Build the specialist interpersonal skills to secure a career in youth work

Youth work is a dynamic field with a specific focus on inclusivity, diversity and improved outcomes for young people. The field needs adaptive professionals who are ready to work collaboratively with other sectors and can embrace cultural changes such as the rapid emergence of digital tools and technology use among youth.

UNE offers undergraduate and postgraduate course offerings which provide the knowledge and skills you need to work with young people in our fast-paced world where attitudes, challenges and policies are ever-changing. Because UNE has a long history of helping adults ready themselves for changes in the workplace, our youth work courses emphasise client care and professional practice to ensure you are future-fit to adapt to advancements in the field. You’ll learn from highly experienced practitioners and researchers.

Most of our students opt for online education, where they become part of a community of adults who pool their life and work experiences to form tangible networks for the future. Those who study on-campus enjoy accommodation, athletics facilities and support services. Whether online or on-campus, you can choose to study full-time or part-time over three trimesters.

By choosing to study with UNE, you’ll acquire the skills required to thrive as a dynamic youth worker in whichever area of the sector you choose to work. By choosing UNE, you’ll be studying with an industry leader in the provision of online lifelong learning. Year after year, students award us the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

Explore the study options related to Youth Work on offer at UNE.

Courses by study level

At the heart of community services is a desire to help people – to promote social justice and inclusion, and enable people to flourish. UNE's flexibly delivered Bachelor of Community Services will enable you to develop the skills to empower…

Duration
  • 2 or 2.5 or 3 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

Criminology is the study of crime and our responses to crime. UNE's Bachelor of Criminology investigates factors that cause criminal behaviour and how crime can be prevented within wider society. The course offers a variety of key topics and…

Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Do you want to understand more about what drives human behaviour? Gain in-depth knowledge of the scientific study of human behaviour, as well as research and analytical experience, with UNE's innovative Bachelor of Psychological Science.…

Duration
  • 1.5 or 3 years full-time
  • Up to 5 or up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Become an agent of positive change in diverse communities with UNE's conditionally-accredited Bachelor of Social Work. With an emphasis on social work in rural and complex community environments, our flexibly delivered course will equip you with …

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Special and inclusive education is rapidly evolving, and with it the demand for specialists in the field is larger than ever. UNE’s Bachelor of Special and Inclusive Education (Primary) equips you with the knowledge and practical skills to become a…

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • Up to 10 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

Explore the social contexts of welfare, community service and health work with UNE’s Diploma of Community Welfare and Wellbeing. Build on your existing industry experience, vocational qualifications, or interest in welfare and community service work …

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

Supporting those in need is one of the most rewarding career pathways you can pursue. Along with a wide range of job options, working in health and social care can bring a sense of fulfilment, especially if you want to make a difference to the lives …

Duration
  • 1 trimester full-time
  • 1 year part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

The UNE Undergraduate Certificate in Professional Development is a program of study for people from a broad range of backgrounds who want to begin developing skills for future careers or further study. Designed in response to rapid workplace and…

Duration
  • 1 trimester full-time
  • 1 year part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

Youth and community work is a rapidly growing sector in Australia and working in this field provides the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Our new Undergraduate Certificate in Youth and Community Work is designed to help you…

Duration
  • 1 year part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
Mode
  • Online

Neuroscience is one of the fastest-growing areas of human physiology today, and it plays an increasingly vital role in guiding educational practices. With UNE's Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience and Education, you will deepen your…

Duration
  • 1 trimester full-time
  • Up to 2 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
Mode
  • Online

Adapt to an evolving workplace and open the door to new career opportunities with UNE's Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice. Whether you want to create more career choices, hone your specialist skills, or take a new…

Duration
  • 0.5 years full-time
  • 2 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

One Health recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, and the need for collaboration among multiple sectors to promote optimal health outcomes for all. By recognising the interconnectedness of these three fields,…

Duration
  • 0.5 years full-time
  • 2 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

Whether you are new to professional counselling or want to safeguard your career with an industry-recognised qualification, UNE's Graduate Diploma in Counselling gives you real-world skills and knowledge, underpinned by a strong philosophical…

Duration
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

There is a close connection between how the brain works and how we learn. As a result, neuroscience and education are becoming increasingly intertwined, and employers are looking for graduates with skills and knowledge in both areas.   UNE’s…

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
Mode
  • Online

Design a bespoke course and prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace with the UNE Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice. Whether you want to advance your career, hone your skills or embark on a new career direction, we'll work …

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

The One Health concept focuses on the holistic, connected approach to health, recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. Today, we understand much more about infectious diseases than we did pre-2020. We know that…

Duration
  • 1 year full-time
  • 2 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

At the heart of a career in counselling is a desire to help others. Build on the skills acquired in your previous degree or professional experience with UNE's accredited, flexibly delivered Master of Counselling. Underpinned by a humanistic…

