Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/ Advocate Program (C147)

Program Description

Leadership Claims

Preparing graduates to work as Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocates for over 30 years.

This program is unique in Canada.

Program Overview

The Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocate (AWCCA) (Accelerated) program will prepare you to provide anti-oppressive counselling and advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence.

Apply to this accelerated program stream if you have an existing diploma or degree and work/volunteer experience in feminist organizations and programs and are interested in accelerating your career as a counsellor/advocate for survivors of gender-based violence.

If you apply to the 2024/25 intake for this program, you will begin your studies in May 2025. To start this program in May 2024, apply to the 2023/24 intake.    

 

Full Description

The Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocate (AWCCA) (Accelerated) (C147) diploma program will provide you with a feminist, anti-racist analysis of the political and counselling issues related to gender-based violence experienced primarily by self-identified women, children, trans and non-binary survivors.

This three-semester program is a condensed version of the two-year Assaulted Women's and Children’s Counsellor/Advocate (C137) program. It will provide you with a foundation to be an agent for change in community education, political action, and law reform. It will prepare you to provide anti-oppressive counselling for survivors who have experienced or are experiencing gender-based violence.

You will study the range of issues that impact and contribute to gender-based violence, such as social justice movements, privilege and oppression, violence in the digital world and more. You will have the chance to practise your newly learned counselling skills offsite with one of our field placement partners. See 'Your Field Education Options' for details.

This three-semester, accelerated program is suitable for graduates with an existing diploma or degree and work/volunteer experience in feminist organizations and programs who are interested in working as a counsellor/advocate for survivors of gender-based violence. 

 

Your Field Education Options

Field education plays an important role in this program by preparing students to work with those affected by gender-based violence, including the communities within which they live and work. This often includes those who identify as trans and non-binary, and other disenfranchised populations.

In the fall of the accelerated program, students in field placement will engage in front-line services such as one-on-one survivor counselling, group facilitation, case management and advocacy. Placements begin in September and continue through to the end of April for approximately 400 hours. Students will often do this placement at emergency shelters, rape crisis centres, youth services, health providers and other agencies that provide front-line support to survivors of gender-based violence.

The agencies used by the program for field placements are very similar to those employing our graduates. In many instances, employers hire graduates because of contact and experience with them through the fieldwork placement. Most agencies are within Toronto, while some agencies, located in other communities such as Brampton, St. Catharines, London, Hamilton, Barrie, Pickering and Oshawa, provide students who live in those communities with placement opportunities.

Note: Some of our student placement partners require students in this program to have a vulnerable sector screening completed before their field placement in semesters 3 and 4 of the program. These screenings can take up to four months to be processed, and are done to protect the clientele of these agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law. The fees for the reference checks vary and are, in most cases, paid by the student. Students are responsible for ensuring that the check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).” Students who are unable to provide a clear screening will be assisted in finding a placement that meets their learning needs.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Educational Pathways

Graduates may apply for accelerated entry in the following related George Brown College programs:

See the Transfer Guide.

Graduates of AWCCA program are also eligible to apply to advanced standing in degree programs such as:

  • Justice Studies B.A. at Royal Roads University
  • Professional Communications B.A. at Royal Roads University
  • Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at Trent University 

AWCCA graduates can also apply to Women and Gender Studies, Environmental Studies, Indigenous Studies, and other programs at several universities, such as York University (Social Work programs, Disability Studies), Athabasca University, and the University of Victoria. 

Alumni Impact

We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.

From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.

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