PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This qualification reflects the roles of community services, case management and social housing workers involved in the managing, co-ordinating and/or delivering of person-centred services to individuals, groups and communities.

At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously under broad directions from senior management. Workers are usually providing direct support to individuals or groups of individuals. Workers may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers and/or case management; program coordination or the development of new business opportunities.

Note that the Statutory & forensic child, youth & family welfare specialisation must be achieved in order to meet the minimum education requirements for child protection and youth justice practice in Victoria. In addition, to meet the minimum education requirements for entry into child protection practice in Victoria, diploma qualifications must be approved by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA).

To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 100 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency.

The course at Infinity Institute Australia has been structured in a way that builds in management and leadership skills as well as the key Community Services components of the course. Completing the course with Infinity Institute Australia will, in our view, place graduates in a position to better compete for more senior roles and transition into management and leadership placing you in a better position in the future, sooner! In our experience, employers are always looking for graduates who can demonstrate that they have additional skills than the 'rest of the crown' and applications who are a 'cut above'. We have intentionally structure your course to allow you to take full advance of the teaching and full advantage of your potential in this career path.

DURATION OF COURSE

12 months (full time) and 24 months (part time)

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face (classroom based)
120 hours placement (location to be determined)

DELIVERY LOCATION

Level 1, 22B Somerton Road
Somerton, VIC 3062

CAREER PATHS

Employment pathways from this qualification include, but are not limited to:

  • Child Welfare Officer
  • Residential Carer (Child Protection)
  • Social Housing Coordinator
  • Community Services Case Manager

    • More detailed information can be found at Myskills (Commonwealth Government)

    Australian Apprenticeship Pathways

    PATHWAYS TO FURTHER STUDIES

    On completion of this qualification, you may gain credit in other courses in other community services areas as well as business, management, leadership and counselling (elective dependant).

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

    All applicants must satisfy the Academic Requirements and complete a Pre-Training Review.

    Academic Requirements

    To meet the Academic Requirements, you must satisfy one of the following:

  • Provide a copy of a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education that has been awarded to the student by an agency or authority of a State or Territory for the student’s completion of year 12; or
  • Undertake an approved LLN test and demonstrate competence at or above Exit Level 3 in the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) in both reading and numeracy; or
  • Provide a copy of a certificate that a qualification at level 4 or above in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) has been awarded to the student by a body registered to award the qualification in the AQF in Australia and the course was delivered in English.

    • Pre-Training Review Requirement

  • For each applicant, Infinity Institute Australia will conduct a Pre-Training Review of applicant’s current competencies. The Pre-Training Review will:
  • identify any competencies previously acquired (RPL, recognition of current competency (RCC) or credit transfer); and
  • ascertain a suitable, and the most suitable, qualification for student to enrol in, based on the individual’s existing educational attainment, capabilities, aspirations and interests and with due consideration of the likely job outcomes from the development of new competencies and skills; and
  • ascertain that the proposed learning strategies and materials are appropriate for that individual; and
  • identify any barriers to learning and steps to overcome it.

    • COURSE OUTLINE

    To be awarded CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services, students must successfully complete a total of 16 units of competency, comprising of eight (8) core units and eight (8) elective units. The core units are as follows:

  • CHCCCS007 : Develop and implement service programs
  • CHCCOM003 : Develop workplace communication strategies
  • CHCDEV002 : Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services
  • CHCDIV003 : Manage and promote diversity
  • CHCLEG003 : Manage legal and ethical compliance
  • CHCMGT005 : Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes
  • CHCPRP003 : Reflect on and improve own professional practice
  • HLTWHS004 : Manage work health and safety

    • The eight (8) elective units are as follows:

  • HLTAID006 : Provide advanced first aid
  • BSBHRM506 : Manage recruitment selection and induction processes
  • BSBINN601 : Lead and manage organisational change
  • BSBMGT502 : Manage people performance
  • BSBMGT516 : Facilitate continuous improvement
  • BSBRSK501 : Manage risk
  • BSBWOR403 : Manage stress in the workplace
  • BSBWOR502 : Lead and manage team effectiveness

    • SKILLS RECOGNITION

    Your existing skills, knowledge and experience can help you get a recognised qualification, through an assessment process called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). You could be granted a full or part qualification, saving you valuable time and money, while enhancing your career prospects.

    The process could suit you if you have:

  • Paid or unpaid work experience
  • Prior formal training
  • Skills and knowledge gained on the job
  • Community work experience
  • Short course and work-based learning
  • Trade skills
  • Other life experience

    • Credit Transfer

    Credit transfer is one of a number of processes for establishing credit. It provides a means for students to gain credit in an AQF qualification on the basis of completed components of another AQF qualification or other formal learning.

    The credit transfer process involves:

  • Mapping, comparing and evaluating the extent to which the learning outcome, discipline content and assessment requirements of the individual components of one qualification are equivalent to the learning outcomes, discipline content and assessment requirements of the individual components of another qualification, and
  • Making a judgment about the credit to be assigned between the matched components of the two qualifications.

    • COURSE FEES

    Total course fees for CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services is $16,788.00. Breakdown of the total course fees is as following:

    Tuition fees: $16,788.00

    Non-tuition fees: $0

    Total course fees: $16,788.00

    Payment options for tuition fees for students in the course are as follows:

  • Up-front payments for all tuition fees
  • Up-front deposit with payment plan

    • Government loan via the VET Student Loan (VSL) scheme for eligible students for all or part of the tuition fees. Please note that the VSL covers only tuition fees. The VSL loan cap amount approved by the Department for CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services is $16,788.00. Students will be liable to pay the difference between the covered fees and the total tuition fee for a course. Covered fees are the amount of the course tuition fees that are covered by a VET student loan. This will be set out on your VET Student Loans Statement of Covered Fees.

    *** Note that VET Student Loans will not be approved for students who do not meet eligibility requirements and that a VET student loan gives rise to a HELP debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is repaid ***

    APPLYING FOR ADMISSION

    Applications for this course are made directly to Infinity Institute Australia. Please contact Infinity Institute Australia at admin @ ii.edu.au or +61 3 8339 0030 for assistance.