Dear Everybody,

It seems only like yesterday that I wrote our last What's its Name with the good news of our accreditation.  Last month's good news was of course the Christmas Story.  I really hope all out tutors and students had a happy, holy and safe Christmas.

I experienced a great example of listening and acceptance when I was frivolous with some people I knew in one of the Inverell shops.  I knew we were all busy people, so when asked what I was doing for Christmas I flippantly replied, "I think I'll spend it quietly under the bed".  All laughed except the one person whom I did not know.  Silence!  Then the unknown person snapped.  "No you wouldn't".  My reflex action said, "I would love it".  Her reply, "Don't be stupid, you would hate it".  Fortunately my good sense returned and I just said "Thank you" to the person serving me as she gave me my parcel.  I smiled and went on my way thinking, "I'm glad you're not my wife, or mother".

Listening is so important, whether you agree or not.  I hope people listen to you this Christmas.

And now it's all the very best for 2003.

The New Course

Bachelor in Counselling Studies (BCounsStuds)

This award is conferred upon all who complete the following units

• 100-4 Know Yourself - Awareness course  Parts 1 and 2;
• 101-4 About counselling theory 1;
• 102-6 About counselling practice 1;
• 103-4 About people; and
• 104-6 About communication.

This group is First Year or Level 1.  For those doing part time study it takes 2 years.  Note that the awareness course may be done the year before the course proper starts.

Level 2 or Second Year begins with

• 201-6 About counselling theory 2; and
• 202-6 About counselling practice 2.

Following these subjects students must complete three of the following electives.  All are four(4) credit points.

• 212 Christian Counselling - what's that?
• 213 Grief, loss and depression
• 214 Art, sand, dreams and drama
• 215 Counselling children and adolescents - not yet available
• 216 Group management and learning

• 217 Adult learning and counselling.  Note: 216 and 217 are not available if people want to specialise in Life Skills Education as the content as a major part of that strand.

• 218 A rural and remote perspective - also not yet available.  This unit will rely heavily on the internet and web based learning.
• 219 Supervision and the supervisor's role.  This unit is limited to those who are formalising their studies and have completed 500 hours of certified and supervised counselling.

Level 3 or Third Year.  Remember this is years 5 and 6 for part time students.  At this level students may specialise in any one of three strands:

• Counselling - Units 301-8, 302-8;
• Life Skills Education - Units 303-8, 304-8; or
• Pastoral Care - Units 305-8, 306-8.

There are two other units:  307-4

• a. Counselling; or
• b. Life Skills Education; or
• c. Pastoral Care

from an Aboriginal world view;

And any one elective from the list at a 300 level.

Any questions?  Don't hesitate to ask your tutor and if they cant' answer you they will contact either Jenny or me.  The Bachelor's level requires 72 credit points and each cp represents approximately 25 study hours.  Remember this is a guide to people's study.

Notes about the 2003 Dates

Formal Practicums are compulsory

Two 25 hour Residential Practicums will be held in 2003 to enable students to complete the 50 hour requirements for practical work in Units 102, 202, 301.  It will also provide the practical work in elective units that require some hours of experiential skills and strategies.  They will be held in Inverell and accommodation will be available.

The 50 hours may be completed in the local weekly, fortnightly, or monthly formal practicums or in 2 ´ 25 hour residential practicums, or a mixture of 1 residential practicum and 25 hours of practical work and that is okay too.  It is expected that students from a distance will complete the Residential Practicums.  Please mark these dates in your diaries now and make arrangements to attend.  They are compulsory.

Informal Tutorials

These tutorials are held according to consultation between the local tutors and the students from the area.  They are not compulsory however it is thoughtful to let tutors know when a student will not be attending.  At these tutorials the programme may vary but will possibly include:

• some topic for discussion;
• skills and/or a strategy to practice;
• students' questions will be answered;
• assignment topics will be discussed;
• book and journal article reviews; and
• any other appropriate content.

Note:  Students will be helped with study skills, misunderstandings about unit contents, etc.  However the course is conducted with a study programme by Distance Education.  Tutors will not lecture on the unit topics during any tutorials, as students unable to attend tutorials will be disadvantaged.  However whenever new information is provided, audio cassettes will be made for non-attending students.  (Tutors:  Please make a note of this point, and ALL absent students will need a copy of the tape.)

25 hour Residential Practicum

for those who are doing units 102, 202 and 301, and who live a distance from any ADACTS locality.  Others who wish to, may attend:

March 31 (noon - 5pm)

April 1/2 (9:30am - 5pm)

April 3 (9am - 1pm with lunch)

August 11 (noon - 5pm)

August 12/13 (9:30am - 5pm)

August 14 (9am - 1pm with lunch)

Plenary Days

June 21

November 22

Tutorials

Inverell

Start 9:30am - 1pm (lunch included) People studying units 102, 202, 301 finish 3pm.  All students may continue on till 3pm if they wish.

January 18, March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13 (party and break up).

Tamworth

First 2003 meeting on January 17 and all future dates will be decided on that day.

Armidale

First 2003 meeting on February 8 and all future dates will be decided on that day.

Moree

First 2003 meeting: Check with Wendy and all future dates will be decided on that day.

Know Yourself Courses

Inverell

February 1, 8, 22, March 8

Tamworth

February

Armidale

July 26, August 2, 9, 16

Somewhere yet to be announced:  Another Know Yourself Awareness Course

There will be another course held somewhere in the Northern Tablelands or NW Slopes and Plains.  This course will be held in ... and the ... location will depend on the number of students and where they live.  It will be held at a venue nearest to the greatest number of applicants.  It is advertised on the brochure and people can apply.  They will be advised of the venue nearer the dates.

Who's Who

Colleen Todd:  All training materials

    Phone/answering machine:  6722 4934

    Fax:  6722 0525 (Anytime)

Jenny Regan:  Tamworth

    Phone 6765 2527 (only Wednesdays and Fridays)

    Fax:  6762 1730 (Anytime)

Lois Reid:  Inverell

    Phone:  work - 6722 3179 (9:30 to 1 Mon - Thurs)

        home - 6722 2279 (5pm - 7pm)

    Fax:  6722 5858 (Anytime)

Lynn McClenahan:  Armidale/Uralla

    Fax/answering machine:  6778 3634

Wendy Long:  Moree

    Phone/answering machine:  6752 3419

    Fax:  6752 4214 (Anytime)

For Those Who Pray

Those of you who pray, may like to ask God to help us tidy up loose ends.  Thank him too for the ways in which people are keen to be part of this exciting programme.  Pray for the students who have to cope with new directions and for our counsellors who need to update their qualifications also pray for each other.

The Future

ADACTS staff (and hopefully all students!) are back from time off, all ready to start again.

This year will see changes.  At some time I am planning on resigning from my position and I want to congratulate Jenny Regan who has been named my successor.  Jenny and I have been colleagues since she joined the Agency.  I foresee a smooth transfer as we are like-minded in many things.  I would like to be an adjunct tutor in Inverell while, as my solicitor once told me, you still have your marbles!!!

Warm regards

Lois

See CCS contacts page for general enquiries.

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Last modified: 26-Oct-2009