Course History

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Version Effective: 1st of April, 2023 Next Version
Version Effective: 1st of April, 2023

CHC52021 - Diploma of Community Services

Course Details

Course Summary

This qualification reflects the role of community services workers involved in the delivery, management and coordination of person-centred services to individuals, groups, and communities. At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously within their scope of practice under broad directions from senior management. Workers support people to make change in their lives to improve personal and social wellbeing and may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers. They may also undertake case management and program coordination. To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 200 hours of work (2 x 100-hour blocks) as detailed in the assessment requirements of units of competency. The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.


Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the bksb (basic key skills builder) online literacy and numeracy assessment prior to enrolment unless the student has completed an equal or higher level course prior to commencing the Diploma of Community Services.

Mandatory placement checks are compulsory for this course, you will be required to get a Working with Children's Check relevant to your State and an Australian Federal Police Check. Please ensure you will meet the requirements for these checks. You may be required to undertake a pre-placement interview with host organisations and placement is subject to student meeting the requirements of the organisation.

Your vocational placement will entail 2 x 100 hours within a community services organisation and your placement will be undertaken towards the end of the course. If you are currently working within the community services industry you may be eligible to undertake your placement hours with your existing employer.


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 achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 200 hours of work in 2 x 100-hour blocks as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency.


VET Student Loan Information

VET Student Loans may be available for eligible students in approved Diploma level qualifications. The loan can be used towards Tuition Fees only and does not cover additional expenses such as textbooks, uniforms, equipment, travel, tools, and accommodation or general living expenses. Loan limits or caps may apply for some eligible courses and where a loan limit is reached for a course, students may be required to pay upfront for any remaining units.

For more information or to check your eligibility for a VET Student Loan, please visit our VET Student Loans webpage or contact us .


Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees
Full Fee $11,880.00 (2024)
$12,480.00 (2025)
Subsidised Full Fee $8,320.00 (2024)
$8,780.00 (2025)
Subsidised Concession Fee $7,240.00 (2024)
$7,680.00 (2025)
Fee for service per unit $594.00 (2024)
$624.00 (2025)
Subsidised full fee per unit $416.00 (2024)
$439.00 (2025)
RPL Fee for service per Unit $297.00 (2024)
$468.00 (2025)
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 5: Diploma

Admission Codes

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

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Completion of the requirements for CHC52021 – Diploma of Community Services may lead to further study options in Social Sciences including the Bachelor of Social Work. Career opportunities include work positions in the fields of Community Services, i.e., Mental Health, Child Protection, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Housing, Domestic Violence, Disability and Youth Services.

Course Structures

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete 12 core units
  2. Complete 8 elective units

Study Mode Definitions

  • Online: Online courses provide the flexibility to study without normally requiring a student to visit a campus. Course content is studied through a number of means including the use of online discussion forums, electronic library resources, by contacting lecturers and teachers, and receiving study materials online/electronically. Work integrated learning, including placements, may be included in some courses.
  • On-campus: Students studying in on-campus mode typically are expected to attend and participate in regular, structured on-campus teaching and learning activities throughout the University’s academic term. These activities may include lectures, tutorials, workshops and practice, online or other activities and normally will be timetabled at a CQUniversity campus or approved delivery site.
  • Mixed Mode: Students studying in mixed mode will participate in a combination of online learning activities in addition to site-specific learning activities, which may include residential schools, co-op placements and/or work-integrated learning as a compulsory requirement of a unit. The additional site-specific learning activities are what differentiates a mixed-mode unit from an online unit.

*All study modes may include Vocational placement and/or work integrated learning.

Select a course structure below to view the delivery details, including the different study modes offered for each structure.

Standard Course Structure

12- 26 months

  • Online
  • RPL/RCC/Credit
Core
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people More Information Training.gov Details
HLTWHS003 Maintain work health and safety More Information Training.gov Details
CHCLEG003 Manage legal and ethical compliance More Information Training.gov Details
CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety More Information Training.gov Details
CHCCCS004 Assess co-existing needs More Information Training.gov Details
CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations More Information Training.gov Details
CHCDFV001 Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence More Information Training.gov Details
CHCCSM013 Facilitate and review case management More Information Training.gov Details
CHCCCS007 Develop and implement service programs More Information Training.gov Details
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice More Information Training.gov Details
CHCMGT005 Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes More Information Training.gov Details
CHCDEV005 Analyse impacts of sociological factors on people in community work and services More Information Training.gov Details
Elective
HLTWHS006 Manage personal stressors in the work environment More Information Training.gov Details
CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships More Information Training.gov Details
CHCCSL002 Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills More Information Training.gov Details
CHCCCS016 Respond to client needs More Information Training.gov Details
CHCPRT029 Work within a practice framework More Information Training.gov Details
CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues More Information Training.gov Details
CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care More Information Training.gov Details
CHCMHS008 Promote and facilitate self advocacy More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Below is the recommended study sequence for this course. Please enrol in your units as per the following order.
Units with the same sequence number should be enrolled into at the same time.
Sequence Unit
1 CHCDIV001 - Work with diverse people
2 HLTWHS003 - Maintain work health and safety
3 HLTWHS006 - Manage personal stressors in the work environment
4 CHCPRP001 - Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
5 CHCCSL002 - Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
6 CHCCCS016 - Respond to client needs
7 CHCLEG003 - Manage legal and ethical compliance
8 CHCDIV002 - Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
9 CHCCCS004 - Assess co-existing needs
10 CHCCCS019 - Recognise and respond to crisis situations
11 CHCDFV001 - Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence
12 CHCPRT029 - Work within a practice framework
13 CHCMHS001 - Work with people with mental health issues
14 CHCMHS007 - Work effectively in trauma informed care
15 CHCMHS008 - Promote and facilitate self advocacy
16 CHCCSM013 - Facilitate and review case management
17 CHCCCS007 - Develop and implement service programs
18 CHCPRP003 - Reflect on and improve own professional practice
19 CHCMGT005 - Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes
20 CHCDEV005 - Analyse impacts of sociological factors on people in community work and services


Course Assessment Information

RPL - Students who have previous informal and formal learning need to advise their trainer/assessor prior to enrolment. If the student wishes to apply for an RPL they need to apply to the RPL Centre.
Credit transfer - If credit for relevant formal qualifications is sought, then the process will be actioned after the student has enrolled in at least one unit of competency as directed by the relevant trainer/assessor. The Trainer/Assessor will work with the student on their credit transfer application, and provide advice and support as necessary.
Assessment Types
Practical Task
Written/Electronic Assessment
RPL
Third Party Verification
Project
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?
Please view the more details information for any additional information related to this course.

Domestic 2023 Availabilities

Standard Course Structure

Online
August: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time

Domestic 2024 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
For individual class days and times for each intake please check the TAFE Timetable located here
The availabilities shown above are for the current and future years. To view any historic availabilities please press "Show Historic Availabilities" below:

Show Historic Availabilities
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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 20 units of competency in CHC52021– Diploma of Community Service you must successfully complete all 20 units of study in this course in order to be awarded Diploma of 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 200 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.