CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services

Name: Diploma of Community Services
Price: <a href="#fees-and-scholarships">Free TAFE</a> No tuition fees for eligible students AUD

VU course code: CHC52021 | Level of study: TAFE

Duration

1.5 years full time

Delivery mode

Face to Face with eLearning

Fees

Free TAFE

No tuition fees for eligible students

Location

Footscray Nicholson, Werribee

Next start date

03 February 2025

Application closes

27 January 2025

A man holding a basketball preparing to shoot. A man stands behind him, holding him. Three people are watching by the man's side.

Overview

Develop specialised skills for working with disadvantaged groups in community welfare with a Diploma of Community Services CHC52021 at Victoria University (VU).

Building on your experience in service work and client support, you’ll discover new ways to make a genuine difference in the lives of individuals and families.

As a VU student, you’ll get real workplace experience in local community organisations. The practical experience you’ll gain on placement will set you up with the confidence for a successful career in community services – and placements often lead to paid roles.

In this community services course, you’ll focus on learning to deliver, manage, and coordinate programs for people with diverse needs. You’ll build skills including:

advocating for people who need support
counselling
facilitating group work.

: This qualification reflects the roles of workers who provide a range of services within the community services sector. This includes case management, developing service programs, co-ordinating and/or delivering of person-centred support services to individuals, groups and communities.
At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and can work autonomously under directions from senior management. Workers will usually provide direct support to individuals or small community groups. Workers may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers as well as case management; program coordination or the development of new service programs. Influencing broader structural and policy changes within the community services sector can also be linked to the workers role.
: By studying at VU, you’ll tap into our strong partner network of community organisations to complete your work placement, gaining practical experience and strengthening your network.
Benefit from VU’s strong history of local community engagement and find a placement that aligns with your skills and interests. Our health and social assistance partnerships include:
Autism Spectrum Australia
Lifeline Western Melbourne
Orygen, Australia’s centre of excellence in youth mental health
commUnity+, offering education support for diverse communities.
: Studying your Diploma of Community Services at VU means you’ll benefit from a smooth transition into a Bachelor of Social Work.
In this degree you’ll gain an in-depth knowledge on supporting individuals, groups and communities. You’ll also practise your skills under the supervision of experienced social workers in two work placements in different human service agency settings.
Please note: There may be a limit on how many students can access entry to the Bachelor of Social Work due to high demand. If you are eligible for a pathway but unsuccessful in securing a place, please contact VUHQ (student service centre) on +61 3 9919 6100 for advice.

This course is nationally recognised training.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your education, work experience, current skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a different course. We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’, which lets you finish your course more quickly when you have gained some of the skills required from past study or work experience.

Entry criteria

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To be awarded the CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services, 20 units must be completed consisting of:

12 core units
8 elective units

- at least 6 must be the electives listed in Group A, B, C, D or E - up to 2 may be from the training package or any endorsed Training Package or accredited course.

Units

Fees & scholarships

TAFE fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer.

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

As a community services worker, you’ll enjoy a rewarding and fulfilling career making a real difference to the lives of individuals and communities.

With this community services course, you’ll be ready to work in a variety of roles including:

homeless support worker
child protection worker
community services worker
family support worker
program facilitator
group facilitator
case worker.

FURTHER STUDIES (PATHWAYS)

Please note: There may be a limit on how many students can access entry to the Bachelor of Social Work due to high demand. If you are eligible for a pathway but unsuccessful in securing a place, please contact VUHQ (student service centre) on +61 3 9919 6100 for advice.