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 ares 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.

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 Theories in Counselling
COU202 Counselling Practice
COU303 Supervision and Debriefing

Systems and Policy (SAP)

SAP101 Australia Society, Systems and Policies
SAP102 Welfare Systems and Services in Australia
SAP203 Introduction to Welfare Law
SAP303 Developing Social Policy
SAP304 Social Research Methods

Coordination and Support (CAS)

CAS101  Community Development
CAS102 Group Work
CAS203 Principles of Case Management
CAS304 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

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 twelve months of the student’s proposed start date for the Bachelor programs and that the student was given an overall score of 6 with no single band lower than 5.5 (see policy – Higher Education Student Admission).

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.

Students who have undertaken the Bachelor of Community Services can seek the Australian Community Workers’ Association full membership as a Welfare Centre Manager upon graduation.

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.

Full fee for 2019 – $6,750 per trimester (3 units)       * $2,250 per unit
Administration fee – $200

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 ares 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.

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 Theories in Counselling
COU202 Counselling Practice
COU303 Supervision and Debriefing

Systems and Policy (SAP)

SAP101 Australia Society, Systems and Policies
SAP102 Welfare Systems and Services in Australia
SAP203 Introduction to Welfare Law
SAP303 Developing Social Policy
SAP304 Social Research Methods

Coordination and Support (CAS)

CAS101  Community Development
CAS102 Group Work
CAS203 Principles of Case Management
CAS304 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

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.

Student who have undertaken the Bachelor of Community Services can seek the Australian Community Workers’ Association full membership as a Welfare Centre Manager upon graduation.

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 (2019):

$5,625 per trimester (July intake)
$5,850 per trimester (November intake)

$1,875 per unit (July intake)
$1,950 per unit (November intake)

Administration fee:  $200

Click here to view 2018-19 subject fee schedule.

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme available to eligible full fee paying higher education students, which assists with the payment of part or all of their student contribution. Repayment of the loan is through the Australian taxation system once their income goes above the designated threshold. Voluntary repayments may be made at any time, regardless of income. There is a loan fee of 25% for FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses. For further information refer to http://studyassist.gov.au.