Diploma of Community Services

The Diploma of Community Services at Hillshire International College is a two-year qualification for people who want to work directly with individuals, families and communities in Australia. You learn how to assess client needs, plan and deliver support, run casework, advocate for people dealing with housing, income, family or health problems, and work safely within the legal and ethical rules that govern community services. Coursework covers case management, counselling and communication skills, group work, community development, legal and ethical practice, and working with diversity. You also study how to respond to clients in crisis, how to document and report, and how to look after your own wellbeing in a job where burnout is common.

How the qualification is structured

Australian diplomas are built from units of study, each with a set credit point value, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. Most colleges deliver them over two years across semesters or trimesters, with a mix of classroom teaching, tutorials, online learning and supervised practical work. Assessment is usually a combination of written tasks, case studies, role plays, projects and observation of your practical skills. Because community services is a hands-on field, your course will include a professional placement, commonly several hundred hours in an agency such as a neighbourhood centre, family support service, homelessness service, disability provider or aged care organisation. A placement supervisor and a college assessor both sign off on your competence. You should confirm the exact unit list, credit points, placement hours and delivery schedule on the official page before you enrol, because these details can change.

Skills you build

By the end you should be able to interview a client and write up a case plan, refer people to the right services, run a support group, handle a disclosure of abuse or family violence according to your organisation's policy and the law, and keep records that stand up to scrutiny. You also practise working with people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people with disability, and you learn the boundaries of your role, when to act and when to escalate.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a practical start in the sector, mature-age students changing careers, and support workers already employed in disability, aged care, youth work or housing who want a formal qualification to move into case management or team leader roles. It is also a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in social work or community services, with credit for prior learning often granted for completed units. English requirements for social work courses are usually higher than for other fields because you will be communicating with vulnerable clients, check the published IELTS or equivalent score for this course, and note that the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While you study, your visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register.

• Community services worker, generalist support role in neighbourhood centres, councils and non-profits
• Case worker or case manager, assessing needs, coordinating services and reviewing client plans
• Family support worker, working with families in child protection, early intervention or family relationship services
• Youth worker, supporting young people in refuges, schools, youth justice or outreach programmes
• Disability support worker or coordinator, under the NDIS and disability service providers
• Housing and homelessness support worker, in crisis accommodation, social housing and tenancy services
• Aged care support worker, in residential care, home care packages and community aged care
• Mental health support worker, in community mental health teams and psychosocial support services
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services worker, in Aboriginal community controlled organisations
• Team leader or coordinator, after experience, supervising support workers and managing a small service

Employers include state and local government, non-profit and charity organisations, NDIS-registered providers, aged care and disability service companies, schools, hospitals and community health centres. Some roles require a police check, a working with children check and a first aid certificate.