Courses

The Bachelor of Community Services is a fully accredited Australian higher education degree.  The course is designed to prepare you for ethical, competent, and culturally relevant community service generalist practice and to equip you with the skills you need for life-long learning and professional development.  You will work at the interface between people and their environments, focusing on experiences of individuals, families, groups and communities.  Some areas of service provision may include child welfare, hospice and palliative care, juvenile justice and corrections and advocacy.  

You will be exposed to the theory and values base of human services practice, as well as the knowledge and necessary skills required to work as a professional at a managerial level in the community services sector.  You will have the necessary foundation knowledge and skills in community services management to continue to a relevant post-graduate higher education program at a university or a private education provider.

The Bachelor of Community Services course will be delivered through teacher-led classroom delivery in the form of lectures and tutorials. Most units require students to attend a two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial.  The course is conducted over Trimesters with three semesters in each academic year.  The units are taught concurrently within the trimester, and the course will be completed within three years.  The course has 24 units across eight trimesters offering units in Community Services, Counselling, Systems and Policy, Coordination and Support, Specialist Skills, and Fieldwork.

The course also requires you to complete two separate work placements in a community welfare agency, a total of 400 hours (combined).  These placements are designed to meet the requirements of the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA).

To be eligible for the Bachelor of Community Services, you are required to acquire 24 units (360 credit points) as prescribed in Units below.

You will study 3 units per trimester, with most units comprising of two hours (lecture) and 1 hour (tutorial) per week.  You will also undertake 7 hours of personal study per unit per week.   The number of days per week depends on your timetable and it would be 2-3 days (and potentially evening and weekend classes in some campuses).

For your placement units (FLD202 and FLD304), your placement hours will be negotiated together with your placement agency and Acknowledge Education’s placement team, in line with ACWA requirements.

Core

Introductory Community Services (INT)

INT101  Introduction to Community Services
INT102 Interpersonal Communication Skills
INT103 Human Development Across the Lifespan
INT204 Introduction to Management in Community Services

Counselling (COU)

COU101 Counselling Theory and Practice (1)
COU202 Counselling Theory and Practice (2)
COU303 Supervision and Debriefing

Systems and Policy (SAP)

SAP101 Foundations of Sociology and Politics for Community Service Workers
SAP102 Welfare Systems and Services in Australia
SAP103 Introduction to Welfare Law
SAP203 Developing Social Policy
SAP304 Social Research Methods

Coordination and Support (CAS)

CAS101  Community Development
CAS102 Group Work
CAS203 Principles of Case Management
CAS204 Managing Multiculturalism and Diversity

Specialist Skills (SPS)

SPS201  Alcohol and Other Drugs
SPS202 Working with Young People and their Families
SPS303 Family and Domestic Violence
SPS304 Mental Health and the Community

Fieldwork (FLD)

FLD201 Ethics and Professional Practice
FLD202 Fieldwork 1
FLD303 Transition to Professional Practice
FLD304 Fieldwork 2

Acknowledge Education is fully committed to the ideals and goals of the community work profession and to preparing our students for a successful entry into the workforce. When you undertake work-based training and assessment in our Community Services courses, you are participating in what is known as ‘Fieldwork Placement.’ This is a structured educational program that is a requirement of your course as well as of the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), the professional accrediting body.

Placements provide you with unique opportunities to:

• Develop your competencies by linking theory with current practice
• Experience a real workplace environment in community services, such as in community development, disability, youth work, children and family services, mental health, casework, and multicultural services
• Learn about industry trends, practices, and career options
• Build your professional network and resume
• Explore job prospects at your host agency

At Acknowledge Education, we understand the importance of maximising your learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. This is why we provide significant support and guidance before, during, and after your placements. We offer students preparation seminars, individual appointments to find you a good agency match, interview coaching and resume writing assistance, an allocated Liaison Officer while you’re on placement, debriefing, and placement materials.

Fieldwork placements are a valuable component of our Community Services courses, and we work with all our students and host agencies to provide them with a mutually beneficial and rewarding placement experience.

FOR ENTRY INTO FIRST YEAR

Completed Year 12 or equivalent.  The minimum age is 18 years old.

International students must also demonstrate that they have English language ability equivalent to IELTS 6.0 (Academic).

Competency to IELTS 6.0 means that the student has documentary evidence of having completed an IELTS exam at an official IELTS testing centre or an equivalent recognised English language test,  within the previous 24 months of the student’s application date for Bachelor courses, and that the student was given an overall score of 6 with no single band lower than 5.5 (see policy – International  Student Admission Policy).

Applying for Credit Transfer:

If you have completed prior tertiary studies, you may be eligible for some credit exemptions. For further information, please refer to our Awarding of Credit Policy.

