Allied Health Counselling, Psychology, Social Work and Creative Therapy Professionals

How to become a School Counsellor

Also called: Student Wellbeing Officer

Provides information and assistance to students, parents and teachers about a wide range of matters, such as students' personal problems, learning difficulties and special requirements.

Main tasks

Conducts individual and group counselling sessions with students to address academic, emotional and social concerns to enhance student wellbeing, and create a supportive and nurturing learning environment
Develops and implements counselling and educational programs to promote students' mental health, resilience and wellbeing
Collaborates with teachers and parents to identify and address issues that may impact students' wellbeing
Analyses student behaviour, especially those with learning difficulties, and assists parents and teachers in managing their needs

Ways in

University: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
TAFE and VET: Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015); Certificate IV in Career Development (CHC41215)

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.

Questions people ask

How do I become a School Counsellor?

Ways in include: Social Work & Community degrees; Diploma of Counselling; Certificate IV in Career Development.

How much does a School Counsellor earn in Australia?

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

Is a School 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 School Counsellor?

Usually. 76% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a School 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