Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)

Becoming a registered psychologist in Australia is a rewarding undertaking that will take at least five years of study, depending on the pathway you take. This typically includes a three-year undergraduate psychology sequence; a fourth year of psychology studies; and one or two years of postgraduate study with supervised workplace experience.

Our Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) is the next step, after completing an APAC approved Level 1 program of study, for those pursuing a career as a psychologist. Conditional accreditation of this course has been granted by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) will fulfil the fourth-year study requirement for those seeking provisional registration as a practising psychologist.

To qualify for entry you need to have already completed an APAC accredited Level 1 Program OR have completed a Graduate Diploma of Psychology, which serves as a bridging course for students who have completed an unrelated bachelor degree.

The Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) is a fully online course, in which you will learn to recognise and interpret how the practice of psychology is influenced by varied social, historical, professional and cultural contexts. You will develop a nuanced understanding of ethical issues in psychological practice, and how to apply an evidence-based approach to psychological intervention.

Completion of this course will lead to job opportunities in the mental health sector, including counselling, psychological research, and social work. You will also have the opportunity to apply for provisional registration with APAC if you are successful in enrolling into two years of study and/or supervised professional practice to attain general registration.

You can find out more information about pathways to general registration in psychology on the Australian Psychological Society or APAC website.

Learn advanced research and analytical skills that will form the basis of your ongoing professional development, allowing you to critically investigate a range of research topics that inform your professional practice.

Situate contemporary psychology practice in its historical context, exploring the defining theories and movements in psychology, such as Freud's theory of the Unconscious, that still shape modern psychology today.

Cultivate a comprehensive theoretical knowledge of core areas of psychological enquiry, including: cognitive, behavioural, developmental, social and clinical methodologies.

Apply psychological theories, research findings, and skills to theoretical and practical problems in academic psychology and professional practice.

Develop a nuanced understanding of the ethical responsibilities integral to psychological research and practice.

With your general registration as a clinical psychologist, provide therapeutic interventions and clinical assessment in a public mental health service context, or practise as a psychologist in private practice.

Work as part of a treatment team to provide counselling and therapeutic support to families navigating crisis, who in many cases have experienced significant disadvantage.

Coordinate group counselling sessions and provide peer support for people suffering mental illness who are pursuing recovery through the sharing of lived experience.

Apply psychological research and analysis in a human resources context, creating positive workspaces that increase employee well-being and drive higher employee engagement.