Program Guidelines

Graduate Connect pairs experienced ACA Registered Counsellors with graduates who are in their first year of practice. Through mentoring conversations, experienced practitioners share insight, encouragement, and professional wisdom that can help new counsellors build confidence and navigate the realities of working within the counselling profession.

The program aims to strengthen the graduate’s professional identity, increase sector awareness, and support graduates as they develop their professional presence. Mentoring offers a space for discussion about professional development, career pathways, and the broader context of counselling work.

Mentoring provides an opportunity for graduates to ask questions, explore professional pathways, and reflect on their early experiences within a supportive and non-evaluative relationship. Through these conversations, graduates can develop a deeper understanding of their professional identity, workplace dynamics, ethical awareness, and sustainable practice. Mentors offer perspective drawn from their own professional journeys, helping graduates make sense of the challenges and opportunities that arise during their first year of practice.

The program also strengthens the counselling profession by encouraging collegial knowledge sharing and creating a culture in which experienced practitioners actively support those entering the field.

Graduate Connect further provides opportunities for graduates to learn about different areas of counselling practice, including specialised and emerging fields such as trauma-informed counselling, family counselling, school counselling, disability services, addiction services, grief and loss support, employee assistance programs, rural practice, and private practice. 

Graduate Connect is an informal mentoring opportunity for up to 12-months, to provide guidance throughout a graduate’s first year of practising as a counsellor, like a buddy system. This program is a free service and engages volunteers from the ACA practising membership to take on the role of Mentor.

The program is open to graduates transitioning into practice and who are within their first twelve months post-qualification. Mentors are experienced ACA Registered Counsellors who have a minimum of two years of professional counselling practice and who are interested in supporting new practitioners entering the profession.

Mentoring relationships may take place individually or within small groups of graduates, depending on mentor preference and availability. This flexible model allows for personalised guidance while also creating opportunities for peer learning among graduates. Participants are encouraged to meet ideally once per month throughout the year. Sessions typically range from thirty to sixty minutes and may take place online or in person. Between sessions, mentors and graduates may choose to maintain light contact through email or other agreed communication methods.

Mentoring conversations commonly explore topics such as adjusting to professional practice, developing professional confidence, understanding workplace expectations, exploring areas of counselling specialisation, building professional networks, and maintaining personal wellbeing and sustainable work practices. 

These discussions aim to support graduates in navigating the professional landscape during their first year of practice rather than addressing specific client cases. 

1.    From March 2026, interested mentors can enrol on the Graduate Connect page of the ACA website (www.theaca.net.au) outlining their areas of expertise, professional background, communication preferences, and mentoring approach.

2.    From April 2026, Graduates apply to participate as graduate and are invited to describe their professional interests, goals for the mentoring relationship, and the areas of practice they would like to explore.

3.    The Graduate Connect site will then provide a list of Mentors available for the Graduate to select from. The matching process is determined by the criteria listed and aims to create mentoring partnerships that are both relevant and mutually beneficial.

4.    Once matched, the Mentor and Graduate are able to connect and plan their first engagement. 

A central principle of the Graduate Connect Mentoring Program is maintaining a clear distinction between mentoring and clinical supervision.

Mentoring is informal, focuses on supporting graduates as they navigate their first year of practising as counsellors. Conversations are centred on professional development, career pathways, sector insight, workplace experiences, and the development of professional confidence.

Clinical supervision, by contrast, is a formal structure and is the appropriate setting for the discussion of client work, clinical decision-making, ethical dilemmas relating to practice, and accountability for professional standards.

To maintain these professional boundaries, mentoring sessions do not include discussion of specific client cases or identifiable client information. If a graduate raises concerns related to clinical work or ethical matters involving clients, mentors should encourage them to discuss these issues with their supervisor. 

Maintaining this distinction helps protect both mentors and graduates while ensuring that mentoring remains a supportive and developmental professional relationship rather than a clinical oversight process.

Participants are encouraged to approach mentoring with openness, curiosity, and respect for confidentiality, creating a safe and reflective space for professional growth.

The first year of practising as a counsellor is a significant stage of professional growth. Through Graduate Connect, experienced practitioners and emerging counsellors come together to share knowledge, insight, and encouragement during this important transition.

By participating in the program, mentors and graduates contribute to a profession that values connection, reflection, and ongoing learning. Together, we support the development of confident, ethical, and resilient counsellors entering the profession.

There is no cost involved to participate in this program as a Mentor or Graduate.

ACA acknowledges and thanks the time volunteered by its practising members to help us to transition our new graduates. We value their wisdom and experience and for wanting to pay it forward.