Duration
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

Upgrade your skills in educational practice with the post-graduate UNE Master of Education (Coursework). In addition to a flexible program pathway with a wide range of curriculum options, you can build your expertise with one of four…

Duration
  • 1 or 1.5 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus

The field of neuroscience is one of the fastest growing in human physiology, and there is increasing interest in applying neuroscience to learning processes within the educational field. As a Master of Neuroscience and Education student at UNE, you…

Duration
  • 1.5 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
Mode
  • Online

One Health is a rapidly emerging discipline in public health, representing a multidisciplinary approach that recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. Examining these connections can help us to identify the root…

Duration
  • 0.5 or 1 or 1.5 years full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online

Build on your existing knowledge and passion for social justice and human rights with practical experience and flexibly delivered case-based learning. Gain the skills necessary to address barriers, inequality and injustices faced by marginalised and …

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

A Doctor of Philosophy is the pinnacle of academic study. Using rigorous and systematic research, combined with critical analysis, you will add to society's understanding of complex issues at the cutting-edge of your discipline or profession.…

Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • 8 years part-time
Start
  • Research Period 1
  • Research Period 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

High quality research and analysis allows us to better understand the complex issues we face in industry and society. With UNE's Master of Philosophy by research, your original findings and insights will add to the body of knowledge and inform…

Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Start
  • Research Period 1
  • Research Period 2
Mode
  • On Campus
  • Online

If you are enrolled at another university, you can choose to study subjects at UNE that will count towards your course. Apply as a cross institutional student directly and complete one or several individual subjects (units) from the full scope of…

Duration
  • 1 trimester full-time
  • 1 trimester part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus
Non-Award

The world is full of possibilities, with so much to discover and learn. There are endless opportunities to enrich your knowledge to prepare for the future, but what if you don’t want to undertake a full degree? And how can you zero-in on the…

Duration
  • 1 trimester full-time
  • 1 trimester part-time
Start
  • Trimester 1 - Feb 2024
  • Trimester 2 - Jun 2024
  • Trimester 3 - Oct 2024
Mode
  • Online
  • On Campus
  • Bespoke Graduate Certificate: design your own  4 unit postgraduate course and have your work experience recognised in the process.
  • ‘Fundamental’ Bespoke Course: choose two, three or four  fundamental units from a traditional degree. If you are planning a new direction, or adding a new set of skills to your portfolio, you may want to start with this option. These units provide a foundation, or a ‘base camp’, to return to if you want to later progress to a full degree.
  • ‘Advanced’ Bespoke Course: choose two, three or four  advanced units from a full degree. This is a great strategy for staying current in your field, or advancing your knowledge.
  • ‘Critical Content’ Bespoke Course: choose two, three or four units any of the available units in a degree to create a  Critical Content Bespoke Course. This option lets you get the knowledge you need without the time and cost of a full degree.
  • ‘Mix and Match’ Bespoke Course: combine two, three or four units from different degrees and disciplines to design your  mix and match Bespoke Course. This option lets you diversify your knowledge.

Why study with us?

Smiling Bachelor of Agriculture student Greg Kemmett stands on wooden stairwell at UNE Armidale

The most enjoyable part of my studies is the sense of achievement and being part of something bigger than myself.

Greg Kemmett

Find the right major or specialisation for your studies in Youth Work

With demand for capable youth workers strong and rising, UNE’s study offerings will help you to stay at the forefront of rapid changes in the welfare sector. Strengthen your position as a socially conscious, caring professional. Explore your Youth Work study options now.

Filter by:
Showing 110 of 13 results
Aboriginal Community Care
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
UNE's community service experts will help you develop skills in counselling, community development, and crisis intervention and prevention. Be future-fit for the evolving field of community care for Indigenous people that is focused on…

UNE's community service experts will help you develop skills in counselling, community development, and crisis intervention and prevention. Be future-fit for the evolving field of community care for Indigenous people that is focused on culturally appropriate and community-led care.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Community Services Minor Undergraduate
Aged Care
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
UNE's community care experts will help you develop the transferable knowledge and practical skills to prepare for a role in the aged care industry. Explore ageing from a theoretical perspective and learn to employ a person-centred framework in…

UNE's community care experts will help you develop the transferable knowledge and practical skills to prepare for a role in the aged care industry. Explore ageing from a theoretical perspective and learn to employ a person-centred framework in your practice, ready to succeed in this growing field.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Community Services Minor Undergraduate
Children and Young People
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Benefit from UNE's expertise in community services and develop the analytical, planning and evaluation skills to work in the field of community care. Prepare practically for your career and develop strategies for working with children and young…

Benefit from UNE's expertise in community services and develop the analytical, planning and evaluation skills to work in the field of community care. Prepare practically for your career and develop strategies for working with children and young people in a caring profession.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Community Services Minor Undergraduate
Bachelor of Social Work Specialist Course Undergraduate
Undergraduate Certificate in Youth and Community Work Specialist Course Undergraduate
Community Welfare and Wellbeing
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Develop your ability to contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community with UNE's highly regarded social work and community teaching team. Become future-fit for the rapidly changing world of welfare that is forecast to focus on equity…

