LRCCS officially came into being in 2003. However, the courses have been developing, and being taught, since 1985.

1984 - Miss Lois Reid was invited to conduct a self-awareness course in the Anglican Diocese of Armidale.

1985 - After conducting a second self-awareness course in Tamworth, Miss Reid was invited to train eighteen people from Tamworth and Armidale.  A committee was set up, with a dream of providing counselling services, and training counsellors, in the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes and Plains.

1986 - Miss Reid was invited to move to Tamworth and set up the Anglican Counselling Service (Diocese of Armidale).  Some of the first graduating trainees became the founding counsellors, with Miss Reid as the founding Director.

1987 - Three more groups of counselling trainees commenced, with Miss Reid travelling from Tamworth to Armidale and Moree at weekends.

1988 - Graduates from Miss Reid's courses began counselling in Moree, Inverell, Boggabri, Narrabri, Gunnedah and Boggabilla/North Star.

1990 - More permanent venues were established for counselling and training.  ACS applied for Federal Government funding to support the running costs of the counselling service.  Income from counselling trainees: $250 per trainee per year, 2 year course.

1998 - Push for more formalised training.

1999 - The reputation of ACS, and the training provided by Miss Reid increased, with counselling available in 7 centres.  3 342 interviews were held covering 4 946 hours of personal, marriage and family counselling.
Miss Reid resigned as Director and partially retired, in order to concentrate on the process of getting the training course accredited.

2003 - The training course is accredited by the Higher Education Board of NSW and the awards of Diploma in Counselling Studies and Bachelor of Counselling Studies may now be bestowed on graduates.  The Lois Reid College of Counselling Studies is now the official name given to the training division of the Anglican Counselling Service.

2005 - On 26th November the inaugural graduation ceremony for LRCCS was held with 13 students presented with their Diploma of Counselling Studies and 6 students being presented with their Bachelor of Counselling Studies.

See LRCCS contacts page for general enquiries.

Do you have any comments to make about this website? Send mail to eservice@lrccs.org.au with your comments. 
Last modified: 03-Sep-2008