Bachelor of Youth Work

Overview

Make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged young people with VU’s Bachelor of Youth Work.

In our youth work degree, you'll learn to help young people develop through activities that are enjoyable, challenging and educational.

You'll graduate with:

a solid professional foundation for working with young people
specialist knowledge to support disadvantaged groups
clarity on the services available to teenagers and young adults
practical management skills
leadership skills.

Our Youth Work degree is the largest in Australia, and is delivered by experts in the field. You'll receive expert guidance from specialist youth sociologists and experienced workers from:

disability
legal care
community development
social work
other relevant areas.

In addition, you'll undertake substantial professional work placements, and graduate well prepared for a rewarding career.

Industry participants with a Diploma can choose to upgrade to a Bachelor of Youth Work degree while working in industry, with our National Youth Work Bachelor of Youth Work online.

National Youth Work degree program for industry professionals

VU is delivering the National Youth Work's online Bachelor of Youth Work as an upgrade course for sector professionals.

Our course lets industry professionals upgrade their Diploma of Youth Work or Diploma of Community Services to a bachelor degree, while working in the sector. Placement requirements may be undertaken in your current workplace, so you can complete these without taking leave.

You need to hold a Diploma of Youth Work (or equivalent) and have industry experience to enrol in our national program.

You'll study the same units as our Bachelor degree through a blend of:

intensive face-to-face delivery
online modules
virtual classrooms.

Course credits are available for your qualifications and youth-work experience, letting you complete the qualification sooner.

Hear what some of our students have thought of the program.

Designed for industry professionals

Our national Bachelor of Youth Work course-delivery has been designed for professionals to complete while working full time in the industry.

It includes the delivery of 14 units to ‘top-up’ the knowledge of industry students: see the second and third year of the 'course structure & units' below.

Locations

The course is offered online.

Contact VU's Youth Work teaching staff

To contact our Youth Work lecturers for more information, or to express interest in joining the course, email youthwork.industryprogram@vu.edu.au.

Youth work placements

During your degree, you’ll receive practical experience in various areas of youth work, through industry-based learning and professional development.

You'll complete 200 hours of fieldwork placement throughout the academic year, at times that suit your host's needs and your availability.

Students have been placed in:

alternative education (working with young people whose learning styles do not fit within mainstream schools)
local government
youth services
not-for-profit agencies that support young people who are homeless or recent immigrants, or have mental-health or alcohol and drug issues
diversion programs
recreation and outdoor adventure programs.

These placements give you hands-on experience helping young people to learn about themselves, others and society generally.

Learning advice

VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

workshops
drop-in sessions
peer mentoring
maths and writing resources
resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students

Library & computer facilities

Our campus libraries have photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and printed resources.

You'll have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including:

databases
e-learning content for courses
student email
student software packages
social networking tools.

VU has one of the best campus-wide WiFi networks. We also have more than 4000 computers (PCs and Apple Mac) across our campuses. A central IT helpdesk is also available for support.

Celebrating cultural diversity

As part of Victoria University, Victoria University Polytechnic believes in inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. Studying with us means you’ll be learning in an environment that values community empowerment.

Victoria University received the highest rating of five stars for cultural diversity by the Good Universities Guide. Our students feel fortunate to learn in a setting that has such a rich representation of cultures.

VU also works to address refugee issues, tackle diversity and social inclusion issues and improve the health and social wellbeing of the region. We are proud of our cultural diversity initiatives and projects with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Indigenous communities.

A campus with everything

Our Footscray Park Campus has everything you need, all set a pleasant stroll from the Maribyrnong River and parklands.

Facilities include:

aquatic and fitness centre
childcare services
learning common spaces with WiFi, tables and chairs
restaurants and café
state-of-the-art lecture theatres.

Study overseas while earning course credits

At VU you can spend part of your degree studying overseas all while gaining credits towards your course.

Immerse yourself in a new culture and learn from a new perspective, while building experiences that will help you to stand out in the competitive job market.

Youth Work at Victoria University - Transcript

Careers in Youth Work

VU’s Bachelor of Youth Work provides you with a broad range of career opportunities when you graduate. Graduates can find careers in:

local government
schools
rehabilitation
juvenile justice centre
not-for-profit and community organisations.

Aim for one of these rewarding roles:

youth worker
case manager
counsellor
family support worker
drug and alcohol worker.

See average salary & employment info for welfare support workers in Australia, via Labour Market Insights.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Youth Work students are required to complete:

- 288 credit points of Core studies including 24 credit points of Capstone studies.

Course structure and units

Year 1

Youth Work Practice

Unit code

AEB1800

Credits
12
Youth Work Practice 2

Unit code

AEB1801

Credits
12
Young People in a Global Community

Unit code

AEB1804

Credits
12
Aboriginal History and Political Movements

Unit code

AEK1204

Credits
12
Applied Human Rights

Unit code

ASA1024

Credits
12
Principles of Youth Participation

Unit code

AYW1001

Credits
12
Youth and Community Contexts

Unit code

AYW1002

Credits
12
Youth and Community Programs

Unit code

AYW1003

Credits
12

Year 2

Ethics and Youth Work Practice

Unit code

AEB2802

Credits
12
Holistic Practice With Young People

Unit code

AEB2803

Credits
12
Professional Practice 1

Unit code

AEB3803

Credits
12
Youth Policy, Civics and Culture

Unit code

AEB3805

Credits
12
Change and Community Justice

Unit code

ASC2005

Credits
12
Disability, Ableism and Youth Work

Unit code

AYW2002

Credits
12
Young People and Substance Use

Unit code

ECY2001

Credits
12
Rights, Advocacy and Discrimination

Unit code

EDI3001

Credits
12

Year 3

Youth Policy and Civics

Unit code

AEB3801

Credits
12
Professional Culture and Collaboration

Unit code

AEB3802

Credits
12
Research in the Community

Unit code

ASC3007

Credits
12
Supporting Young People in Dual Diagnosis Settings

Unit code

ECY3000

Credits
12
Working with Young People with Complex Issues

Unit code

ECY3001

Credits
12
Youth and Community Industry Preparation

Unit code

ECY3003

Credits
12
Youth and Community Industry Placement

Unit code

ECY3004

Credits
12
Digital Life & Learning

Unit code

EEE3011

Credits
12

Achieve more with the VU Block Model

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

	1.	Critically review their knowledge and practice of youth work and its role in empowering young people;
	2.	Analyse, implement and evaluate the role and significance of youth work in diverse social, political and economic contexts;
	3.	Articulate their knowledge and skills in diverse contexts regarding youth work and community development policy, practice and management;
	4.	Contextualise generic knowledge and skills that enable professional effectiveness in youth work and broader community settings;
	5.	Demonstrate broad and in-depth knowledge and skills for working with young people in community settings;
	6.	Clearly articulate the social and political dimensions of disadvantage, in particular how it relates to young people;
	7.	Develop, implement and evaluate a range of leadership functions and skills in a variety of youth and community settings.

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admissions

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.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
PLUS:
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score or 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
OR:
Completion of a Foundation course or equivalent.

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Additional information

Students will require a Working with Children Check to be eligible to undertake and participate in workplace visits, placements or projects. Use the following site link to obtain additional information: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Pathways from VU courses

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Certificate IV in Youth Work CHC40421