CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services
CRICOS COURSE CODE: 105286H
This qualification reflects the roles of community services, case management and social housing workers involved in the managing, co-ordinating and/or delivering of person-centred services to individuals, groups and communities.
At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously under broad directions from senior management. Workers are usually providing direct support to individuals or groups of individuals. Workers may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers and/or case management; program coordination or the development of new business opportunities.
Note that the Statutory & forensic child, youth & family welfare specialisation must be achieved in order to meet the minimum education requirements for child protection and youth justice practice in Victoria. In addition, to meet the minimum education requirements for entry into child protection practice in Victoria, diploma qualifications must be approved by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) Course Details: https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/CHC52015
At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously under broad directions from senior management. Workers are usually providing direct support to individuals or groups of individuals. Workers may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers and/or case management; program coordination or the development of new business opportunities.
Note that the Statutory & forensic child, youth & family welfare specialisation must be achieved in order to meet the minimum education requirements for child protection and youth justice practice in Victoria. In addition, to meet the minimum education requirements for entry into child protection practice in Victoria, diploma qualifications must be approved by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) Course Details: https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/CHC52015
Course Duration
- Two (2) year full time
- Total Duration: 104 Weeks (including holidays)
- Contact Weeks: 40 Weeks
- This course will be delivered over a period of 104 weeks (including holidays). Classes will be schedules for 80 weeks over 8 academic terms of 10 weeks each. There will be a 24 week holiday over the qualifications. Course duration may change for students granted course credits and/or RPL.
- Class and simulation sessions are planned to ensure that students have a mixture of practical and theoretical components, and those classes cater for a wide variety of learning styles. Additionally, workplace practices and environments are simulated and used to conduct skills-based assessments in accordance with unit requirements. Classes are scheduled for 20 hours per week.
Delivery mode and location
This course will be delivered face-to-face in a classroom-based setting which includes the simulation of care-based environment. This course also has work placement requirements.
The course will be delivered in our Melbourne (VIC) campus
Level 13, 190 Queen Street
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
See the campus location on GOOGLE MAP
The course will be delivered in our Melbourne (VIC) campus
Level 13, 190 Queen Street
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
See the campus location on GOOGLE MAP
Entry Requirements
This course has the following entry requirements:
Be at least 18 years of age
Have an IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent (test results must be no more than 2 years old) with 5.0 in each band
Have completed a Year 12 or equivalent high school certificate
Work Placement
This course includes 400 hours of work placement (work-based training). These hours are part of the course hours and must be completed within the prescribed academic term/s. The placement is allocated for the last term of this course to allow the students to develop the required skills, knowledge, and competence prior to going to a workplace. The college shall organise and arrange placement with approved providers. There will be no cost to the students for arranging placements. Students will also have an option to arrange their own placements. However, St. Mary’s shall conduct such workplace inspections and approve the facility as per its criteria, and also enter into an agreement with the business.
Career Outcomes
- Community Care Manager
- Coordinator of Volunteer Work
- Team Leader
- Care Team Leader
- Family Services Coordinator
- Support Facilitator (Community Services)
- Community Housing Resources Worker
- Community Development Worker for Social Housing
- Community Recreation Coordinator
- Housing Manager
- Housing Assistant
- Assistant Community Worker
- Community Worker
- Aboriginal Housing Worker
- Community Services Coordinator
- Case Coordinator (Disability)
- Youth Housing Support Worker
- Family Support Worker
- Community Access Coordinator
- Pastoral Care Counsellor
- Aboriginal Neighbourhood House Coordinator
- Case Coordinator (Community Services)
- Welfare Support Worker
- Senior Youth Worker
- Disability Team Leader
- Support Facilitator (Disability)
- Community Housing Worker
- Community Work Coordinator
- Early Intervention Worker
- Community Program Coordinator
- Pastoral Care Worker
- Assistant Community Services Worker
Education Pathways
On successful completion of CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services, students may pursue further study opportunities by enrolling in a higher-level management course.
Enrolment and Orientation
Upon acceptance of a student’s application for enrolment, a letter of offer, as well as a written agreement and tax invoice for pre-paid fees, will be forwarded to students. Students must read through all provided information prior to signing the agreement. A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) letter will be issued once the signed acceptance of the offer and written agreement are received.
The first day of each course will include orientation and induction.
Orientation will include information about the campus, living in Australia, accessing our support services and methods for achieving success throughout the course, including course progress requirements. Detailed admission and enrolment process are provided on college’s website.
The first day of each course will include orientation and induction.
Orientation will include information about the campus, living in Australia, accessing our support services and methods for achieving success throughout the course, including course progress requirements. Detailed admission and enrolment process are provided on college’s website.
Additional Support
St. Mary’s provides a range of student support services and resources to help them achieve their academic goals. This includes:
- Academic and learning support
- English language support
- Referral to external support services
- Accommodation options
- Local area information and essential services
- Career guidance
Training Arrangements
Students are required to attend classes for 20 hours a week and complete approximately 10-12 hours of homework/assignment/project work and self-study per week which consists of readings and research for assessments. Term timetables will be posted on notice boards and emailed to students at least one week prior to the start of the term. Students will also need to attend the simulated sessions for practical tasks. Timetables will be provided for classroom and practical hours and schedule
Assessment Methods
Assessment methods used for this qualification will provide a range of ways for individuals to demonstrate that they have met the required outcomes including:
- Written tasks
- Practicals (observation based)
- Projects
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Questioning/Exam (oral or written)
Other Requirements
Students must also supply their own laptop or a similar device with Microsoft Office software e.g. Office 365 Personal that includes Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Publisher.
Additional costs associated with living in Australia are outlined in the International Student Handbook. Students should carefully review these costs in relation to budgeting. Further information can be found at https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/english/live-in-australia/living-costs.
Additional costs associated with living in Australia are outlined in the International Student Handbook. Students should carefully review these costs in relation to budgeting. Further information can be found at https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/english/live-in-australia/living-costs.
Library Resources
This course has prescribed and recommended texts/textbooks for each unit of competency. Copies of the textbooks can be found on St. Mary’s on-campus reference library, along with other reading and reference materials.
As an additional support, St. Mary’s shall provide students with community/ personal access to Victoria University Library, city campus, only a short walk away from St. Mary’s and provides students with access to the library with borrowing rights. St. Mary’s shall bear the cost of library access for all the students.
The State Library of Victoria provides access to over five million collection items on a range of topics and free access to thousands of online databases and eResources. St. Mary’s shall arrange for students to apply for the library membership as part of the orientation program; https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/get-involved/free-access-membership.
The National Library of Australia provides access to EBESCO online databases and eResources collections. St. Mary’s shall arrange for students to apply for the library membership as part of the orientation program; https://www.nla.gov.au/getalibrarycard/registration
Course Credit
Students may apply for recognition of existing qualifications or skills, knowledge and experience (credit transfer or recognition of prior learning) at the time of enrolment or at any time during their enrolment (prior to the commencement of the relevant unit/s of competency).
For international students, the granting of course credit may affect course fees as well as the duration of the course. The result of an application for credit and any changes to fees or course duration will be advised to students in writing.
If course credit is granted following issuance of the Confirmation of Enrolment, students will receive a new Confirmation of Enrolment showing a reduced duration. For any questions about course credit, contact us at the details shown below.