Diploma of Community Services

The Diploma of Community Services at Canberra Institute of Education and Technology prepares you for work in the community services sector, supporting individuals, families and groups who need help with housing, income, family relationships, mental health or settlement. You study how to assess client needs, plan and deliver support, work within legal and ethical frameworks, and connect people to services. The course sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is practical, job-focused and normally takes two years of full-time study. You will cover areas such as case management, community development, counselling skills, working with diversity and understanding the Australian service system.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are built from units of study, each with a credit point value. At CITET you complete a set number of core units plus electives, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. The academic year usually runs over two semesters, with breaks between them. Assessment is a mix of written tasks, practical demonstrations, projects and supervised work placement. Because community services is a hands-on field, your course includes a professional placement where you work in an agency under supervision. That placement is where you put your skills into practice and build the hours you need for industry recognition.

What you will learn

You will learn to conduct client assessments, develop support plans, advocate for people who are dealing with systems that are hard to navigate, and work safely with people in crisis. You will also study communication, group work, record keeping and the legal responsibilities that come with community services work. The course covers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse clients, and people with disability. By the end, you should be able to manage a caseload, work in a team and respond appropriately to risk and trauma.

Who this course suits

This diploma suits people who want to work directly with clients and communities, and who are looking for a qualification that gets them into the workforce without a full degree. It also suits workers already in the sector who need a formal qualification to move into case management or team leader roles. If you are an international student, you will need to meet English requirements. For social work and community services courses, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 is the common standard, though some providers ask for higher. CITET accepts TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and its own English programmes as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While you study, your visa allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Always confirm the exact tuition, intake dates, English requirements and placement arrangements on the official CRICOS page or with CITET directly.

• Community services worker
• Case manager or case worker
• Support worker in housing, homelessness or family services
• Community development officer
• Client intake and assessment officer
• Team leader in a community organisation
• Youth worker or family support worker
• Aged care or disability support coordinator

These roles are found in not-for-profit organisations, local and state government community services, health networks, housing agencies, family support services, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations across Australia.