Develop your ability to contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community with UNE's highly regarded social work and community teaching team. Become future-fit for the rapidly changing world of welfare that is forecast to focus on equity and resilience.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Community Services Specialist Course Undergraduate
Bachelor of Social Work Specialist Course Undergraduate
Master of Social Work (Qualifying) Specialist Course Postgraduate
Diploma in Community Welfare and Wellbeing Specialist Course Undergraduate
Undergraduate Certificate in Health and Social Care Specialist Course Undergraduate
Undergraduate Certificate in Professional Development Specialisation Undergraduate
Counselling
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course

Benefit from UNE’s established reputation in counselling and develop your listening and communication skills. Study recent, evidence-based, techniques and therapeutic approaches and be prepared for the challenges you’ll face in your counselling career. Explore the integration of tech into the field.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Arts Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Psychological Science Major Undergraduate
Bachelor of Social Science Major Undergraduate
Master of Counselling Specialist Course Postgraduate
Graduate Diploma in Counselling Specialist Course Postgraduate
Criminal Corrections
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
UNE's experienced educators will help you learn about human behaviour and develop the interpersonal skills you need to protect your role in the criminal justice system. Prepare for a rewarding future in a field that is ever-evolving as new…

UNE's experienced educators will help you learn about human behaviour and develop the interpersonal skills you need to protect your role in the criminal justice system. Prepare for a rewarding future in a field that is ever-evolving as new initiatives in rehabilitation are researched.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Community Services Minor Undergraduate
Disability
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Learn from UNE’s expert educators and develop the essential knowledge and nurturing skills required to apply a person-centred approach to assisting those with a disability, as well as their families and carers. Future proof yourself and prepare for…

Learn from UNE’s expert educators and develop the essential knowledge and nurturing skills required to apply a person-centred approach to assisting those with a disability, as well as their families and carers. Future proof yourself and prepare for a career in which you will be in high demand.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Community Services Minor Undergraduate
Justice and Indigenous Peoples
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course

Learn from UNE's experts in legal and Indigenous studies and develop your research, communication and analytical skills. Be future-fit for a society which will increasingly focus on restorative and transformative justice for diverse populations.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Criminology Minor Undergraduate
Mental Health
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course

Learn from UNE’s highly regarded mental health academics and be introduced to recent and future advancements in the study of emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. With UNE, you’ll build the practical and research skills needed in the fast-changing worlds of science, research and education.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Community Services Minor Undergraduate
Psychological Health and Wellbeing
  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor Honours
  • Postgraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Specialisation
  • Teaching Area
  • Specialist Course
Psychological health and wellbeing is now acknowledged as relevant to all kinds of fields, from sports to health to business. Safeguard your career by developing advanced knowledge in areas such as behaviour modification, motivation, and emotion.…

Psychological health and wellbeing is now acknowledged as relevant to all kinds of fields, from sports to health to business. Safeguard your career by developing advanced knowledge in areas such as behaviour modification, motivation, and emotion. Learn from UNE's world-class psychology experts.

Courses Type Level of Study
Bachelor of Psychological Science Minor Undergraduate

Why study with us?

5 stars
For Overall Experience and Teaching Quality
Good Universities Guide 2024
Australian Universities
No. 1
For Undergraduate Student Support
Good Universities Guide 2024
Public NSW Universities
No. 1
For Postgraduate Student Experience
QILT Student Experience Survey
NSW Universities

Careers in Youth Work

By studying youth work with UNE, you will have the future-proof skillset to secure positions in a wide range of careers that involve young people. With the need for professionals with expertise in caring for and guiding young people set to rise, those with well-developed skillsets in this area of study can find work in a variety of settings.

  • Youth worker
    Provide support and guidance to young people facing challenges such as homelessness, mental health issues, or substance abuse.
  • Youth outreach coordinator
    Organise outreach programs and activities to engage young people in positive community involvement.
  • Social worker
    Focus on youth and family services, assessing needs, providing intervention, and ensuring the welfare of vulnerable young individuals.
  • Counsellor
    Specialise in youth counselling, helping young people navigate personal, emotional or behavioural issues.
  • Community development officer
    Work in local government or non-profit organisations to develop and implement programs aimed at improving the wellbeing of young people.
  • Family support worker
    Assist families and children in need, offering counselling, resources and referrals to relevant services.
  • Policy officer
    Work on youth related matters at the policy level – in local, state or federal government.
  • Youth justice worker
    Mentor and guide young people who are involved in the juvenile justice system.

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024

What happens next?

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1. Decide on your course

Got any questions about a course you would like to study? Don’t hesitate to contact us, our Future Student team is standing by to help.

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2. Apply

2024 applications are now open. The application process only takes 20 minutes to complete. Don’t delay, apply now!

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3. Receive an offer, enrol and start studying

Your start date is based on the study period you choose to apply for.