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Do you have the drive to make a difference in the lives of young people and a passion for helping others? This course will give you job ready skills to become a youth worker and play a key role in developing and supporting children and teens in our community, leading to better and brighter futures.
Be guided by our team of expert lecturers who are professionals in the field with extensive industry experience. Learn how to connect with a young person in need and gain insight into the problems they are facing by facilitating programs that assess behavioural, developmental, welfare and protection issues. Build the skills to work with youth at risk and help with potential solutions by offering emotional support or practical support such as arranging food and shelter. You’ll also grow your communication skills to liaise with teachers, social workers and parents and refer clients to specialists that can help further with specific issues.
Youth Work can be a rewarding career where you will need patience, sensitivity and a resilient and strong character, due to the nature of the work. Your role will focus on keeping young people safe and assisting them to develop social and emotional skills to encourage positive change.
Youth workers are in high demand and can be employed by community, government and welfare agencies in settings where children may need help such as hospitals, schools, corrective institutions, youth refuges, community centres, or drug and alcohol centres.
Complete this course and take the first step to becoming a youth worker, youth support worker or case worker. You can make a lasting impact by helping our young people in need.
Study in specialised facilities
SM TAFE campuses have training settings which represent real-life workplace situations and environments, allowing students to develop practical skills for workforce readiness. This course requires you to undertake a work placement of approximately 120 hours where you’ll be able to apply the skills and knowledge you have learned.
Good news!
This course is going to transition to a new training package in 2023. This means that students starting in 2023 will transfer during their study to new units developed to meet current and future industry needs.
- Develop and facilitate a range of community based programs
- Promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
- Respond to critical situations
- Work with youth at risk
- Assist with collective action
- Work with cultural diversity
- Follow legislative and ethical requirements
- Implement orgnisational policies and guidelines
- Can communicate well in person, written and verbally with young people
- Is able to work independently
- Shows empathy
- Is organised and able to plan
- Uses initiative and leadership skills
This course is FREE from 1 January 2023. The course fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government for WA residents.
Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training, and other fees may apply for some courses. Please see the FAQs on our Skills Ready page for further information.
Online study is available for this course. Be sure to check the study requirements tab for information about studying this course using eCampus including study assistance and our helpful online study guide, then use the apply now link where you see the online study option.
This course requires COVID-19 vaccination, police clearance and working with children check prior to work placement. See the important information tab for instructions.
| School Leaver | Non-School Leaver | AQF |
|---|---|---|
| C Grades in Year 11 WACE General English, and OLNA; or NAPLAN 9 Band 8 | C Grades in Year 11 English and Maths or equivalent | Certificate II or Certificate III |
This course follows on from the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services and can be achieved within 1 semester. If you have completed the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services course you may wish to complete the additional units in this qualification to specialise in youth work.
Study at Armadale and Murdoch includes eight units from the CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services allowing you to achieve both qualifications within 2 semesters full time. Students that have already completed the eight units in CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services are eligible to apply for a credit transfer to reduce the study load and overall course cost.
Students required to be at least 21 years of age. Industry have advised that work placement for under 21 year old's is unlikely therefore students would be unable to complete the qualification successfully without a work placement.
Attendance in class
You will need to attend class for 3 days a week one semester when studied full-time.
As well as the in-class component, you will need to complete approximately 7 hours of additional study each week outside of class hours, including private study, assignment preparation, and research.
You will need to have the basic technical requirements for at-home study. If you don’t have access to a computer and WiFi at home, we recommend using our library computers during library hours.
What you need for your first day of class
On your first day you should bring your SM TAFE confirmation enrolment receipt, your student ID and stationery (pen and exercise book).
Clean clothing suitable for an office work place must be worn.
Work placement
This qualification requires the completion of a work placement of approximately 120 hours.
If you live in the local area of Perth you will be assisted to find a placement if you are unable to find one.
Online study
Students completing the online study option will complete two units at a time, with progress monitored by their lecturer. This can be done at a pace suitable to you but for each group of units you have 4 months to complete, so we recommend you use our schedule provided to you at enrolment to assist you in avoiding having to re-enrol in the unit.
Students must be able to demonstrate practical skills to achieve this qualification while studying completely online. Lecturers may arrange sessions for students that wish to access face to face support.
The nature of online study can involve a significant investment of time and the ability to be a focused, self-motivated learner. You should consider your personal circumstances and past study history before committing to study online. Find out more in our online study info pack below.
Online study info pack (334 KB) (PDF document - opens in a new tab)
Work placement
This qualification requires the completion of a work placement in an appropriate Youth Work role of approximately 120 hours, to be arranged by yourself.
All students enrolled in Community Services, Youth Work and Mental Health are encouraged to obtain First Aid training (HLTAID011 is preferred). On campus students will receive first aid training as a unit in the recommended study plan. Online students will need to organise and pay for the training as their own responsibility.
You may be required to obtain a Working With Children Check and National Police Clearance prior to a supervised work placement. This will depend on the organisation you arrange your work placement with.
For more information visit:
https://workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au(opens in a new tab)
https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Police-Direct/National-Police-Certificates(opens in a new tab)
Important COVID-19 update
This course requires you to undertake a mandatory work placement with an employer associated with an industry outlined in the COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy. This means that you must be triple dose vaccinated prior to your work placement. For the latest information on vaccine requirements for students visit our COVID-19 update page.
- Youth Worker | Youth Officer | Youth Support Worker | Youth Liaison Officer
- Community Worker | Juvenile Justice Worker
Please note this list should be used as a guide only as job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.
SM TAFE actively promotes the employment availability of course graduates to key industry partners and organisations. We also seek expressions of interest from organisations for the placement of our students into work experience. We endeavour to assist students into a career pathway, but please be aware that neither employment nor work experience placement is guaranteed by us.
To access free career planning and job search assistance, visit the Jobs and Skills Centres page.
Select your preferred campus and apply
Click on your preferred campus and study mode below to get started with your application.
Semester 1, 2023
Armadale - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| When | Semester 1, 2023 |
| Where | Armadale |
| How | On Campus |
Murdoch - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| When | Semester 1, 2023 |
| Where | Murdoch |
| How | On Campus |
Semester 2, 2023
Armadale - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| When | Semester 2, 2023 |
| Where | Armadale |
| How | On Campus |
Murdoch - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| When | Semester 2, 2023 |
| Where | Murdoch |
| How | On Campus |
Semester 2, 2022
Armadale - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| When | Semester 2, 2022 |
| Where | Armadale |
| How | On Campus |
Murdoch - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| When | Semester 2, 2022 |
| Where | Murdoch |
| How | On Campus |