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.
Tap into our strong community partner network
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.
Get guaranteed entry into bachelor study
Studying your Diploma of Community Services at VU means you’ll benefit from guaranteed entry and 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.
Need some advice?
Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.
Request a call backTAFE resources
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Free TAFE
No tuition fees for eligible students. - Fee subsidies
Careers in community services
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.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
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.
Course structure and units
VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).
Core units
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- Unit code
- CHCCCS004
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- Unit code
- CHCCCS007
-
- Unit code
- CHCCCS019
-
- Unit code
- CHCCSM013
-
- Unit code
- CHCDEV005
-
- Unit code
- CHCDFV001
-
- Unit code
- CHCDIV001
-
- Unit code
- CHCDIV002
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- Unit code
- CHCLEG003
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- Unit code
- CHCMGT005
-
- Unit code
- CHCPRP003
-
- Unit code
- HLTWHS003
Elective units
Group A, B, C and D Electives
Victoria University is not offering any electives from Group A, B, C or D at this time
Group E - General Electives
-
- Unit code
- CHCADV005
-
- Unit code
- CHCCDE027
-
- Unit code
- CHCCOM003
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- Unit code
- CHCCSL003
-
- Unit code
- CHCDEV004
-
- Unit code
- CHCDIV003
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- Unit code
- CHCGRP002
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- Unit code
- CHCMHS011
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of community services workers involved in the delivery, management and coordination of person-centred services to individuals, groups, and communities.
At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously within their scope of practice under broad directions from senior management.
Workers support people to make change in their lives to improve personal and social wellbeing and may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers. They may also undertake case management and program coordination.
Fees & scholarships
Fee type for this course: VET
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
- full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).
Calculate your VET course fees.
Find out more about:
- the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
- ways to pay your fees
- important fee dates
- how to apply for a VE/TAFE refund
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admission & pathways
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
Applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy assessment.
Practical Placement
For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires:
- a current and satisfactory Police Record Check
- a current and valid Working with Children Check
- If required by the fieldwork placement host/school, students may need to provide evidence of NDIS Worker Screening Check and/or COVID-19 vaccination.
The following are suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks:
- Police Record Check - http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274
- Working with Children Check - http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
Pathways from VU courses
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.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
Pathways to further study
On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 48 credit points of study.
Find out more about our study pathways to VU
How to apply
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
Available start dates:
- 3 February 2025
Before you apply
Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.
Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:
- Credit transfer/Recognition of prior learning (RPL): If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.
Apply direct to VU
Direct applications are due on 27 January 2025 for our next intake which starts on 3 February 2025.
Already a VU student?
If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.
After you apply
- It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
- Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered
Enquire now – TAFE
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Get help
- Visit a student service centre
- 1300 VIC UNI (1300 842 864)
- Request a call back
- Visit the glossary
Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
