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Learn the skills to make a difference for communities.
When you complete the Certificate III in Community Services Work you'll be on your way to a career as a youth worker, support worker, or family carer.
You will gain the knowledge and skills to communicate and work effectively and appropriately with individuals and groups in a variety of settings, gathering and providing information, advocacy and community development, ethical behaviour and legal responsibilities.
You will also gain an understanding of mental health, alcohol, drug, and domestic violence services.
You will learn skills in:
- Effective communication
- Gathering, maintaining and providing information
- Advocacy and community development processes
- Ethical behaviour, and
- Legal responsibilities of community workers.
This qualification applies to community work delivered through a broad range of services which provide support to individuals and groups. This level of training is appropriate for support workers, caseworkers and client contact officers.
You will also gains skills in:
- Participating in local government and community organisations
- Assisting in planning and developing programs to meet needs
- Communicating effectively
- Networking
- Assisting in developing and facilitating community education and development and
- Gathering, maintaining and providing information and understanding legal and ethical requirements.
Half price fees apply!
This course is half price for everyone (excl. school students) as part of the Lower Fees, Local Skills initiative. Fees are also capped at $1,200; or $400 if you're aged 15—24 or eligible for a concession. Find out more here.
^ You’ll pay half price course fees on Lower fees, Local Skills qualifications, however please note other fees may apply such as for resources that are specifically needed for your course.
| School Leaver | Non-School Leaver | AQF |
|---|---|---|
| OLNA or NAPLAN 9 Band 8 | C Grades in Year 10 English and Maths or equivalent | Certificate I or Certificate II |
RTO Entry Requirements
Learners are required to provide evidence of having sufficient language, literacy and numeracy skills to successfully undertake the program's academic and workplace experience requirements, prior to commencing the program.
- School Leaver - OLNA or NAPLAN 9 Band 8
- Non-School Leaver - C Grades in Year 10 English and Maths or equivalent
- AQF - Certificate I or Certificate II
If students do not have the above they may complete a CGEA Assessment for Certificate III Community Services to ensure they have the required levels for success.
Potential learners with convictions are asked to discuss these with a lecturer as they will impact on placement. Learners are encouraged to have any convictions they may have Spent if possible. Some convictions will mean placement will be unavailable. Without placement learners are unable to complete the course.
Learners will be interviewed during enrolment and a Client Needs Summary will be completed to identify any limitations to these requirements and actions planned to address these limitations.
Work Placement Requirements
Each of the 4 stages of the course have a workplace requirement at Central regional TAFE. This is to provide the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge developed throughout the course
Stage One - 15 Hours
Stage Two - 10 Hours
Stage Three - 20 Hours
Stage Four - 15 Hours
Total placement hours = 60 hours over the course of the qualification. It is expected that students will complete the qualification in 2 semesters or the part time equivalent.
Work placement provides students with work-based experiences in vocational areas and opportunities to explore the workplace thus enabling students to better prepare themselves for the transition from training to work.
The main objectives of the work placement program are:
- To enable the student to gain firsthand experience of work available in the community services field.
- To assist the student in evaluating their suitability to the industry in which they are studying.
- To enable students to work with clients and apply the knowledge they have learnt.
- To provide opportunities for students to demonstrate practical skills, workplace knowledge and attitudes.
- To enable prospective employers to evaluate students seeking future employment.
Each student and Host Employer is provided with a work placement manual and log book. Students are expected to:
- Complete the log book.
- Keep a record of their hours, which is verified by the Host employer.
TAFE lecturers will visit students during their placement. Host employers will appoint a supervisor to oversee the student while in the workplace. The TAFE lecturer will meet with the student and host supervisor when visiting the student on placement and be available to reply to issues or concerns as they arise.
TAFE lecturers will work with the student to assist in finding work placement. Centacare Volunteer Service, PCYC and the City of Geraldton’s Late Night Basketball and Late Night Football programs regularly provide positions for students.
