Graduate Certificate in Human Services

The Graduate Certificate in Human Services at Western Sydney University is a short postgraduate qualification for people who work in or want to move into community services, welfare, case management and related fields. It runs for 26 weeks full time and is registered on CRICOS for international students (course code 120236D). You study units of study in human services practice, social policy, and working with people and communities, and you come out with a postgraduate qualification that sits on the Australian Qualifications Framework at graduate certificate level, one step below a master's degree and typically made up of four units of study, or 40 credit points at most Australian universities.

How the course is structured

Australian postgraduate coursework is built around units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. A graduate certificate usually totals 40 credit points across one semester or two, depending on whether you study full time or part time. At Western Sydney, teaching is generally delivered across semesters, with some subjects offered in intensive or block mode. Assessment is by written assignments, case studies, presentations and sometimes a work-integrated learning component such as a placement or project with a community organisation. You should check the official course page for the exact units, delivery mode and any placement requirements before you apply.

What you actually learn

You cover the practical side of human services work: how to assess client needs, how to work within legal and ethical frameworks, how to communicate with people in crisis, and how the Australian welfare system is funded and delivered. You also look at social policy and how it shapes the lives of people who use services. The skills you pick up, case noting, referral, advocacy, cross-cultural practice, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, are the ones employers in the sector ask for. This is not a research degree. It is a professional qualification for people who want to do the work, or who are already doing it and want a formal credential.

Who it suits

This certificate suits three groups. First, people already working in community services, disability, aged care, youth work or housing who want to move into a more senior or specialised role. Second, people with a degree in another field, psychology, education, health, law, who want to move into human services without committing to a full master's. Third, international students who want a short postgraduate qualification in Australia and may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after graduating. While you study, your student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight. English requirements for social work courses are higher than for many other fields, IELTS 7.0 to 7.5 is common, so check the exact requirement for this course on the university's official page. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register.

• Case worker or case manager in community health, family services, child protection and housing organisations.
• Support worker or coordinator in disability services, aged care and mental health programs.
• Youth worker in schools, youth justice and community-based programs.
• Community development officer with local councils, neighbourhood centres and not-for-profit organisations.
• Welfare officer in government departments and non-government agencies.
• Team leader or program coordinator in the community services sector, once you have some experience behind you.
• Pathway to further study, the certificate can lead into a master's degree in social work or human services, which is often the qualification you need for professional registration as a social worker in Australia.

Human services is one of the larger employers in Australia. State and territory governments, the federal Department of Social Services, large charities like Mission Australia and St Vincent de Paul, and hundreds of smaller community organisations all hire people with this kind of qualification. Western Sydney in particular has a big community services sector, and the university has links with organisations across the region for placement and project work.