About this course
If you enjoy working with people, the community sector offers diverse career opportunities. You can gain skills for roles in government funded, not-for-profit and charitable organisations.
This course will prepare you to provide support, advocacy and interventions to individuals, groups or communities. It will enable you to work in a broad range of community service roles, including:
- relationship education
- welfare support
- child protection
- family violence
- aged care
- mental health
- alcohol and drug issues
- youth, family and disability services.
You will complete some core units and choose from a range of electives. Note that the availability of electives may vary depending on your selected training provider.
Some course providers may provide pathways to work placements to gain industry experience.
This qualification is recognised nationally under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Licensing and regulatory information
During your studies, you may need to have a Working with Children Check and a National Police Check. Check with your preferred course provider.
Contact your preferred course provider for course entry requirements.
This course can be done as a traineeship. You’ll get technical knowledge through coursework and hands-on experience through paid work. On completion you will receive a nationally recognised qualification.
To enrol as a trainee, you’ll need:
- a job in a relevant workplace in the same field as your course, and
- an employer willing to sign a Commonwealth Government ‘Training Contract’ and support your learning at work.
To get started:
- contact an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider for information on finding an employer and for ongoing support
- find a course provider that delivers the course as a traineeship.
To get help:
- contact the TAFE and Training Line
- visit our apprenticeships and traineeships page
- visit Apprenticeships Victoria.
Core units
Unit title Unit code Facilitate the interests and rights of clients CHCADV001 Use communication to build relationships CHCCOM002 Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence CHCDFV001 Work with diverse people CHCDIV001 Work legally and ethically CHCLEG001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships CHCPRP001 Follow safe work practices for direct client care HLTWHS002 Elective units
Unit title Unit code Provide advocacy and representation services CHCADV002 Represent clients in court CHCADV003 Work in an alcohol and other drugs context CHCAOD001 Work with clients who are intoxicated CHCAOD002 Provide needle and syringe services CHCAOD003 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues CHCAOD004 Provide alcohol and other drugs withdrawal services CHCAOD005 Address the needs of people with chronic disease CHCCCS001 Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide CHCCCS003 Assess co-existing needs CHCCCS004 Facilitate individual service planning and delivery CHCCCS006 Develop strategies to address unmet needs CHCCCS008 Facilitate responsible behaviour CHCCCS009 Maintain a high standard of service CHCCCS010 Provide brief interventions CHCCCS014 Provide loss and grief support CHCCCS017 Provide suicide bereavement support CHCCCS018 Recognise and respond to crisis situations CHCCCS019 Respond effectively to behaviours of concern CHCCCS020 Provide client-centred support to people in crisis CHCCCS028 Determine and respond to carer needs CHCCCS030 Provide individualised support CHCCCS031 Identify and report abuse CHCCCS033 Visit client residence CHCCCS037 Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support CHCCCS038 Work within a community development framework CHCCDE019 Implement participation and engagement strategies CHCCDE020 Develop and support community resources CHCCDE021 Work to empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities CHCCDE022 Develop and deliver community projects CHCCDE023 Provide first point of contact CHCCOM001 Facilitate goal directed planning CHCCSM009 Implement case management practice CHCCSM010 Facilitate and review case management CHCCSM017 Confirm developmental status CHCDEV004 Provide support to children affected by domestic and family violence CHCDFV002 Promote community awareness of domestic and family violence CHCDFV003 Provide domestic and family violence support in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities CHCDFV004 Provide domestic and family violence support in non-English speaking background communities CHCDFV005 Contribute to ongoing skills development using a strengths-based approach CHCDIS011 Develop and use strategies for communication with augmentative and alternative communication systems CHCDIS014 Facilitate community participation and social inclusion CHCDIS017 Provide person-centred services to people with disability with complex needs CHCDIS019 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety CHCDIV002 Provide sexual and reproductive health information to clients CHCEDU003 Work with clients to identify financial literacy education needs CHCEDU005 Improve clients' fundamental financial literacy skills CHCEDU006 Provide group education on consumer credit and debt CHCEDU007 Provide