CHC40421 - Certificate IV in Youth Work

Version Effective: 17th of June, 2025
Course Details

Course Summary

Start your career with the Certificate IV in Youth Work. Support young individuals in making positive life changes and empower them to navigate life’s challenges.  This youth work course provides the skills and knowledge necessary to work with young people in the community. The qualification is designed for workers who develop and facilitate a range of community-based programs to address the social, behavioural, health, wellbeing, developmental and protection needs of young people. This work may be undertaken through employment in community, government and youth sector agencies and workers are responsible for implementing policies and guidelines of the employing organisation.  Youth workers are largely self-directed with autonomous decision-making capacity under the indirect supervision of a manager. This is a nationally recognised accredited course.

Requirements - To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.

Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) online literacy, numeracy and digital literacy assessment prior to enrolment, unless they have previously completed a Certificate IV or higher-level course. The BKSB will highlight any areas where additional support may be required from CQUniversity.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

To complete CHC40421 – Certificate IV in Youth Work, along with online learning, you will be required to complete an approved work placement for 80-hour placement within an appropriate work setting.  Students who are currently working in a relevant role may be eligible to undertake placement with their existing employer, subject to approval from the relevant Educational Team Leader and agreement from the employer. A vocational placement competency logbook must be signed off to confirm essential skills gained.  

When you have completed at least 10 units, you will be required to complete a Placement Application Form. This form allows you to apply for approval to complete your placement within your workplace or alternatively, request to attend a CQUniversity-sourced placement.

CQUniversity’s Workforce Integrated Learning (WIL) team will aim to source a placement located within your community; however, circumstances may require you to relocate to complete the placement.

Mandatory placement checks are compulsory for this course and it is important that students ensure they can meet the requirements for these checks. Mandatory Check inquiries can be directed to WILCompliance@cqu.edu.au and further detailed information can be sourced by clicking on the following link:  IMMUNISATIONS AND VACCINATIONS WIL DOCUMENT

You may also be required to undertake a pre-placement interview with the host organisation and placement may be subject to you meeting the organisation's requirements.

Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees
Full Fee $8,007.00 (2026)
Subsidised Full Fee $4,114.00 (2026)
Subsidised Concession Fee $3,298.00 (2026)
Fee for service per unit $471.00 (2026)
Subsidised full fee per unit $242.00 (2026)
RPL Fee for service per Unit $354.00 (2026)
For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Direct To University
How to Apply Please Enquire or Apply Now
Study Area
  • Psychology, Social Work and Community Services
Skill Area
  • Community Services
AQF Level Level 4: Certificate IV

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

This course will give you the specialised skills and knowledge to gain employment as a youth worker in a range of settings including community, government and youth sector agencies. Youth workers develop and facilitate programs for youth, including those at risk, through a range of community-based programs designed to address the social, behavioural, health, wellbeing, developmental and protection needs of young people. Furthermore, your study experience will provide you with skills and a qualification that enable you to further your education.

Course Structures
Standard Course Structure

Please enrol in ONLY ONE unit as a time following the course sequence.

  • Online
Unit 1
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 2
CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 3
HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 4
CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 5
CHCCOM002 Use communication to build relationships More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 6
CHCCCS016 Respond to client needs More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 7
CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 8
CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues More Information Training.gov Details
Unit 9
CHCDFV001 Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence More Information Training.gov Details
IDENTIFYING YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK & TRAUMA INFORMED CARE CLUSTER- Only enroll in this cluster when you have completed 9 units of study
CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care More Information Training.gov Details
CHCPRT025 Identify and report children and young people at risk More Information Training.gov Details
WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE & GROOUP WORK CLUSTER- Only enrol in this cluster when you have completed 11 units of study
CHCYTH013 Engage respectfully with young people More Information Training.gov Details
CHCGRP002 Plan and conduct group activities More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH014 Work effectively with young people in youth work context More Information Training.gov Details
PLACEMENT GROUP CLUSTER-Only enrol in this cluster when you have completed 14 units of study
CHCYTH015 Support young people to create opportunities in their lives More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH016 Respond to critical situations More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH022 Provide services for the needs and circumstances of young people More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Sequence Unit
1 CHCDIV001 - Work with diverse people
2 CHCDIV002 - Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
3 HLTWHS001 - Participate in workplace health and safety
4 CHCLEG001 - Work legally and ethically
5 CHCCOM002 - Use communication to build relationships
6 CHCCCS016 - Respond to client needs
7 CHCPRP001 - Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
8 CHCMHS001 - Work with people with mental health issues
9 CHCDFV001 - Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence
10 CHCMHS007 - Work effectively in trauma informed care
11 CHCPRT025 - Identify and report children and young people at risk
12 CHCYTH013 - Engage respectfully with young people
13 CHCGRP002 - Plan and conduct group activities
14 CHCYTH014 - Work effectively with young people in youth work context
15 CHCYTH015 - Support young people to create opportunities in their lives
16 CHCYTH016 - Respond to critical situations
17 CHCYTH022 - Provide services for the needs and circumstances of young people


Course Assessment Information

Assessment Types
Written/Electronic Assessment
Practical Task
Third Party Verification
RPL
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?

Domestic 2024 Availabilities

Standard Course Structure
Online
June: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time

Domestic 2025 Availabilities

Standard Course Structure
Online
February: Part Time/Full Time
April: Part Time/Full Time
June: Part Time/Full Time
August: Part Time/Full Time
October: Part Time/Full Time

Domestic 2026 Availabilities

Standard Course Structure
Online
February: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
More Details

More Details

Enrolment Advice

New Students must follow course structure as per course planner and enrol in only one unit at a time. Click here for how to enrol video.

Do not enrol into units you are seeking credit transfer for. If seeking credit transfer watch this video.

Continuing Students should follow the recommended course sequence.


Resource and Computing Requirements

It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that you have access to the CQUniversity website. You will be required to undertake various components of study in the course requiring access to a reliable internet connection to access online resources that would include but are not limited to, email, internet, video conferencing (mic and camera), electronic assessment submission. 

 All submissions of assessment must be uploaded electronically to the VET Moodle platform. 

There is a total of 17 units of competency in CHC40421 – Certificate IV Youth Work. You must successfully complete all 17 units of study in this course in order to be awarded Certificate IV Community Service.

All units of competency will be delivered on-line through the Moodle VET platform provided by CQUniversity Australia once you are enrolled. It is also expected that students will avail themselves of opportunities to engage with both teaching staff and other students through on-line discussions, forums and/or presentations.

Work Placement Requirements

To complete this course, you will be required to complete an approved work placement of 80 hours.  Students who are currently working in a relevant role may be eligible to undertake placement with their existing employer, subject to approval from the relevant Educational Team Leader and agreement from the employer. 

If not CQUniversity’s Workforce Integrated Learning (WIL) team will aim to source a placement located within your community; however, circumstances may require you to relocate to complete the placement.

Mandatory placement checks are compulsory for this course and it is important that students ensure they can meet the requirements for these checks. Mandatory Check inquiries can be directed to WILCompliance@cqu.edu.au

further detailed information can be sourced by clicking on the following link:  IMMUNISATIONS AND VACCINATIONS WIL DOCUMENT. 

You may also be required to undertake a pre-placement interview with the host organisation and placement may be subject to you meeting the organisation's requirements.