EDF5003 Foundations in counselling: Evidence-based practice
Faculty of Education
EDF5003 Foundations in counselling: Evidence-based practice is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Education, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton, Hong Kong and Singapore. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton, Hong Kong, Singapore
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
This unit will expose you to foundational skills in counselling using an evidence-based approach. The learning will take place through exposure to core interviewing skills, which will support the development of your counselling skills. These experiences will allow you to identify and articulate the use of counselling skills in various settings, including, but not exclusive to, working with cultural diversity. The learning environment will scaffold your learning and allow you to build on foundational skills through a structured sequence of learning activities. You will have the opportunity to engage in practical activities that support your learning and understanding of the counselling process. These experiences will include activities such as discussion about the counselling process, case studies, and practical exercises in counselling. The culmination of this unit will provide you with a grounding in an evidence-based approach to the development of counselling skills.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Flx blk |
| First semester | Hong Kong | Online |
| First semester | Singapore | Online |
| Second semester | Clayton | Flx blk |
| Second semester | Hong Kong | Online |
| Second semester | Singapore | Online |
Assessment
- Case study (2000 words or equivalent)Written50%
- Interview and critical analysis of that interview (2000 words or equivalent)Demonstration50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
describe skills related to counselling through the examination of case studies of counselling in practice
- 2
apply counselling skills directly through the application of those skills in a counselling setting
- 3
critically appraise the application of counselling through the reviewing of your own counselling activities
- 4
demonstrate knowledge of counselling skills across cultural settings and with diverse groups
- 5
apply scientific evidence that supports the counselling process in various settings
- 6
identify skills development and identify process for planning skill development where individual gaps are identified in learning.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials12 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study.
Usually, you can expect to engage with:
A. Clayton enrolment
• 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study
OR
• 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^
^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode
B. Kaplan enrolment
• 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered synchronously on campus and/or online via regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via synchronous and/or asynchronous directed learning activities and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study
Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
You will be provided with the opportunity to engage with relevant literature and resources. Further, you will be encouraged to deepen your understanding of topic areas through collegial discussion and debate, and by participating in activities designed to extend your understanding.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Please visit the unit Moodle site for further information.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Ms Leesa Tinney
- Unit Coordinators
- Ms Leesa Tinney
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EDF5003?
EDF5003 has no prerequisites.
When is EDF5003 offered?
In 2026, EDF5003 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton, Hong Kong and Singapore, with an online option.
How much work is EDF5003?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EDF5003 have an exam?
No. EDF5003 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.