Diploma of Community Services

The Diploma of Community Services at Melbourne Polytechnic is a two-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, advocate for people dealing with housing, family violence, mental health, disability or settlement issues, and work within the legal and ethical rules that govern community service organisations.

The course is structured the way Australian diplomas usually are: you enrol in units of study across semesters, each unit carrying credit points, and you need to complete the required units to graduate. Assessment is mostly practical, written tasks, case studies, role plays, projects and supervised work placements. Because community services is a hands-on field, work-integrated learning is a core part of the diploma. You spend time on placement in an agency such as a neighbourhood centre, family support service, homelessness service, aged care or disability provider, or a community legal or multicultural organisation, where you apply what you have learned under supervision.

Skills you build include interviewing and assessment, case planning and referral, group work, crisis response, record keeping, cultural safety, and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. You also learn to work within the Australian community services system, the funding arrangements, the privacy and duty-of-care obligations, and the codes of conduct that apply in the sector.

This diploma suits people already working in community services who want a formal qualification, career changers who want to move into support work, and school leavers who want a practical pathway into the sector. It can also lead into further study, such as a bachelor degree in social work, community development or human services, with credit for some units depending on the institution. Melbourne Polytechnic is a Victorian TAFE, so teaching is vocational and industry-connected, with strong links to community organisations across Melbourne. Check the official CRICOS listing and Melbourne Polytechnic's course page for current unit details, placement requirements, campus options and entry requirements.

• Community services worker
• Case worker or case manager
• Family support worker
• Youth worker
• Disability support worker or coordinator
• Aged care support worker
• Housing or homelessness support worker
• Multicultural or settlement support worker
• Community development officer
• Team leader in a community organisation

Typical employers include not-for-profit community organisations, local councils, state government departments, family and youth services, disability and aged care providers, housing and homelessness services, and multicultural settlement agencies across Australia. Graduates may also use the diploma as a pathway into further study in social work, human services or community development.