How to become a Family and Relationship Counsellor

Assists individuals, couples and families with overcoming difficulties in personal relationships and improving their overall quality of life.

Main tasks

• Conducts counselling interviews with individuals, couples and family groups
• Undertakes intakes and assessments, including risk assessments and screening
• Assists with the understanding and adjustment of attitudes, expectations and behaviour to develop more effective interpersonal and marital relationships
• Provides a range of interventions to families post-separation who are experiencing various levels of conflict and are unable to reach agreements regarding parenting arrangements for their children and the distribution of property
• Supports the referral process while engaging with community agencies and service providers
• Facilitates relationship education courses

Ways in

• University: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015); Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (CHC81115); Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling (CHC81015)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $112,008 a year
• About 34,000 people work in this job group now, and about 42,000 are projected by 2035. (+23.4%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Counsellor (General)
• Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor
• Psychotherapist
• Rehabilitation Counsellor
• School Counsellor

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Family and Relationship Counsellor?

Ways in include: Social Work & Community degrees; Diploma of Counselling; Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution.

How much does a Family and Relationship Counsellor earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $112,008 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Family and Relationship Counsellor a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 23% by 2035, from about 34,000 to about 42,000 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Family and Relationship Counsellor?

Usually. 86% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Family and Relationship Counsellor?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04