Other requirements required prior to commencing fieldwork placements:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Record
• National Police Record Check and/or Police clearance from country of residence
• Working with Children Check

In choosing to study the Bachelor of Community Services course at Stott’s College, you are giving yourself an advantage to break into the community service industry. The course is accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), which means that it has been reviewed and approved by the national professional body to meet the educational and practice standards required for community work practitioners. This reaffirms Stott’s College’s commitment to delivering a quality program that will produce graduates who can practice competently and ethically in various areas in community services. To this end, Stott’s College regularly consults with ACWA to ensure that the course upholds the values of the profession and responds to the current trends and expectations in the sector. This is reflected across various components of the course, from employing qualified and experienced educators to partnering with relevant welfare organisations for our fieldwork placement program.  Upon completion of the course, you are eligible for ACWA membership and can enter the workforce with confidence and skill.

*Awaiting ACWA accreditation for Brisbane campus.

Upon completion of the course, you are eligible for the Australian Community Workers’ Association full membership.  For more information, please visit the ACWA website.

Occupational titles for graduates with this qualification may include:

• Welfare Centre Manager
• Program Coordinator
• Community Worker
• Counsellor
• Case Manager
• Youth Worker
• Juvenile Justice Officer
• Child and Family Practitioner
• Community Development Worker
• Community Health Worker

This Careers link explores the relevant career options for the Diploma and Bachelor of Community Services.  Note, the 3rd  ring equals a diploma level qualification and the 4th ring equals a Bachelor qualification.  For more information regarding your potential career outcomes please contact one of our experienced course advisors.

Training Levels and Requirements

(Reference: Education Services  Australia Limited website)

View all dates here.

Tuition Fee: $2,350 per unit x 24 units
$2,475 per unit x 24 units (all applications for the intake date after 1 July 2023)

Administration Fee:$200
Materials Fee: N/A

View fee list here.

The Bachelor of Community Services is a fully accredited Australian higher education degree.  The course is designed to prepare you for ethical, competent, and culturally relevant community service generalist practice and to equip you with the skills you need for life-long learning and professional development.  You will work at the interface between people and their environments, focusing on experiences of individuals, families, groups and communities.  Some areas of service provision may include child welfare, hospice and palliative care, juvenile justice and corrections and advocacy. 

You will be exposed to the theory and values base of human services practice, as well as the knowledge and necessary skills required to work as a professional at a managerial level in the community services sector.  You will have the necessary foundation knowledge and skills in community services management to continue to a relevant post-graduate higher education program at a university or a private education provider.

The Bachelor of Community Services course will be delivered through teacher-led classroom delivery in the form of lectures and tutorials. Most units require students to attend a two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial.  The course is conducted over Trimesters with three semesters in each academic year.  The units are taught concurrently within the trimester, and the course will be completed within three years.  The course has 24 units across eight trimesters offering units in Community Services, Counselling, Systems and Policy, Coordination and Support, Specialist Skills, and Fieldwork.

The course also requires you to complete two separate work placements in a community welfare agency, a total of 400 hours (combined).  These placements are designed to meet the requirements of the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA).

To be eligible for the Bachelor of Community Services, you are required to acquire 24 units (360 credit points) as prescribed in Units below.

You will study 3 units per trimester, with most units comprising of two hours (lecture) and 1 hour (tutorial) per week.  You will also undertake 7 hours of personal study per unit per week.   The number of days per week depends on your timetable and it would be 2-3 days (and potentially evening and weekend classes in some campuses).

For your placement units (FLD202 and FLD304), your placement hours will be negotiated together with your placement agency and Acknowledge Education’s placement team, in line with ACWA requirements.

Core

Introductory Community Services (INT)

INT101  Introduction to Community Services
INT102 Interpersonal Communication Skills
INT103 Human Development Across the Lifespan
INT204 Introduction to Management in Community Services

Counselling (COU)

COU101 Counselling Theory and Practice (1)
COU202 Counselling Theory and Practice (2)
COU303 Supervision and Debriefing

Systems and Policy (SAP)

SAP101 Foundations of Sociology and Politics for Community Service Workers
SAP102 Welfare Systems and Services in Australia
SAP103 Introduction to Welfare Law
SAP203 Developing Social Policy
SAP304 Social Research Methods

Coordination and Support (CAS)

CAS101  Community Development
CAS102 Group Work
CAS203 Principles of Case Management
CAS204 Managing Multiculturalism and Diversity

Specialist Skills (SPS)

SPS201  Alcohol and Other Drugs
SPS202 Working with Young People and their Families
SPS303 Family and Domestic Violence
SPS304 Mental Health and the Community

Fieldwork (FLD)

FLD201 Ethics and Professional Practice
FLD202 Fieldwork 1
FLD303 Transition to Professional Practice
FLD304 Fieldwork 2

Acknowledge Education is fully committed to the ideals and goals of the community work profession and to preparing our students for a successful entry into the workforce. When you undertake work-based training and assessment in our Community Services courses, you are participating in what is known as ‘Fieldwork Placement.’ This is a structured educational program that is a requirement of your course as well as of the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), the professional accrediting body.

