About community services

Have you ever wondered how people interact with each other and how the world operates? Understanding, predicting, explaining, and nurturing human behavior are all possible with a degree in community services. By developing your skills, you will be able to advance all aspects of society that include citizenship, infrastructure, the environment, the economy, social justice, and mental health. The program will give you the opportunity to help solve local and global social challenges, making a positive difference at the local and global levels to strengthen the global community.

Along with being Australia's largest industry, health care and social assistance is also the sector experiencing the most rapid growth. There is a high demand for jobs in the community services sector, which is the second largest within the industry. Australia's healthcare sector consists of a wide variety of gratifying careers, all of which work towards improving the lives of the community.

The best way to make the world a better place is to work in community services, helping people live happier and healthier lives. Studying the sector as a whole is a good first step before looking at study paths. We hope that you will find this article to be a comprehensive resource that provides all the information you need to make an informed decision about a career in community service.

What is Community Service?

Work in community service sector in Australia entails completing work that benefits or gives back to the local community. Volunteer and paid positions in community service available in this sector are listed below:

• Counselling
• Mental Health
• Disability
• Aged Care
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services
• Child protection
• Family services

Community service industries in Australia have grown steadily over the last few years and is still growing at exponential rate. Youth work, counselling, social services, community development and individual support are some of the fields creating thousands of new jobs across the country. Are you interested in learning more about career opportunities within the worthwhile community services industry? Keep on reading.

Diploma of Community Services

No matter what field, a degree always enhances one’s skills and knowledge. A Diploma of Community Services will add on to your experience in Community services and help you gain the skills you will require to have a bright career in guiding, helping and supporting people to bring positive change not only in their lives but also the community.

Course duration: 2 years
Requirements-
Academic: Completion of Year 12 or equivalent
English: Academic IELTS 5.5 (No band less than 5.0) or equivalent*
*IELTS score wary according to different universities.

Career Options:

A. Become a counsellor
For many Australians, counselling is a common professional choice.
Basically, you can become a counsellor by acquiring a bachelor's degree in social sciences or counselling, or a postgraduate qualification in the field. It is also possible to enter the profession with only a certificate level qualification, depending on the job role.

Types of Counsellors:
Career counsellor
Drug and alcohol counsellor
Family and marriage counsellor
Student counsellor
Life coach


Average Salary: $68,000 P/A

B. Work with people with a disability
Nearly 20% of Australians have a disability, implying that 3.96 million people require some form of care or support. A Certificate IV or Certificate III is the most common educational level for entering this field, with 51 percent of workers falling into this category.

Job Prospects:
Disability support worker
Special needs teacher
Education aide
Personal care nurse
Disability officer


Average Salary: $55,421 P/A

C. Develop your skills in mental health
There are several diverse approaches to get into the mental health field. You can enrol in specialised courses to gain the necessary certifications and abilities to work in the mental health field. Having direct personal experience can also help you be accepted into a degree programme or a mental health certificate programme.

Job prospects:
Psychologist
Clinical psychologist
Psychiatrist
Psychotherapist


Average Salary: $73,962 P/A

D. Working in aged care
If you want to work in aged care, this course can help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to comprehend the industry's moral and constitutional frameworks, rules, and procedures.

Job Prospects:
Personal care worker
Nurse
Home care assistant
Community leisure officer
Activities officer


Average Salary: $50,000 P/A

E. Working in child protection services
Specializing in child welfare entails delivering a child-centered, family-centered service that solution to prevent children and young people from danger or abuse at home. Youth work frequently include assisting in the prevention of family violence, as well as safeguarding and caring for young people.

Job Prospects:
Youth worker
Child protection practitioner
Family support worker
Parole and probation officer
Welfare office


Average Salary: $95,108 P/A

F. Working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services
A community services qualification will help you get a job aiding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with services like healthcare, mental health, family services, education, and more. To specialise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, you'll need to take specific electives that teach you about cultural protocols and practises, as well as a variety of other vital components of indigenous society.

Benefits of working in community services

Working in the public sector in a sector like community services comes with a slew of perks. This is because of the demanding setting in which you'll frequently work, as well as the benefit you'll bring to the government through your employment.

Working for the government in Australia has a number of advantages, including:

• Salary plan that is both fair and competitive
• Opportunities for structured advancement and professional growth
• Leave that is both generous and comprehensive
• Employment conditions are diverse.
• Working conditions that are adaptable
• Job stability

Working for the Australian government, whether in a council, state, or Commonwealth government job, is both satisfying and useful to your career and personal life.