Social Worker vs Counsellor: What’s the Difference in Australia?

Two of the most commonly confused professions in Australia’s mental health and community services sector are social workers and counsellors. Both work with people through difficult times. Both require genuine interpersonal skill, emotional awareness and a commitment to wellbeing. Yet they are distinct professions — with different training pathways, different professional bodies, different scopes of practice and different day-to-day roles.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, around 1 in 5 Australians aged 16 to 85 experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months, based on 2020–2022 data. If you are considering a career in this sector — or trying to understand which professional to see for support — understanding the difference between a social worker and a counsellor is an important starting point.

This guide explains both professions clearly, compares them across key dimensions and outlines the study pathways available at Cairnmillar Institute for those pursuing a career in counselling.

Key Takeaways

• Social workers and counsellors are distinct professions with different training, registration bodies and scopes of practice
• Social workers typically focus on systemic issues, advocacy, case management and linking people to services
• Counsellors focus on supporting individuals through personal, emotional and interpersonal challenges using therapeutic approaches
• Counselling is not subject to mandatory national statutory registration in Australia. The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) are major professional registration and accreditation bodies for counsellors and psychotherapists.
• Cairnmillar Institute offers accredited counselling pathways from the Diploma of Counselling through to the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

What Is a Counsellor?

A counsellor is a trained professional who supports clients in managing personal and interpersonal issues — including relationship difficulties, grief and loss, stress, trauma, career challenges, mental health difficulties and adjustment to life change.

In Australia, counselling and psychology are separate disciplines with distinctly different study pathways and governing bodies. Counsellors may use a range of therapeutic approaches depending on their training and scope of practice. At Cairnmillar’s Individual Counselling service, available approaches include CBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, DBT, Schema Therapy, EMDR, Person-Centred Therapy and mindfulness-based approaches.

Counsellors work across a broad range of settings in Australia including mental health support, alcohol and other drugs counselling, family and relationships counselling, refugee support, rehabilitation counselling, youth work, career counselling, financial counselling, student counselling, suicide and grief counselling, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counselling services.

Counselling is not subject to mandatory statutory registration in Australia. Professional bodies such as ACA and PACFA set qualification, ethics, supervision, continuing professional development and professional-practice requirements for registrants.

What Is a Social Worker?

A social worker is a professionally trained practitioner who works with individuals, families, groups and communities to address social, structural and systemic challenges. Where counsellors tend to focus on the therapeutic and emotional dimensions of a person’s experience, social workers take a broader view — examining the social, economic, environmental and systemic factors that affect a person’s wellbeing and connecting them with the services, resources and advocacy they need.

For entry to qualified social work practice in Australia, the AASW accredits Bachelor of Social Work and qualifying Master of Social Work programs. Graduates of accredited programs are eligible for AASW membership, which the AASW describes as the benchmark for professional social work practice in Australia. The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the profession’s peak body and sets standards for education, ethics and practice.

Social workers typically work in settings including child protection and family services, aged care, hospitals and health settings, mental health services, disability support, housing and homelessness services, schools and education, domestic violence support, and refugee and asylum seeker services.

Social work remains a self-regulated profession nationally in Australia, with the AASW setting professional standards for education, ethics and practice. South Australia had legislated a mandatory registration scheme, but in 2026 the South Australian Government announced that it would not proceed with commencement of the scheme.

Key Differences — Social Worker vs Counsellor

Feature	Counsellor	Social Worker
Primary focus	Therapeutic support for personal and interpersonal issues	Systemic advocacy, case management and service connection
Training required	Diploma through to Masters level	AASW-accredited Bachelor of Social Work or qualifying Master of Social Work
Peak body	ACA and PACFA	AASW
Mandatory registration	No mandatory national registration at this time	No mandatory national registration; South Australia’s planned mandatory scheme is not proceeding as of 2026.
Typical settings	Private practice, community health, schools, EAP, mental health services	Child protection, hospitals, aged care, disability, housing, schools
Therapeutic approach	Individual therapeutic modalities (CBT, ACT, EMDR etc.)	Systems and advocacy work, casework, service coordination and, depending on role and credential, counselling and therapeutic mental-health interventions.
Better Access Medicare rebates	Counsellors are not listed as Better Access allied-health providers	Eligible social workers, including appropriately credentialled Accredited Mental Health Social Workers, can provide Medicare-rebatable Better Access services.

Education and Training — Side by Side

Counsellor training in Australia:

Counselling qualifications in Australia range from the Diploma of Counselling at AQF Level 5 through to Masters level. Cairnmillar offers counselling education across VET, undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with professional accreditation varying by qualification.

The Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015) is a nationally recognised vocational qualification that takes 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. It is delivered fully online, costs $6,990, and prepares graduates for entry-level and support counselling positions. Graduates are eligible for Level 1 ACA registration and can pathway into the Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling or the Graduate Certificate of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling is a TEQSA, APAC and ACA-accredited double-major undergraduate degree that takes three years full-time. It includes a final-year counselling placement with at least 40 hours of direct client experience. Cairnmillar states that graduates may be eligible to apply for ACA membership and register as a professional counsellor through ARCAP, or continue into postgraduate counselling or fourth-year psychology study.

Cairnmillar’s postgraduate Counselling and Psychotherapy suite is nested across the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master. The Graduate Certificate is a one-year part-time AQF Level 8 program and provides progression into the Graduate Diploma. The Graduate Diploma is ACA-accredited and takes one year full-time or two years part-time, while the Master is accredited by both ACA and PACFA.

The Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy takes two years full-time or four years part-time and is delivered in person at Hawthorn East. The current estimated domestic course fee is $54,613. The program is fully accredited by both ACA and PACFA, with Semester 1 2027 applications currently open.

Social worker training in Australia:

For entry to qualified social work practice and AASW membership in Australia, graduates complete an AASW-accredited Bachelor of Social Work or qualifying Master of Social Work. Entry requirements for qualifying Master’s programs vary by institution. Cairnmillar Institute does not offer social work qualifications.

Registration and Professional Bodies

For counsellors:

The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) is the largest registration body for counsellors and psychotherapists in Australia. The ACA has four professional membership levels defined against the AQF framework. The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) is a separate association with its own membership requirements and ethical standards. Both bodies require members to undertake ongoing professional development and clinical supervision.

Graduates of Cairnmillar’s Diploma of Counselling and Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling are eligible for ACA registration. Cairnmillar’s Diploma of Counselling and Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling are ACA-accredited. The Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is ACA-accredited, while the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is accredited by both ACA and PACFA. Graduates should check the relevant professional body’s current registration requirements when applying.

For social workers:

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the peak body for social workers in Australia. AASW membership requires an AASW-accredited social work qualification. Social workers who are not AASW members may still practice in many settings, but AASW membership is expected by a wide range of Australian employers.

Which Career Is Right for You?

Choosing between a career in counselling and a career in social work depends on where your professional interests lie and the kind of work you most want to do.

If you are drawn to one-on-one therapeutic work — supporting individuals through personal, emotional and interpersonal challenges using structured therapeutic approaches — counselling is likely to be the stronger fit. Counselling work may involve brief or longer-term therapeutic relationships with clients.

If you are more drawn to systemic advocacy — navigating complex systems on behalf of vulnerable people, coordinating services, working with families and communities and addressing the structural factors that affect wellbeing — social work aligns more closely with those interests.

Both professions play important roles in Australia’s mental health and community services sector. Cairnmillar cites SEEK data from April 2025 showing 10,584 counselling-related jobs across Australia, a typical salary of $100,000 and projected five-year job growth of 14.2%.

Studying Counselling at Cairnmillar Institute

Cairnmillar Institute is a not-for-profit organisation and registered health promotion charity established in Melbourne in 1961. One hundred per cent of all tuition fees are directed back into the community — including funding free counselling services for children, adults and families facing difficult situations.

Cairnmillar offers a complete range of ACA and PACFA accredited counselling and psychotherapy programs, from the Diploma of Counselling through Cairnmillar offers counselling education across VET, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Diploma of Counselling and Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling are ACA-accredited; the Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is ACA-accredited; and the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is accredited by both ACA and PACFA. Delivery varies by course: the Diploma is online, the Bachelor offers online and in-person study, while the current Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy are delivered in person at Hawthorn East.

Cairnmillar operates psychology and counselling clinics across Melbourne. Supervised practice and placement requirements vary by course; for example, the Bachelor includes a final-year counselling placement, while the Graduate Diploma and Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy include dedicated placement units.

Cairnmillar’s published graduate outcome data shows that 94.4% of graduates found employment after completing their studies — 1.6 points above the national average. Source: compared.edu.au/institution/the-cairnmillar-institute/postgraduate.

Conclusion

Social workers and counsellors both make meaningful contributions to the wellbeing of Australians — but they are distinct professions with different training pathways, different professional frameworks and different day-to-day roles. Understanding those differences is essential whether you are choosing a career direction or seeking professional support.

For those who want to pursue a career in counselling in Australia, Cairnmillar offers counselling study from the Diploma of Counselling through undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Professional accreditation varies by qualification: the Diploma and Bachelor are ACA-accredited, the Graduate Diploma is ACA-accredited, and the Master is accredited by both ACA and PACFA.

To find out more about counselling courses at Cairnmillar, visit cairnmillar.org.au or call 1800 391 393. You can also book a free one-on-one consultation with the Student Services team to discuss which pathway suits your background and goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What qualifications do you need to become a counsellor in Australia?

Counselling qualifications in Australia range from the Diploma of Counselling at AQF Level 5 through to the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy at AQF Level 9. The level of qualification you need depends on the roles and settings you want to work in. Cairnmillar Institute offers the full range of ACA-accredited counselling pathways — from the Diploma of Counselling through to the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Q: What qualifications do you need to become a social worker in Australia?

Social workers in Australia must hold a Bachelor of Social Work — a four-year degree — or a Master of Social Work for those who already hold a bachelor degree in another field. Both qualifications must be accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Cairnmillar Institute does not offer social work qualifications.

Q: Can a counsellor work in the same settings as a social worker?

There is significant overlap in the settings where counsellors and social workers can work — including mental health services, community health organisations, schools, refugee support services and non-profit organisations. However, some roles — particularly in child protection and statutory social work — may specify a social work qualification. Counsellors work across a broad range of community, health, education and private practice settings. Visit Cairnmillar’s Pathways and Registration page for a full list of counselling career settings.

Q: Can I access counselling services at Cairnmillar?

Yes. Cairnmillar’s clinic offers individual counselling services for adults aged 16 and over, with sessions available face-to-face or via telehealth. Standard sessions run for 50 minutes. Cairnmillar also operates a Community Clinic offering free counselling for people aged 4 and over, with no referral required. Visit the Individual Counselling page or call 1800 391 393 to request an appointment.

Q: What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychotherapist in Australia?

Counselling and psychotherapy overlap in many therapeutic approaches, while professional education and registration requirements vary. At Cairnmillar, the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is an AQF Level 9 program accredited by both ACA and PACFA.