Diploma of Community Services CHC52015

The Diploma is ideal for people wanting to kick start a new career in community services, as well as for those already working in the sector who want to formalise their experience and get the qualification they need to take the next step in their career.

Upon graduation, you'll be qualified to gain work in a variety of settings, such as family welfare organisations, disability services, youth services, child protection, community health services and employment.

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note - limitations do apply.

The CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services will teach you how to listen to and understand people’s problems, background and circumstances, and to counsel them around the areas they are struggling with.

You will also learn to resolve issues for clients, set them up with support systems and networks, and develop plans which will address their immediate and long term struggles.

The Diploma will train you to assess clients, work out what they need and link them in with services that will meet those needs.

You will learn how to monitor client progress and deal with set-backs, roadblocks and issues if they arise.

The Diploma will also give you the skills and knowledge you need to advise and supervise other Community Service Workers’ case management practice, as well as to manage budgets and financial plans, and undertake project work.

Topics you will cover in the course include:

• Fundamentals of community services
• How to develop service programs
• Legal and ethical compliance
• How to develop and review case management
• Client assessment
• Counselling skills
• Professional practice
• Project management and budgets

The duration for the course is maximum 24 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

You’ll need to find a work placement yourself and ensure it’s approved by Open Colleges. When looking for a suitable work placement host organisation, have a think about the following:

• Are you already working or volunteering in the industry your course is related to? You could potentially do your work placement at your current place of work or have contacts that could recommend a suitable work place. Ask around!
• If you’re entering a new industry, do some research and start thinking about organisations you could approach. We have plenty of resources available to help with approaching and finding a suitable work placement organisation.

All costs of work placement, including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or Open Colleges), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student. These fees will vary and are dependent on your location within Australia.

• Costs for statutory checks will range between $0 - $100 dependent on the type of check you select and your state.
• Costs for vaccinations will very between practitioners, please refer to your GP for approximate costs.
• Placement fees will vary, please discuss this with your intended host organisation for approximate costs.

You will need to undertake your work placement in an organisation involved in the delivery of community services to clients. The workplace will need to be able to provide you with access to resources. The specific requirements of the workplace are outlined in the Workplace Assessment Guide. Your workplace assessor will ascertain whether the workplace is appropriate.

It is recommended that you commence your work placement after successfully completing the theory components within Modules 1-3. This ensures that you develop a good foundation of knowledge prior to entering the workplace.

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Your supervisor must have at least 3 years of experience in industry as a supervisor and/or hold a minimum qualification of the Diploma of Community Services or equivalent.