Diploma of Community Services

The Diploma of Community Services at Step Into Training Services (SITS) is a two-year qualification for people who want to work directly with individuals, families and communities in Australia. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is practical, job-focused and taught through units of study rather than a long research thesis. You will learn how to assess client needs, plan and deliver support, work within legal and ethical frameworks, and connect people to services such as housing, mental health, family support and emergency relief. The course also covers case management, advocacy, group work and community development, so you graduate able to work in both one-on-one and community settings.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are built from units of study, each with a set credit point value. SITS delivers the Diploma of Community Services over two years, which usually means four semesters or trimesters of study. You will complete a mix of core units (covering subjects like sociology, psychology, law and ethics, and workplace communication) and elective units that let you focus on areas such as youth work, disability, or settlement services. Most units include both theory and practical assessment tasks. The course is competency-based: you need to demonstrate that you can actually do the job, not just pass an exam. Confirm the exact unit list and delivery schedule on the official SITS course page or the CRICOS register.

Work placement and skills you gain

Community services is a field where you learn by doing, so this diploma includes a supervised work placement. You will spend time in an Australian community organisation, a neighbourhood centre, family support service, housing provider or similar, working alongside experienced staff. That placement is where you practise intake interviews, client assessments, referral writing, case notes and group activities. By the end, you should be able to work with people in crisis, follow organisational policies, maintain professional boundaries and work safely with diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from migrant backgrounds. You will also build the admin skills that community services jobs demand: record-keeping, reporting and using client management systems.

Who it suits and what you need

This diploma suits people who want a hands-on career helping others, and who are comfortable working with people who are stressed, unwell or facing disadvantage. It is a good fit if you are already working in a support role and want a formal qualification, or if you are changing careers and want to enter the sector without committing to a three-year bachelor degree. International applicants need to meet English requirements, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for diplomas and coursework degrees, though social work and similar fields often ask for 7.0–7.5. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register; check the official SITS page for current fees, intake dates and the exact English evidence you need.

• Community services worker, supporting clients in neighbourhood centres, community health services and local councils.
• Case worker or case manager, managing a caseload, doing assessments and coordinating support plans in family services, housing or mental health organisations.
• Family support worker, working with parents and children through family violence services, parenting programmes and early intervention teams.
• Youth worker, supporting young people in schools, youth refuges, outreach services and justice programmes.
• Disability support coordinator, helping people with disability access NDIS plans and services.
• Community development officer, running projects and programmes with local residents, often in local government or not-for-profit organisations.
• Housing support worker, assisting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through crisis accommodation and tenancy support services.

These roles are found across Australia in not-for-profit organisations, state and local government, community health centres, schools and private providers. The diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in social work or community services, with credit for some units. Graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia after your course. While you study, your visa allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight. Always check current visa rules and course credit arrangements with the official sources.