Gain the experience and skills to become a financial counsellor and make a positive impact on people’s lives. Learn culturally sensitive approaches to work productively and ethically with clients and empower people to improve their financial health.
Through a mixture of theory and practical course work, learn to:
Work directly with vulnerable people from diverse backgrounds
Help clients understand their legal and financial rights
Recognise and respond to crisis situations
Support and counsel clients through financial decision making
Identify and apply technical information to assist clients with financial issues
Gain practical experience and develop specialist skills that give you an advantage in the job market.
A nationally recognised qualification at diploma level
220 hours of work placement with a suitable employer
A strong pathway to continue your study and enhance your career opportunities
Some courses require evidence of previous experience or study before you can enrol
During your study you’ll need to provide your teacher with the following evidence:
To be prepared for this course, we recommend that you have:
Recent employment in the financial counselling or rural financial counselling fields, or a desire to enter the financial counselling sector
Existing qualifications or experience working in finance, banking, accounting, financial planning, business finance or counselling
The ability to confidently advise clients and make decisions
The desire to help and empower people experiencing financial difficulty
TAFE NSW is committed to meeting the learning needs of every community. Meeting these needs can mean there are additional entry requirements at different campus locations. Check your preferred location for further requirements. If you need help preparing for study, contact us to find out how we can support you.
Our graduates go onto roles like: financial counsellor and rural financial counsellor.
To be able to work in the industry, you’ll need to gain membership with your state’s financial counselling bodies. Your teacher will provide more information throughout the course.
Take your study further with other courses offered at TAFE NSW:
Begin here to gain experience and confidence in this study area.
The Diploma of Financial Counselling does not have any pre-requisite courses.
Advance your skills to take your career to the next level
The Diploma of Financial Counselling does not have any post-graduate courses.
Strengthen your expertise and gain specialist skills to expand your employability.
At TAFE NSW, we recognise your previous study and work experience. You can apply for recognition of prior learning or a credit transfer with any of our courses. If you're successful you'll get your qualification faster.
Courses are made up of a combination of both core and specialty units. In the Diploma of Financial Counselling qualification, you’ll need to successfully complete 17 units of competency, including 13 core and 4 speciality units.
Please note, not all specialty units are offered at every TAFE NSW location. It is highly recommended that you check with your preferred campus for information about the specialty units offered at that location.
Core units are central to the job outcomes of a particular industry or occupation. These are the units industry has agreed are essential to be capable and qualified at a particular study level.
TAFE NSW provides support services across all campus locations and online. Whatever your needs or circumstances, we have the people, resources, counselling and facilities to support you in focusing on your studies.
TAFE NSW Disability Support Service
TAFE NSW Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support
TAFE NSW Aboriginal Support; Learner support (ABE)
TAFE NSW Careers, Counselling and Pathways Service
TAFE NSW Libraries
Scholarship programs – be supported as you explore your talents and fulfil your potential
Read&Write literacy and study support software is available free for all TAFE NSW students to use while studying on campus and at home
LinkedIn Learning – an online resource which offers innovative courses and tutorials to improve your personal and professional skills
Student associations – get social with our student community