parenting, health and well-being education CHCEDU009 Prepare and evaluate relationship education programs CHCEDU010 Work with parents or carers of very young children CHCEDU011 Facilitate couple processes in group work CHCEDU012 Operate in a family law environment CHCFAM001 Support people to improve relationships CHCFAM003 Facilitate changeovers CHCFAM004 Facilitate and monitor contact CHCFAM005 Assist families to self-manage contact CHCFAM006 Facilitate family intervention strategies CHCFAM009 Provide intervention support to families CHCFAM010 Assess the needs of clients with problem gambling issues CHCGMB001 Plan and conduct group activities CHCGRP002 Plan, facilitate and review psycho-educational groups CHCGRP003 Deliver structured programs CHCGRP004 Meet community information needs CHCINM002 Interpret and use legal information CHCLEG002 Respond to client language, literacy and numeracy needs CHCLLN001 Prepare for mediation CHCMED004 Facilitate mediation CHCMED005 Consolidate and conclude mediation CHCMED006 Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes CHCMGT005 Coordinate client directed services CHCMGT006 Work with people with mental health issues CHCMHS001 Provide recovery oriented mental health services CHCMHS003 Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing CHCMHS011 Deliver care services using a palliative approach CHCPAL003 Contribute to planning and implementation of care services using a palliative approach CHCPAL004 Plan for the provision of pastoral and spiritual care CHCPAS003 Provide pastoral and spiritual care CHCPAS004 Contribute to the review and development of policies CHCPOL001 Reflect on and improve own professional practice CHCPRP003 Engage with health professionals and the health system CHCPRP005 Identify and report children and young people at risk CHCPRT025 Support the rights and safety of children and young people CHCPRT026 Work collaboratively to maintain an environment safe for children and young people CHCPRT027 Work with forced migrants CHCSET003 Undertake bicultural work with forced migrants in Australia CHCSET004 Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness CHCSOH013 Manage and maintain tenancy agreements and services CHCSOH014 Work with clients within the social housing system CHCSOH021 Lead volunteer teams CHCVOL002 Recruit, induct and support volunteers CHCVOL003 Manage volunteer workforce development CHCVOL004 Engage respectfully with young people CHCYTH013 Work effectively with young people in the youth work context CHCYTH014 Support young people to create opportunities in their lives CHCYTH015 Provide First Aid HLTAID011 Manage personal stressors in the work environment HLTWHS006
Course providers
This course is offered by the following providers. Click on the links to the provider websites for the latest information on course details, fees and how to apply.
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Bendigo
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
Next steps:
- Visit Bendigo TAFE for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Elgar (Box Hill), City (Melbourne), Nelson (Box Hill), Lilydale Lakeside (Lilydale), Whitehorse (Box Hill)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Box Hill Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Mount Helen (Ballarat)
Delivery modes: Part time on-campus
- Visit Federation University for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Fryers Street (Shepparton), Wallis Street (Seymour), Docker Street (Wangaratta)
Delivery modes: Flexible delivery, Full time on-campus, Part time on-campus
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Moorabbin, Online
Delivery modes: Part time on-campus
- Visit Holmesglen Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Broadmeadows
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Kangan Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Preston
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus, Part time on-campus
- Visit Melbourne Polytechnic for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Warrnambool
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit South West TAFE for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Wantirna, Croydon
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Swinburne University of Technology for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Warragul, Traralgon, Bairnsdale
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit TAFE Gippsland for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Geelong City (Geelong)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit The Gordon for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Wodonga (West Wodonga)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Wodonga TAFE for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Corio, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Frankston, Highton, Flemington
Delivery modes: Online/off-campus, Part time on-campus
- Visit genU Training for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Head Office (Shepparton), Sale, Morwell
Delivery modes: Online/off-campus, Part time on-campus
- Visit Partners in Training Australia for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider