

Whichever option you choose, it’s the same qualification and the same support. There are no exam fees, because Hader’s assessments are built into the course rather than sat as exams. Other charges, such as a re-assessment or a replacement certificate, are set out in Hader’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.

View the full Diploma of Counselling course details →

What’s included in the fee?

The number on the page is easier to judge when you know what sits behind it. Your tuition fee covers the course delivery and assessment:

• Learning resources and assessments. Every module, reading, activity, and assessment task is provided.
• Ongoing trainer support. Your trainers work in the counselling and community sector, and they’re available to you throughout the course, including monthly one-on-one mentoring.
• Live Zoom sessions. Around three hours a week with your trainer and fellow learners, live and in real time.
• The Job-Ready Program. Career-readiness support at no extra cost: resume help and job search coaching, included with the course rather than sold as an add-on.

One more thing belongs here, though it sits in the qualification itself and not in the fee. Hader’s CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is ACA-accredited, which means graduates are eligible to apply for Level 1 registration with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Professional recognition of that kind matters when you’re looking for your first counselling role.

What you’re paying for is people who walk alongside you for the whole of it.

How does the payment plan work?

If you choose a payment plan, you pay by direct debit, from AU$77 per week or from AU$154 per fortnight. The fortnightly amount is two weekly payments combined, so the tuition you pay is the same either way.

A few things worth knowing:

• No interest is charged on your tuition balance, and the instalment amount doesn’t change partway through. Card surcharges of 2% (Visa) and 1.7% (MasterCard) apply to card payments.
• Your exact payment schedule, including when payments start and finish, is confirmed at enrolment — ask for it in writing before you commit, so the full picture is in front of you.
• You can pay the full amount upfront instead and take the AU$799.50 saving.
• There’s a cooling-off period. If you change your mind within 3 calendar days of being accepted into the course, you receive a full refund of everything you’ve paid. After that, refund arrangements are set out in Hader’s Refund of Fees Policy, and your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply regardless.

That’s the whole structure. Which option suits you depends on your circumstances. That call is yours. You can read more about how these arrangements work across Hader’s courses on the study now, pay later page.

Speak with a course advisor about payment options →

Are there other ways to fund a Diploma of Counselling?

At Hader, the payment options above are what’s available to you. Government funding is a fair question to ask, and the answer depends on the provider, the course, and your own circumstances. It’s a bigger topic than a fee breakdown can hold. We’ve written a separate guide covering it properly: read our guide to government-funded counselling courses.

Putting the cost in context

AU$7,995 is a real amount of money. Here’s how it lands week to week, and what it leaves you holding.

On the weekly plan you pay AU$77 at a time. That’s a figure you can hold against your own weekly budget, without needing the full amount saved first. The course is fully online, and outside the weekly Zoom session you set your own pace, so you can fit study around work and other commitments.

Then there is what you hold at the end. The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is a nationally recognised qualification, current on the National Register at training.gov.au and delivered by an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO 45162). It is also ACA-accredited, so graduates are eligible to apply for Level 1 registration with the ACA. It’s the same qualification regardless of how you choose to pay for it.

We’d rather you make this decision with clear numbers in front of you. Now you have them.

What you need to enrol

Cost is one half of the question; eligibility is the other. CHC51015 itself sets no entry requirements. Hader sets its own, and none of them is an academic hurdle. To enrol you need to:

• be at least 18
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or hold a visa with full work and study rights
• complete a language, literacy, numeracy and digital (LLND) assessment at the level required for the qualification
• complete an Orientation Call with a Learner Support Officer

You’ll need reliable internet and a laptop or desktop for online modules and Zoom classes.

There’s no Year 12 requirement and no prior sector experience needed. This qualification has no work placement, so no police check or Working with Children Check is required to enrol.

Entry conditions can change. The current list is on the course page. Check it before you apply.

Frequently asked questions about Diploma of Counselling fees

How much does a Diploma of Counselling cost in Australia?

At Hader, the full fee for the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is AU$7,995.00. An upfront payment option is available at AU$7,195.50, which saves you AU$799.50. A weekly payment plan is also available from AU$77 per week.

What is included in the Diploma of Counselling fee?

The fee includes all learning resources and assessments, ongoing support from trainers with current industry experience, around three hours a week of live Zoom sessions, monthly one-on-one mentoring, and access to Hader’s Job-Ready Program for career-readiness support.

Can I do a payment plan for a Diploma of Counselling?

Yes. Hader offers a weekly plan from AU$77 per week and a fortnightly plan from AU$154 per fortnight, with your exact payment schedule confirmed in writing at enrolment. An upfront payment option is also available at AU$7,195.50.

How long do I pay for a Diploma of Counselling?

Your payment schedule, including when payments start and finish, is set out and confirmed when you enrol — ask for it in writing before you commit. The Diploma of Counselling itself is structured over 12 months, and most learners complete it within 12 to 18 months.

Is there government funding available for a Diploma of Counselling?

At Hader, the weekly, fortnightly, and upfront payment options set out above are what’s available. Government funding eligibility depends on the provider, the course, and your own circumstances — our guide to government-funded counselling courses covers this in detail.