
This qualification will provide you with the skills and experience you need to become a community service worker. In this role, you will design and deliver person-centered services to individuals and groups; and provide support, advocacy, or interventions to individual clients, groups, or communities across a range of services. You may also be required to supervise and lead other workers in projects or teams.
You will learn to
- Respond to client language, literacy, and numeracy needs
- Work legally and ethically
- Confirm client development status
- Facilitate the interests and rights of clients
- Provide advocacy and representation services
- Develop and maintain industry networks and collaborative partnerships
- Use communication to build relationships
- Develop, facilitate and review all aspects of case management
- Work with diverse people
- Manage and promote diversity
Career Opportunities
The Community Services industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Australia, with an estimated 50,000+ new jobs to be created within the industry by 2023 (Source: joboutlook.gov.au).
Some of our articles discussing job opportunities in the sector include “Support and Lead Colleagues in Case Management Practice, “Want to Start a Career in Community Services?” and “Working in the Community Services sector- the diversity of roles. “
- Caseworker
- Community services worker
- Community support worker
- Domestic violence worker
- Early intervention homelessness worker
- Family support worker
- Health education officer
- Outreach officer
- Welfare support worker
Or you can enrol in individual units and PAY AS YOU GO
At Australis College, you can access single units and pay as you go. This is the most flexible way to get qualified or stay current. Speak to a Course Consultant today.
Duration
You have access to the course for 18 months, but you can complete it faster than this if you wish.
Delivery & Support
The course is delivered via Blended learning, combining online study with practical ‘work experience placement.
Content is delivered primarily online and includes live chat sessions and ‘virtual’ classrooms, providing you with direct access to industry experts. Attendance at the live sessions is optional but strongly recommended.
During the course, you need to locate and undertake 40 hours of ‘work experience placement with a suitable community services organisation.
Subjects
There are 15 subjects in the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services.
CHCLLN001 – Respond to client language, literacy, and numeracy needs
CHCLEG001 – Work legally and ethically
CHCDEV001 – Confirm client development status
CHCADV001 – Facilitate the interests and rights of clients
CHCADV002 – Provide advocacy and representation services
CHCCCS004 – Assess co-existing needs
CHCPRP001 – Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
CHCCOM002 – Use communication to build relationships
HLTWHS003 – Maintain work health and safety
HLTWHS004 – Manage work health and safety
CHCCSM005 – Develop, facilitate and review all aspects of case management
CHCMGT005 – Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes
CHCDIV001 – Work with diverse people
CHCDIV003 – Manage and promote diversity
CHCPRP003 – Reflect on and improve your own professional practice
Assessment
There are no exams when completing the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services.
You test your learning by completing quiz questions, open-book self-paced assessment activities throughout each subject, and in some cases, either work placement activities and/or role-plays. All subjects include a free re-submission if you are not successful on your first attempt.
If you already have the skills and knowledge required to attain any (or all) of these subjects, you might like to enroll as ‘Assessment Only.’ This Recognition of Prior Learning means you don’t have to study those subjects again, instead just doing the assessments for a reduced course price. For more details, please speak with the Course Consultants.
Or you can enrol in individual units and PAY AS YOU GO
At Australis College, you can access single units and pay as you go. This is the most flexible way to get qualified or stay current. Speak to a Course Consultant today.
Entry Requirements
We recommend you have language, literacy, and numeracy skills sufficient to allow you to interpret documents and prepare written reports in order to complete the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services.
You need access to an internet-connected computer for the duration of the course.
If you intend to apply for a Loan or Funding option (where available) to pay for your tuition fees, additional entry criteria may apply as detailed in the Pricing Options.
To work in Community Services, you will typically require a police check and possibly a Working with Children or Blue Card. While not required to enrol in the course, they may be required for placement (depending on where you locate your placement) and eventual employment, so we recommend you confirm your status for these prior to enrolment if you have any concerns.
Funding Requirements
For eligible Queensland residents who wish to apply for funding under the Higher Level Skills Program, you must be an Existing Worker within the Community Services industry. An existing worker means a current employee (full-time, part-time, or casual) who has a one-month or more employment relationship with their employer and who has actively fulfilled work duties for this period. Volunteers do not meet this criterion.
Practical Placement
To be assessed as competent in the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services, you must complete 40 hours of supervised work placement in the community services industry. It is your responsibility to source your placement, but the College will assist where possible.
Depending on where you undertake your placement, you may need to undergo a police check and hold a Working with Children or Blue Card.
Or you can enrol in individual units and PAY AS YOU GO
At Australis College, you can access single units and pay as you go. This is the most flexible way to get qualified or stay current. Speak to a Course Consultant today.
$3,180
Option 1: Payment Plan
Interest-free payment plans from as little as $41 per week. Discounts apply for upfront payments and/or group enrolments. For more details, click here.
Or you can enrol in individual units and PAY AS YOU GO
At Australis College, you can access single units and pay as you go. This is the most flexible way to get qualified or stay current. Speak to a Course Consultant today.
QLD Subsidies Available
Higher Level Skills is a Queensland Government initiative that provides eligible individuals with access to subsidised training in approved AQF certificate level IV and above qualifications or priority skill sets with the aim to assist individuals in securing employment, advancing their career in a priority industry, or transitioning into university.
How do I Enrol?
You can enrol and start studying anytime. To enrol:
- Phone 1300 887 991, and our Course Consultants will answer your questions and help you get started.
You may be required to provide completed documentation and Identification to complete your enrolment or complete a Core Skills assessment to help ensure the course is suitable for you.
Or you can enrol in individual units and PAY AS YOU GO
At Australis College, you can access single units and pay as you go. This is the most flexible way to get qualified or stay current. Speak to a Course Consultant today.
Security Checks
As you will be working with client groups who are vulnerable and at risk, you will almost certainly require police checks and working with children checks/disability checks.
A National Police Check certificate will list any court outcomes that can be disclosed, along with pending charges. This includes any interstate matters. The certificate won’t include any restricted court outcomes, such as certain juvenile convictions.
If you have a previous conviction, please discuss this with your course consultant to determine if it will impact your ability to secure volunteer work in the community services industry.
We recommend National Crime Check at a cost of $25. https://australiscollege.nationalcrimecheck.com.au/
Reasons to study the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services with Australis College include:
Course Content
We authored this course internally, using industry-proven practitioners who have worked in the roles that you want to do.
Always check out the course content (and learning platform) BEFORE you enrol. Is it current, contextualised, engaging, or generic off-the-shelf content? Content quality will make or break your learning experience.
Trainer Experience
Our trainers work in the industry. They do what you want to do and will show you how it works. (Check out the trainers and assessors of other providers, make sure they are not just academics or former students but have worked in the industry and been everything from Support Officers to Case Managers).
Having a great trainer is critical to graduating with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
Placement Hours
We love placement – it is the best way to get real-world experience, improve your skills and increase your employability. For this reason, we recommend new entrants do as much placement as possible…but only up until they are ready to start paid employment.
There is a minimum of 40 hours of placement hours for the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services, and you only need sufficient hours to complete the workplace-based assessments and any potential role-play. This differs from some providers who require 200+ hours, which is not a bad thing…unless you already have the knowledge and could instead be out there working as a paid professional.
But wait….there’s more!
Your time and your career are too important to risk with the wrong training provider. For more details on choosing a training provider, please also take a look at Why Australis?
Or you can enrol in individual units and PAY AS YOU GO
At Australis College, you can access single units and pay as you go. This is the most flexible way to get qualified or stay current. Speak to a Course Consultant today.