skip to content

CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services

Free TAFE Community Services

Next intake July 2024
LocationsWerribee Princes Campus
Geelong City Campus
DurationFull-time: 15 months
Part-time: 21 months

Course description

This course will give you the specialised skills you need to work in the community services sector. You will learn how to provide direct support to individuals or groups, manage and coordinate service programs, work collaboratively with diverse people, and learn to recognise and respond to crises. You will gain an understanding of government services, community service work, and the not-for-profit community services sector. 

Wondering if this industry will suit you?

We have created a very short course quiz to help you gain a little more understanding of what is required and whether you might enjoy a role in this industry. Take the quiz here.

Work placement/industry experience

200 hours of work placement is required in this course, organised by The Gordon. As part of work placement, additional costs may be incurred due to a new regulatory requirement for screening conducted prior to working with children and people who have a disability. This is required ONLY for students who are not already working in industry. All people engaged by registered NDIS providers in risk-assessed roles from 1 February 2021 must apply for an NDIS Check and obtain an NDIS clearance before starting work. The screening and clearance check costs $119 and is valid for 5 years. *Please note that you may be required to travel outside your usual training location to attend placement. This may include other regional areas or suburbs of Melbourne. As per worker vaccination requirements, all applicants for this course must be triple vaccinated (boosted) against COVID-19 before undertaking placement, which is required to complete this course. Students are required to provide evidence of full vaccination status, including booster dose, as part of their placement documentation, which is provided to placement facilities. Students who cannot provide valid evidence will be unable to complete placement and, therefore, unable to complete this course.

Possible career outcomes

  • Community Services Case Manager
  • Pastoral Care Counsellor
  • Case Coordinator
  • Family Services Coordinator

Applications & attendance

How to apply

  1. Follow our instructions for how to apply for a course.
  2. Apply online by selecting an intake from the Applications & attendance table below.

If you need help, visit Customer Service or request application support via email.
Submission of an application does not guarantee a place in the course.

IntakeApplicationsAttendanceClassesDuration 
2024 July
Werribee Princes Campus Open: 1 Apr 2024
Close: 1 Jul 2024 Class DayStart: 15 Jul 2024
Mon,Tue & Wed-3 days varied, Face 2 Face
 Full-time: 15 months  Apply  
2024 July
Geelong City Campus Open: 1 Apr 2024
Close: 1 Jul 2024 BlendedStart: 16 Jul 2024
Tue 2-5pm weekly zoom/1 day F2F per term
  Part-time: 21 months  Apply  
2024 July
Geelong City Campus Open: 1 Apr 2024
Close: 1 Jul 2024 Class DayStart: 16 Jul 2024
Tue,Wed & Thu- 3 days varied,Face 2 Face
 Full-time: 15 months  Apply  

 

Students may need to complete some self-paced learning and assessment activities outside class time. This will be different for each course and will depend on a student’s level of skill and experience.

Class days and times in the above table are indicative. Prior to course commencement, changes may be necessary. Follow the link for more information on Attendance mode definitions. When you submit your application, please make sure you answer all the questions. Only successful applicants with complete applications will receive an offer. We issue offers as soon as possible. Follow the link for more information on Offer timing.

Many courses have limited places and high demand. We may close an intake before the date above. We recommend you apply early. If student numbers are insufficient we may cancel an intake or a course. An application does not guarantee a place in this course.

Additional attendance information

The course is offered in two study modes:

  • The full-time ‘Class Day’ course is delivered Face to Face. Attendance on campus is a requirement for this course. Work placement is completed as part of your study in the workplace.
  • The ‘Blended’ course is delivered via Zoom 1 x evening per week. In addition to the virtual class each week, there is 1 x on campus training & assessment day per term. This Face to Face workshop will incorporate practical training and assessment sessions.

  • Applicants must be 18 years and over at the time of course commencement.
  • Applicants are expected to have literacy and numeracy skills at Year 11 or Year 12 or Australian Core Skills Framework Level 3.

  • You must reside in Victoria to access Victorian Government Subsidised Fees and any incentive such as Free TAFE. Full fees apply to all non-Victorian residents.

Work placement requirements

  • Applicants are required to hold a current Working with Children Check for work placement.
  • Applicants are required to undergo a Police Check for work placement. 

