The Institute's Diploma of Professional Counselling is the country's most reasonably-priced counselling qualification. As Australia's largest and longest established provider of counsellor training, we're able to amortise our costs across a large number of students. Thus, we deliver a high standard of counselling education and study support, for a lower investment.

AIPC has specialised in external education for over 16 years and has a highly qualified Education Team who will support you throughout your studies. Help is only ever a phone call or email away and you have access to:

• An Education Team of over 65 degree qualified counselling professionals, all with extensive industry experience and teaching and assessing qualifications.

• An online Knowledge Base available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that contains over 4,000 specific questions and answers relating to your course.

• Unlimited FREE phone support 9am to 5pm (EST) on the 1300 Study Assistance Line where you can discuss any study questions you may have with Education Team members.

• Unlimited email support. Send a question any time and have your enquiry replied to within the next working day.

And you have the support of your local Student Support Centre who will link you into a local student support network (if you wish to stay in touch with other students); help you complete your practical assessments; and co-ordinate your In-Class or tutorial activities.

In a survey of several thousand students (Yes, we regularly ask students and graduates how we are performing so we can continually improve our level of service!), 86% of responders indicated that our level of student support was "Beyond their expectation".

AND, prospective students of the Institute can benefit from a variety of course investment methods, so your enrolment into the Diploma of Professional Counselling is not delayed due to financial considerations.

There are two payment options for students enrolling into the Diploma of Professional Counselling, each of them with specific advantages:

Upfront Payment Option

Students who decide to pay their course fee upfront will enjoy a substantial discount on the normal price of the Diploma. Students can concentrate on their future studies without having to worry about further payments.

Regular Payment Plan

Those students who do not want to pay their course fees upfront, can take advantage of making regular monthly payments over 21 or 24 months. Further savings apply if these monthly payments are made by credit card or direct debit. The Institute endeavours to keep the monthly repayments as affordable as possible.

For further information about course investment options, please contact your closest Student Support Centre.

Learn To Cope With Life's Challenges!

Life can be challenging at times. How you deal with these challenges has an enormous impact on your happiness and wellbeing.

Relationship, family, emotional and financial circumstances all influence your level of stress and your ability to cope with situations in your life. Thus, your wellbeing and ability to enjoy life can be dramatically affected.

Simple Skills, Massive Consequences

What you may not realise is that by utilising a few simple, yet powerful, skills and techniques you can turn challenging situations into opportunities to gain control of your life. You'd be amazed how easily these skills can be learnt and how effective they are when implemented!

Developed by a team of qualified psychologists, counsellors and educators, the Life Effectiveness Guides are presented in an easy-to-understand format with diagrams, case scenarios and personal exercises to assist the reader understand their feelings and develop strategies to cope with the situation.

Get Your Copy

There are currently 14 Life Effectiveness Guides in a variety of areas such as Relationships, Complex Life Situations, Parenting and Children and Complex Life Situations.

To find out how YOU can learn life coping skills to live a more effective life, simply visit www.aipc.net.au/eguides and purchase your copy TODAY!

Keep the Balance

"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths" (Etty Hillesum)

It isn't easy to juggle the demands of a career and personal life. For most people, it's an ongoing challenge to reduce stress and maintain harmony in key areas of their life. Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that's best for you (or your clients):

• Manage your time. Organise household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day rather than saving it all for your day off, and running errands in batches rather than going back and forth several times are good places to begin. A weekly familiar calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it.

• Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed or sink of dirty dishes won't impact the quality of your life. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. If you can afford it, pay someone else to clean your house.

• Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if it helps.

• Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.

• Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga or taking a bubble bath. Sitting down and watching the news is NOT recommended for relaxation or unwinding as many studies advise the news creates an upward shift in anxiety and stress levels.

• Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but you can also make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for those mistakes.

• Bolster your support system. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress and hardship. If you are part of a religious community, take advantage of the support religious leaders can provide. Ensure you have trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need to work overtime or travel on your job.

Balance doesn't mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.

Many students of the Diploma of Professional Counselling attend seminars to complete the practical requirements of their course. Seminars provide an ideal opportunity to network with other students and liaise with qualified counselling professionals in conjunction with completing compulsory coursework.

Below are seminars available between July and August 2008.

To register for a seminar, please contact your Student Support Centre.

BRISBANE

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 09/08/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 12/07/2008

The Counselling Process - 23/08/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 05 & 06/07/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 16 & 17/08/2008

Counselling Applications/SEMINAR F - 26/07/2008

SUNSHINE COAST

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 12/07/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 26/07/2008

The Counselling Process - 30/08/2008

GOLD COAST

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 26/07/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 30/08/2008

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 05/07/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 23/08/2008

TASMANIA

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 17/08/2008

The Counselling Process - 20/07/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 02 & 03/08/2008

Case Management/Seminar E - 12 & 13/07/2008

Counselling Applications/SEMINAR F - 10/08/2008

SYDNEY

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 21/07/2008, 23/08/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 26/07/2008, 25/08/2008

The Counselling Process - 30/07/2008, 30/08/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 01 & 02/07/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 28 & 29/07/2008

Case Management/Seminar E - 28 & 29/08/2008

Counselling Applications/SEMINAR F - 22/07/2008