Community Services

At the heart of community services is a desire to help people – to promote social justice and inclusion and enable people to flourish.  Community services, welfare and support workers are there to help and empower individuals, families, marginalized groups and communities who face disadvantage and societal problems.

Whether you want to become a support worker, case manager or service coordinator, our Bachelor of Community Services will help you to develop your skills in identifying the problems individuals and communities face; understanding the social, economic and legal contexts of these issues, and provide help and support to achieve optimal outcomes.

Our degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to practice in multi-disciplinary health-related community settings. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a minor in either;

  • Aboriginal Community Care,
  • Aged Care,
  • Children and Young people,
  • Disability,
  • Mental Health,
  • Criminal Corrections.

To help develop your professional skills and ensure you are ready for work in the health services sector, this degree incorporates 400 hours of supervised professional field work.

Why this degree

Community and health services is the fastest-growing job sector in Australia, and if you have a desire to help people and promote social change there are a range of job opportunities for you including:

  • Welfare Support Worker,
  • Care Coordinator,
  • Community Services Case Manager,
  • Community Services Coordinator,
  • Aboriginal Community Care worker,
  • Youth worker
  • Other roles in a range of community work, community development and care services, volunteer programs, residential facilities, correctional facilities, group homes, community agencies and government departments.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Community Services General Program is accredited with the Australian Community Workers Association.

Course Description

In the degree you will learn how to evaluate and apply evidence in your practice as a community services worker; provide counselling and low intensity interventions to specific areas of working with Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander people You also have opportunity to choose an area of interest to you which may include mental health; leadership and human resource management or any other area approved by the course coordinator.

To develop your professional skills this degree incorporates 400 hours of supervised professional fieldwork.  This is done via two field placements, first placement is 150 hours and the second for 250 hours.  These placements can be in your current workplace but not in your current role. All students are required to have a Working with Children Check and it is recommended they have up to date vaccinations prior to commencing their first field placement.

Study Online

Flexibility is the key to our online learning programs. Whatever your commitments you can study at any time or place around the world – at home, travelling or at work. At UNE, our online teaching is designed to be inclusive and to create a learning community for all students to engage with each other as well as academic staff.

Some units have intensive schools that enable students to engage in practical exercises, tutorials and lectures and meet with peers during intensive periods on campus in Armidale.

Advanced Standing

If you currently have a Vocational Education Training (VET) qualifications in the following areas, you are eligible to apply for advanced standing for some units which can reduce the time required to complete the degree:

  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Care,
  • Community Services,
  • Nursing.