Community and social services is an exciting, fast-growing sector.
Whether you’re looking to become a welfare support worker, social worker, counsellor or moving into another area of community and social services, the career prospects are overwhelmingly promising
“Working in community and social services is a really rewarding career because you can make such a difference in people’s lives,” says Chisholm Community and Social Services Manager Raelene Stockton.
“Just your connection and involvement with them can give people the confidence to make life-changing decisions. If you’re someone who has empathy and a commitment to empowering people to live their best lives, it’s a great area to get into.”
Here are eight careers in community and social services where you can make a difference.
Alcohol and other drugs (AOD)
Each year, around 40,000 people use Victoria’s alcohol and other drug treatment and support services. You could help make a difference to their lives by pursuing a career in alcohol and other drugs.
“Under the alcohol and other drugs umbrella, there’s a broad spectrum of both residential and community-based treatment options that requires a diverse workforce,” says Raelene.
“There are rehabilitation services, home-based withdrawal services – it’s such a broad area. We often meet with sector and drug and alcohol agencies and they are always looking for staff, so there is definitely a need there.”
Alcohol and other drugs courses:
Chisholm’s Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs is a great entry-level course that gives you foundation skills to work across a range of AOD services. You’ll learn how to support clients and implement health promotion and community interventions.
From 2023, Chisholm will also offer a Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs. Students who complete the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs can pathway into the Diploma (with credits awarded for units already completed).
Counselling
Counselling can be a rewarding career for those looking to help people understand and overcome personal and psychological challenges.
“It might be self-esteem, depression, making informed choices, managing conflict – a whole range of things,” says Raelene.
According to Raelene, one of the perks of studying counselling is that you can apply it across many different jobs.
“Counselling enhances every direct people role,” she says. “It gives you the skills to engage, manage and respond to people in a way that’s really positive and constructive.”
Counselling course:
Become a counsellor with Chisholm’s Diploma of Counselling. The qualification gives you the skills needed to work in counselling roles in established agencies (rather than in independent practice), with a real focus on building practical skills.
The Diploma also provides a pathway to the Bachelor of Psychology. What’s really great is that your diploma will count as the first year of your psychology degree.
Family violence prevention
In Australia, approximately one quarter of women have experienced at least one incident of violence by an intimate partner. Tragically, one woman a week is killed by her intimate partner.
Family violence is defined as any violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour that occurs in current or past family, domestic or intimate relationships.
If you’re passionate about making a difference in this area, Chisholm can help you work towards your goal.
Family violence courses:
Chisholm offers a range of courses in family violence, including the Graduate Certificate in Family Violence (Prevention and Practice), Graduate Certificate in Family Violence (Working with Men), Course in Gender Equity and Course in Identifying and Responding to Family Violence Risk.
These courses can be useful to those who are already studying another qualification and want to increase their knowledge of family violence and employment opportunities.
They could also be a ‘taster’ course to go on to do further study, for example with the Diploma of Community Services.
Mental health
It’s estimated one in five Australians suffers from a mental illness. Working in the mental health space could be a rewarding career choice for those looking to make a difference.
Jobs-wise, there are many options to explore with mental health. You could work in community rehabilitation or as a support or outreach worker.
Higher level qualifications open up other pathways, for example if you wanted to become a welfare co-ordinator or psychosocial rehabilitation worker.
Mental health courses
Chisholm’s Certificate IV in Mental Health equips you with the skills to work as a mental health support worker in a range of community settings, from home-based outreach and respite care to residential services and in clinical facilities.
The Certificate IV also opens pathways to the Diploma of Mental Health, which gives you more specialist knowledge and skills in this area.
“If you’re passionate about supporting other people to increase their resilience and recovery, it’s a really good option,” says Raelene. “There’s a whole range of employment outcomes with the Diploma qualification.”
Youth work
Like the idea of helping young people who might be at risk, disadvantaged or have special needs?
Youth work is a rewarding career choice where you can make a difference to young people’s lives early on and have a real impact.
“You could actually help them build capacity and life skills that they could carry through with them for the rest of their lives,” says Raelene.
“Again, there’s a whole range or areas to work in – from youth accommodation and youth programs to youth AOD.”
Youth work courses
Chisholm’s Certificate IV In Youth Work qualification can help you become a youth worker, residential care worker, youth justice worker or community care worker, among other roles.
The Diploma of Youth Work is another option for those looking to take their knowledge and skills to the next level.
Justice
Is a career in the justice system calling?
There are all sorts of career options in justice. You could work in criminology, the courts or in community corrections.
Maybe you’re interested in entering the police force? It certainly is a great way to make a difference!
Justice courses
Chisholm’s Diploma of Justice gives you a solid understanding of the legal system, the criminal justice system, family violence, criminal law, policing and investigation processes and the management of offenders, including young offenders.
Aged care
Does the prospect of caring for the elderly excite you?
The employment prospects in aged care are extremely promising. According to National Skills Commission Employment Outlook report, aged and disabled carers tops the list of occupations with the largest projected employment growth from November 2021 to 2026.
By 2026, the number of aged and disabled care workers is expected to grow very strongly (by 28%, or 74,900 jobs) and reach 341,800.
If you’re caring by nature, patient and a team player, working in aged care could be the career for you.
Aged care courses
Chisholm offers a range of courses to help you get started in the aged care sector.
The Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community) traineeship is a fantastic option for those looking to complete a qualification and gain on-the-job experience at the same time.
For those wanting to pursue more of a leadership-style role, the Certificate IV in Ageing Support could be for you.
Disability
Want to help disabled people to live their best lives? You could make a difference in the disability sector.
Disability support workers provide life-changing support and care to people with disabilities, helping to empower them to be in control of their lives.
You could potentially work as a disability worker providing household assistance, emotional support, care and companionship through the NDIS, which supports more than 500,000 Australians who have permanent and significant disability.
Disability courses
Chisholm can help you pursue a career in the disability sector with a range of disability services courses.
The Certificate III In Individual Support teaches you how to provide personalised support, communicate with those with complex needs, and help people with a disability build their skills.
The Certificate IV In Disability is the next step up, building on your competency in a range of areas.
Ready to get started?
If you’d like to know more about pursuing a career in community and social services, please get in touch. We are here to answer all your questions and find the right course to help you chase your calling.