Placements provide you with unique opportunities to:

• Develop your competencies by linking theory with current practice
• Experience a real workplace environment in community services, such as in community development, disability, youth work, children and family services, mental health, casework, and multicultural services
• Learn about industry trends, practices, and career options
• Build your professional network and resume
• Explore job prospects at your host agency

At Acknowledge Education, we understand the importance of maximising your learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. This is why we provide significant support and guidance before, during, and after your placements. We offer students preparation seminars, individual appointments to find you a good agency match, interview coaching and resume writing assistance, an allocated Liaison Officer while you’re on placement, debriefing, and placement materials.

Fieldwork placements are a valuable component of our Community Services courses, and we work with all our students and host agencies to provide them with a mutually beneficial and rewarding placement experience.

1. Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 3 years)

Applicants who have recently completed their secondary education and meet the following criteria can apply for entry into this program.

Admission Criteria

Evidence of successful completion of a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education to Year 12 or equivalent*, including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English and an ATAR of 68.

*This includes all Commonwealth, State and Territory final year secondary school certificates of education as well as an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Students who have completed their secondary education overseas, which are equivalent to an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, will be assessed for their suitability for the program on a case-by-case basis.

Special admission program*

Our special admission program covers a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration.

2. Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET/TAFE) Study

Applicants with previous VET study who meet the following criteria can apply for entry into this program.

Admission Criteria

Full or partial completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in any discipline.

OR:

Full completion of a Certificate IV in a related discipline.

Special admission program*

Our special admission program covers a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration.

Applying for Credit Transfer

If you have completed prior tertiary studies, you may be eligible for some credit exemptions. For further information, please refer to our Awarding of Credit Policy.

3. Applicants with Higher Education Study

Applicants whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course and who meet the following criteria can apply for entry into this program.

Admission Criteria

Full or partial completion of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent).

OR:

Completion of two units of Higher Education studies.

OR:

Completion of a bridging or enabling course, for example, Foundation course or equivalent.

Special admission program*

Our special admission program covers a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration.

Applying for Credit Transfer

If you have completed prior tertiary studies, you may be eligible for some credit exemptions. For further information, please refer to our Awarding of Credit Policy.

4. Applicants with Work & Life Experience

Applicants who have left secondary school more than three years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then can also apply for entry based on other evidence of academic capability judged to be equivalent, for example relevant work or life experience.

Admission criteria

Five years (minimum) work/life experience in Community Services or similar.

OR:

Applicants that completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago.

PLUS:

Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).

Special admission program*

Our special admission program covers a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration.

Applying for Credit Transfer

If you have completed prior tertiary studies, you may be eligible for some credit exemptions. For further information, please refer to our Awarding of Credit Policy.

*Special Admission

Applicants who fall under the following categories can discuss their admission and course options with the admission team prior to applying. Each application will be assessed on its merits and the applicant’s capacity to successfully complete the course will be carefully considered in this assessment. The categories include, recognition as an Indigenous Australian, applicants whose school or home location is in rural or isolated areas, applicants with non-English speaking background, applicants with difficult living circumstances that have impacted their preparation for post-secondary study, applicants with disadvantaged financial background and applicants with disability or medical condition affecting their education.

Other requirements required prior to commencing fieldwork placements:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Record
• National Police Record Check and/or Police clearance from country of residence
• Working with Children Check

In choosing to study the Bachelor of Community Services course at Stott’s College, you are giving yourself an advantage to break into the community service industry. The course is accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), which means that it has been reviewed and approved by the national professional body to meet the educational and practice standards required for community work practitioners. This reaffirms Stott’s College’s commitment to delivering a quality program that will produce graduates who can practice competently and ethically in various areas in community services. To this end, Stott’s College regularly consults with ACWA to ensure that the course upholds the values of the profession and responds to the current trends and expectations in the sector. This is reflected across various components of the course, from employing qualified and experienced educators to partnering with relevant welfare organisations for our fieldwork placement program.  Upon completion of the course, you are eligible for ACWA membership and can enter the workforce with confidence and skill.

Upon completion of the course, you are eligible the Australian Community Workers’ Association full membership.  For more information, please visit the ACWA website.

Occupational titles for graduates with this qualification may include:

• Welfare Centre Manager
• Program Coordinator
• Community Worker
• Counsellor
• Case Manager
• Youth Worker
• Juvenile Justice Officer
• Child and Family Practitioner
• Community Development Worker
• Community Health Worker

This Careers link explores the relevant career options for the Diploma and Bachelor of Community Services.  Note, the 3rd  ring equals a diploma level qualification and the 4th ring equals a Bachelor qualification.  For more information regarding your potential career outcomes please contact one of our experienced course advisors.

Training Levels and Requirements

(Reference: Education Services Australia Limited website)

View all dates here.

Tuition Fee :$2,100 per unit x 24 units
Administration Fee:  $200
Materials Fee: N/A

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme available to eligible full fee paying higher education local students, which assists with the payment of part or all of their student contribution.

The Australian government has temporarily suspended the 25% loan fee up until 30 June 2021.

Please click here to view more information.