Diploma of
Community Services

February 2020

Full time: 18 months (three days per week 9.30am-4pm)

For information regarding dates such as enrolment, orientation and study breaks please visit the Academic Calendars page. 

This course will provide a variety of employment opportunities in roles such as being a:

• community services worker
• early intervention worker
• group facilitator
• youth officer
• support facilitator
• case worker

Employment opportunities exist in a wide range of community services organisations.

The Diploma of Community Services is accredited through the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA). Students that successfully complete the qualification may apply for ACWA membership.

You should attend an Information Session

You must be at least 18 years of age

Working with Children Checks and Police Record Checks are a requirement for Industry Work Placement and future employment in this field

PRE-TRAINING REVIEW

To assist prospective students to determine whether a course is suitable and appropriate for the individual needs, Box Hill Institute will assess all students’ language, literacy and numeracy and digital literacy by asking you to undertake a self-assessment review prior to the enrolment.

A course advisor will discuss the outcomes of the review and make recommendations about whether the course is suitable for you, and identify additional support where required.

Direct entry

Recognition of Prior Learning is available.

This course has a guaranteed pathway into the Bachelor of Community Services at Box Hill Institute (direct entry into second year with a credit grade or above in the Diploma).

Completion of this course will also enable you to negotiate up to 8 credit points (equivalent of one year full-time study) of credit for the following programs at Deakin University:

• Bachelor of Social Work
• Bachelor of Psychology with Honours

This course is government accredited and has national recognition

The qualification is aligned with the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level 5

• Government Subsidised Place
• Payment Plan
• VET Student Loans

This training is provided to eligible individuals with funds made available by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments

^* Does not apply to VETDSS or Short course students.

^** Does not apply to VETDSS, International students, Short Courses, Graduate Degrees , or re-enrolling students who re-enrol in the same course.

^***Retained Course Items are purchased by the student once prior to commencing. The course items bought by the student become the property of the student. Such items retain a generic application for other purposes outside the student's course of study (e.g. textbooks).

Student tuition & materials fees published are indicative, and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees listed are at 2020 rates and may increase annually over the duration of delivery. Advertised start dates and delivery locations are subject to viable student numbers. For more information please contact our Course Advisors on 1300 BOX HILL.

This course is delivered over 18 months within 3 teaching semesters (Stages 1 to 3)

To be assessed as competent in this qualification, you are required to undertake placement in stages 2 and 3 of the program.

The Diploma is endorsed by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), and requires the following placement hours to be completed: 200 hours in stage 2 and 200 hours in stage 3.  This 400 hour total must be completed at two separate organisations.

Feedback provided by a workplace supervisor will contribute to assessment of your ability to work at this level.