Rehabilitation Counselling
Rehabilitation Counsellors facilitate social, educational and economic inclusion for people experiencing illness, injury, disability or disadvantage.
Rehabilitation Counsellors play a critical role in the provision of assessment, case management, counselling and service provision to support people with disability, illness or injury to achieve their employment, volunteer or study goals. With advanced training in these specific life domains, Rehabilitation Counsellors are uniquely qualified in this respect.
Rehabilitation Counsellors apply a range of evidence informed assessments and services underpinned by a range of counselling modalities and focussed psychological therapies. Rehabilitation counsellors are skilled in working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, working closely with the individual and their families to support their rehabilitation goals.
Where do rehabilitation counsellors practise?
Rehabilitation counsellors are employed in a wide range of public and private settings including occupational/vocational rehabilitation, life insurance, disability employment, NDIA/NDIS, universities and TAFEs, state and commonwealth departments, DVA, not for profit organisations, privately and publicly listed companies and health rehabilitation services.
When should I see a rehabilitation counsellor?
There are many reasons why a person may benefit from engaging with a rehabilitation counsellor. Rehabilitation counsellors provide assistance following onset of illness or injury and for people with life-long, acquired or developing disabilities. They work with both physical and mental health conditions and disabilities and provide support in relation to the following:
- Coordination of needs to assess barriers to participation and identify goals.
- Supporting people with disability, illness or injury to access work, volunteer, or education environments.
- Support to adjust to the impact of a disability.
- To provide employer education and guidance to best support people with disabilities, illness, or injury in the workplace.
- Specialised training for people with disabilities in volunteer work; placement or place of employment.
- Customised employment services.
- Skills development in areas such as job search to develop the tools and resources to successfully source your own employment.
What services do rehabilitation counsellors provide?
Rehabilitation counsellors offer a wide range of services to people experiencing illness, injury and/or disability, including:
- Needs Assessment.
- Eligibility assessments for Government services.
- Medico legal assessments.
- Career and Vocational counselling, evaluation and assessment.
- Goal setting and transferable skills analyses.
- Work Readiness Counselling and re-conditioning.
- Support to obtain work, return to work and/or sustain work including independent job search skills review and development.
- Adjustment to Disability/ Injury Counselling and Advice.
- Policy Development.
- Mental Health Advisory and Injury Management.
- Workplace Assessment, Workplace Modifications and Assistive Technology.
Case Management/ Case Coordination
- Vocational Life Care Planning.
- Capacity Building.
- Social Prescription.
What training do rehabilitation counsellors need?
Rehabilitation counselling is a self-regulated profession.
Rehabilitation counsellors recognised by the Rehabilitation Counsellors Association of Australia (RCAA) have met the following requirements:
- Completed an undergraduate degree, post graduate diploma or master’s degree accredited by the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia.
- Completed a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional development.
- Complied with the RCAA’s Code of Ethic and Conduct.
Further Information
For more detailed information about rehabilitation counselling, please visit the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia website.
Find a practitioner
The Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia has a Find a Rehabilitation Counsellor service that can be accessed here.