Before attending placement students must obtain the following:
- Working with Children Check
- COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate
National Police Clearance - Beware some criminal offences might hinder the student’s ability to find work placement in the sector. Students who have criminal offences must meet with the lecturer to discuss. The lecturer will contact the placement agencies to discuss the offences. Work placement agencies will decide whether the student can attend the planned placement.
Certification
Upon successful completion you will receive a Certificate III in Community Services.
Job opportunities include:
- Community Health Worker
- Personal Care Assistant
- Support Worker
- Residential Support Worker
- Youth Worker
For more information about job and career pathways, visit JobOutlook(opens in a new tab) or Jobs and Skills WA
Please note: This list is a guide only as job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.
We offer a range of further study opportunities, view our course list here.
Study options and how to apply
Click on your preferred study option below to get started with your application or enrolment.
Available all year round, 2023
Geraldton - Self Paced External
Many of our courses offer flexible learning options that provide you with the opportunity to study WHENEVER and WHEREVER suits you. Typically, flexible, and self-paced options are part-time and open for enrolment all year round, allowing you to start, enrol and study continuously.
Once you enrol into your chosen units, you will have six (6) months from the date of your enrolment to complete your study.
| When | Available all year round, 2023 |
| Where | Geraldton |
| How | Self Paced External |
READY TO APPLY?
Use the APPLY NOW box to register and apply for this course. Our Lecturer will assess your application online. You can follow the Register & Apply guide here.
FEES
Calculate your estimated fees in the above UNITS AND FEES tab.
Kalgoorlie - Self Paced Onsite
Many of our courses offer flexible learning options that provide you with the opportunity to study WHENEVER and WHEREVER suits you. Typically, flexible, and self-paced options are part-time and open for enrolment all year round, allowing you to start, enrol and study continuously.
Once you enrol into your chosen units, you will have six (6) months from the date of your enrolment to complete your study.
| Duration | 6 Months |
| When | Available all year round, 2023 |
| Where | Kalgoorlie |
| How | Self Paced Onsite |
READY TO APPLY?
Use the APPLY NOW box to register and apply for this course. Our Lecturer will assess your application online. You can follow the Register & Apply guide here.
FEES
Calculate your estimated fees in the above UNITS AND FEES tab.
Northam - Self Paced Onsite
Many of our courses offer flexible learning options that provide you with the opportunity to study WHENEVER and WHEREVER suits you. Typically, flexible, and self-paced options are part-time and open for enrolment all year round, allowing you to start, enrol and study continuously.
Once you enrol into your chosen units, you will have six (6) months from the date of your enrolment to complete your study.
| Duration | 6 Months |
| When | Available all year round, 2023 |
| Where | Northam |
| How | Self Paced Onsite |
READY TO APPLY?
Use the APPLY NOW box to register and apply for this course. Our Lecturer will assess your application online. You can follow the Register & Apply guide here.
FEES
Calculate your estimated fees in the above UNITS AND FEES tab.
Geraldton - Traineeship
A Traineeship is a full-time employment-based training program usual lasting twelve (12) months or more. Learning is predominantly in the workplace and may be supplemented by training at TAFE. You must have a Training Contract to enrol in a Traineeship Course.
Use our sidebar links on the right to find out more.
| Duration | 12 Months |
| When | Available all year round, 2023 |
| Where | Geraldton |
| How | Traineeship |
FEES
Calculate your estimated fees in the above UNITS AND FEES tab.
Kalgoorlie - Traineeship
A Traineeship is a full-time employment-based training program usual lasting twelve (12) months or more. Learning is predominantly in the workplace and may be supplemented by training at TAFE. You must have a Training Contract to enrol in a Traineeship Course.
Use our sidebar links on the right to find out more.
| Duration | 12 Months |
| When | Available all year round, 2023 |
| Where | Kalgoorlie |
| How | Traineeship |
FEES
Calculate your estimated fees in the above UNITS AND FEES tab.