Pre-training review

Each student must complete a pre-training review as part of their application. The outcome of your pre-training review assists our teachers and trainers to better understand your capabilities prior to training and enables you to be matched to the right program. Your literacy and numeracy skills will be evaluated and you may be required to undertake a separate assessment. Follow this link for more information about literacy and numeracy skills .

In order to prepare for your LLN, you may wish to attempt some practise tests in which you will find similar questions (with solutions too). These practice tests are not VSL approved but may be similar in question type and level of difficulty to what may be asked in the VSL approved LLN. Click here for practice tests. Please note, the VSL approved LLN cannot be resat within 3 months of undertaking it.

Personal Learning Requirements

There are personal learning requirements for each qualification at The Gordon. These are essential personal capabilities and skills required to successfully complete the course and be ready to work in the industry.

Please review the requirements here and consider any challenges you may have in meeting them. When applying for your course, please let us know what support you may need.

Selection mode

Core Units Code Hours
Analyse impacts of sociological factors on people in community work and services CHCDEV005 100
Assess co-existing needs CHCCCS004 80
Develop and implement service programs CHCCCS007 100
Facilitate and review case management CHCCSM013 75
Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes CHCMGT005 120
Maintain work health and safety HLTWHS003 40
Manage legal and ethical compliance CHCLEG003 80
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety CHCDIV002 25
Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence CHCDFV001 50
Recognise and respond to crisis situations CHCCCS019 45
Reflect on and improve own professional practice CHCPRP003 120
Work with diverse people CHCDIV001 40
Elective Units Code Hours
Coordinate complex case requirements CHCCSM012 75
Develop workplace communication strategies CHCCOM003 100
Facilitate the interests and rights of clients CHCADV001 100
Implement trauma informed care CHCMHS013 80
Manage and promote diversity CHCDIV003 80
Plan and conduct group activities CHCGRP002 70
Research and apply evidence to practice CHCPOL003 65
Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness CHCSOH013 85

 

Please note that the listed electives are delivered by The Gordon but you may not need to complete all of these units to successfully complete this qualification. If you have previously completed any of the units of competency relevant to this course, you may be eligible for Credit Transfer (CT). Any previous relevant experience may qualify you for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Find out more about CT or RPL here.

Assessment is based on:

  • Workplace Tasks
  • Written assignments
  • Team Projects    
  • Industry placement       
  • Exam/questions    
  • Case studies
  • Role Plays

This course is eligible for Free TAFE!

Eligible Victorian students who elect to use their Free TAFE opportunity will not incur any tuition fees. Material and resources fees still apply. Follow the link for further information and to check the eligibility criteria.

FeesRateUnitIndicative Course HoursIndicative Tuition Payable by StudentMax. Indicative Government Subsidy Total
Standard Tuition AUD $7.96 per hour 1525 AUD $12,139.00 AUD $9,978.00
Full Fee Tuition AUD $10.25 per hour 1525 AUD $15,631.00

Add the costs below to your relevant tuition fee

Resources AUD $400.00
Administrative AUD $350.00
Education Levy AUD $228.75

 

All fees and charges are correct at time of publication but may change without notice. The student tuition fees are indicative only. Additional fees may apply. Where GST is applicable to any courses or materials, the fee displayed is inclusive of the GST.

Which fee will I pay?

Your fees will be charged according to your eligibility for government funding. For more information, visit our Fees & Payments pages.

Fee help and student loans

VET Student Loans are available for eligible students for tuition fees ONLY.
The current years maximum VET Student Loan Course Cap is $18,097

Payment plans may be available for students who are not eligible for a VET Student Loan.

VET Student Loan

To be eligible to apply for a VET Student Loan, applicants will be required to:

  • undertake an independent assessment test to ensure they possess Level 3 in reading and numeracy, or
  • provide their Year 12 certificate, or
  • provide evidence of completion of a Certificate IV or above.

  • Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) at Deakin University
  • Bachelor of Marketing (Psychology) at Deakin University
  • Bachelor of Human Resource Management (Psychology) at Deakin University
  • Bachelor of Criminology at Deakin University
  • Bachelor of International Studies at Deakin University
  • Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University
  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at Deakin University
  • Bachelor of Nutrition Science at Deakin University

Many Gordon courses offer pathways to higher qualifications within The Gordon and in some cases, to university degrees. Your Gordon course may provide credit points which could reduce further study time. Follow the link to find more information about pathways, or contact Customer Service.

Date published: 24/04/2024 10:01:20 AM
CHC52021-Diploma-of-Community-Services