Health & Community Services Courses

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Diploma of Community Services Work

Who is This Course for?

This diploma is ideal if you're seeking a career in community services that involves direct client work and/or community education or development projects.

As part of this course, you can undertake electives that provide specialised learning in specific areas such as aged care, disability, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, child protection and more.

Upon completion, you'll be able to design and deliver programs aimed at enhancing individual and group well-being.

Quick Course Guide

Qualification: Diploma
Student support: Yes: Expert teacher & online support

Study time: Self-paced
Eg: 1 yr = 21 hrs/week
Pre-requisites: Relevant academic or working experience

Delivery method: Flexible delivery: Online + correspondence
Course materials: All course materials are provided

Enrolment dates: Enrol anytime - start now
Assessment: Assignments and work placement

Delivered by: OTEN
Finance options: VET FEE-HELP available

Course Requirements

To gain entry into this course, you must either:

Complete these units of competency: CHCCS411A Work Effectively in the Community Sector and LTHIR403B Work Effectively with Culturally Diverse Clients and Co-workers. These units are included in Certificate IV in Community Services Work and are also available as add-ons to this course.

Have sufficient relevant experience and knowledge of community work and/or services.

As part of the course assessment, you'll need to undertake supervised work placement for a minimum of 240 hours in the community services industry. Your work placement will need to be pre-approved by OTEN and completed within Australia.

Please be aware that you may be required to have police clearance before undertaking your work placement.

Contact a SEEK Learning consultant for more information about these requirements.

What Will I Learn?

You'll gain specialist communication skills and an understanding of intervention processes used in residential and community settings. You'll also develop skills in:

Counselling
Program development
Planning and conducting group work
Providing advocacy and representations services
Community development
OH&S Processes

Affordable Study

Almost every Australian citizen is eligible for Government assistance through the VET FEE-HELP program. This means you do not have to pay anything upfront, but can pay for your course as you earn. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant to find out more about how you can study now and pay as you earn with VET FEE-HELP.

This course is also Austudy and Abstudy-accredited.

Career-relevant and Accredited Community Services Course

Gain a qualification that's:

developed under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
government-accredited
nationally recognised
highly valued in the industry

Your TAFE qualification is likely to receive credit at a number of Australian universities. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant to find out more.

Course Structure

There are 18 units to be completed in this community services course: 13 core units and 5 electives.

Core Units

Maintain legal and ethical work practices
Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services
Confirm client developmental status
Develop, implement and promote effective workplace communication
Work within a structured counselling framework
Plan and conduct group activities
Contribute to OHS processes

Provide advocacy and representation services
Implement community development strategies
Develop, facilitate and monitor all aspects of case management
Work intensely with clients
Conduct complex assessment and referral
Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Electives (select any 5)

Advocate for clients
Work effectively with people with a disability
Maintain an environment designed to empower people with disabilities
Support community participation and inclusion
Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Assess needs of clients with alcohol and/or other drugs
Work within a legal and ethical framework
Undertake research activities
Work effectively with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
Coordinate in-service assessment and response to address client needs
Meet statutory and organisation information requirements

Flexible Study with Distance Learning

Fit your learning around your lifestyle - because this course is delivered online, you have the flexibility of when and where you wish to complete it.

Complete this TAFE course faster depending on the time you have available! This community services course is typically completed within 3 years, but you can finish earlier by increasing the time you dedicate to your studies.

Study HoursTime to complete