Do you want to build a career focusing on the welfare and wellbeing of our young people? This course gives you the job ready skills to become a youth worker and will help you work towards reaching supervisory, team leader and management level positions.
Adolescence can be a challenging and transitional time for young people and many may experience mental health and behavioural issues or disorders they need support with, whilst working out their identity on the journey into adulthood. Youth at risk or in crisis can need practical support such as food, shelter, safety, along with counselling to help them get on to a more positive path in their lives.
You’ll learn from our expert team of lecturers on how to be a role model and mentor to teenagers and children and respond to youth in crisis. You’ll gain the knowledge to assess problems that arise from behavioural, developmental, welfare and protection issues and develop and manage youth programs that address issues and provide ongoing support.
Youth workers are in high demand and can work at community, government and welfare agencies in settings such as hospitals, schools, corrective institutions, youth refuges, community centres, mental health organisations or drug and alcohol centres.
Want to find out more about this industry?
Our Community services at SM TAFE Facebook page has more information for students about organisations, initiatives and leading expertise in the industry.
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 manage youth programs
- Promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
- Respond to critical situations and work with youth at risk
- Assist collective action
- Consultation and training techniques
- Develop and maintain professional networks
- Work with cultural diversity
- Ethical behaviour and legal responsibilities
In order to make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, you must take into account the essential skills and knowledge required to undertake this study.
- excellent observational skills - to be able to identify changes in behaviour, abilities and environment
- good interpersonal and communication skills to liaise/work with a range of people
- good listening and writing skills
- ability to relate to young people
- basic problem solving skills and the ability to respond to immediate safety risks
- Tolerance, patience and the willingness to work with people from different backgrounds and cultures with a non-judgemental attitude
This qualification is directly aligned with priority industry areas where the jobs are today, and into the future. As part of the state government Lower fees, local skills initiative, from 1 January 2020 through to 31 December 2025 you'll only pay half the course fees, capped for each year at $1,200; or $400 (plus resource fee) if you're aged 15—24 or eligible for a concession. Find out more
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 is a VET Student Loan eligible course. A VET Student Loan creates a debt that must be repaid to the Commonwealth and is only available to students who are eligible.
To find out if you are eligible or to see the list of eligible courses visit our Student Loans page.
This course requires COVID-19 vaccination, police clearance and working with children check prior to work placement. See the important information tab for instructions.
-
Entrance requirements
-
Course requirements
-
Study requirements
-
Important information
-
Job opportunities
-
Further study
| School Leaver | Non-School Leaver | AQF |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of WACE General or ATAR (Minimum C Grades) or equivalent | Completion of WACE General or ATAR or equivalent (minimum C Grades) | Certificate III |
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.
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.
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.
Your work placement requires you to be available to attend during weekdays and you may need to rearrange personal or work commitments to be able to attend.
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 Accommodation Support Worker | Youth Liaison Officer | Youth Support Worker
- Welfare Support Worker | Juvenile Justice Officer
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. In addition, this course involves work placement, giving you further opportunity to develop relationships with potential employers. We endeavour to assist students into a career pathway, but please be aware that employment is not guaranteed by us.
To access free career planning and job search assistance, visit the Jobs and Skills Centres page.
Become a specialist in your field with university study
The information about university credit points and tuition costs provides a general guide only. SM TAFE recommends students discuss credit points with the university or college of their choice at the time of graduation.
Select your preferred campus and apply
Click on your preferred campus and study mode below to get started with your application.