Diploma of Community Services

The Diploma of Community Services at the Australian Skills Management Institute is a one-year qualification for people who want to work directly with individuals, families and communities in Australia. You learn how to assess client needs, plan and deliver support, run case work, and connect people to services such as housing, mental health, family support and emergency relief. It is a practical course, not a theory-only one: you practise interviewing, case noting, referral and advocacy, and you look at the legal and ethical rules that shape community work in Australia.

The course is delivered over one year of full-time study, usually across two or three study periods depending on how the institute timetables it. You complete units of study, each with a set number of credit points, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. Assessment is a mix of written tasks, practical demonstrations and supervised work placement, which is standard for community services qualifications because employers expect graduates to have real hours with clients before they hire them. Placement is arranged by the institute and gives you direct experience in a community organisation.

Skills you build include client assessment, case management, group work, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, record keeping and working within the Australian community services system. You also learn how to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities respectfully, and how to follow mandatory reporting and privacy obligations. The teaching is hands-on, with small group work and role plays that mirror what happens in a real service.

This diploma suits people already working in support roles who want a formal qualification, career changers coming from retail, administration or care work, and international students who want an Australian qualification in social and community services. It also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in social work or community development, with credit for your completed units. International students should confirm English requirements, tuition and intake dates on the official CRICOS register and the institute's page, because these details can change. While studying in Australia on a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances.

• Community services worker
• Case worker or case manager
• Support worker in housing, homelessness or family services
• Community development officer
• Youth worker
• Family support worker
• Client intake and referral officer
• Advocacy worker

These roles are found in Australian not-for-profit organisations, local councils, state government community services departments, housing and homelessness services, family support agencies, youth services and disability support providers. Many graduates also use the diploma as a stepping stone into a bachelor degree in social work or a related field.