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Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services

Become a critically reflective and ethical practitioner that can make lasting change to the lives of people in need.
This course is offered at multiple locations, select your prefered campus to see when it is offered.
Ballarat - Mt Helen
Berwick
On-line Learning
Location
Semester 1
Semester 2
Other intakes
Ballarat - Mt Helen
Semester 1
Semester 2
-
Other intakes
-
Berwick
Semester 1
-
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
On-line Learning
Semester 1
Semester 2
Other intakes
-
View all semester start dates
Length
0.5 Year full-time or part-time equivalent
(60 credit points = 0.5 EFTSL)
Entry requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services is designed for community and human services professionals looking to advance their careers or those seeking a new career in this growing sector. Many social problems, including poverty, conflict, family violence, growing social and economic disparities in health, education and mental health, are challenges confronting the welfare sector in Australia and around the globe. You will learn theories and practice frameworks that underpin community service work and develop skills to undertake complex case work, group work and social advocacy.

This course provides you with the skills to work in a broad range of human services settings including government, non-government welfare organisation and community groups.

  • Disability support worker
  • Youth worker
  • Community development worker
  • Welfare worker
  • Community support worker
  • Residential care worker

Work in a broad range of human service settings, including government, non-government welfare organizations and community groups.

Sample structures are just one example of the many options available within your chosen course.  Please contact Federation University for further information on available options.

Please note this is a sample structure only and is not to be used for enrolment purposes.  To enrol, please refer to the information provided to you by Federation University for your individual course structure or view our enrolment information page.

To view current unit information and cost, click on the individual unit name below, or click here to view current unit information and cost for ALL units.

Year 1

Semester 1

ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
GCSCS6003, 15 credit points
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
GCSCS6004, 15 credit points

Students attend 3 fortnightly seminars of 3 hours each per subject (36 hours in total).

Entry requirements (non year 12)

Completed a Bachelor’s Degree AQF Level 7 in any discipline. OR Completed a Diploma VET/TAFE or Associate Degree qualification in a related discipline AND a minimum of three years full-time professional experience in the related community and human service fields, such as disability studies, community development, youth work, child protection, family violence, homelessness, housing, humanitarian organisations.

English language requirement

Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with no band less than 6.5, or equivalent

The application method varies depending on your circumstances, please visit our How to apply page for further information.

Direct application: Yes

Federation University code: GC4

2024 Indicative Fees

Fee Type: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

$8,162 student contribution amount

A Commonwealth Supported Place is subsidised by the Australian Government.  Your fees (student contribution amount) are set on an annual basis by the government and are determined by the discipline area and band of your individual units, not the overall course.  Each unit falls into a band which determines the student contribution.

2024 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range between $4,445 Band 1 to $16,323 Band 4.  To find the Band, EFTSL and contribution amount for each unit, check the Sample Structure or refer to the 2024 unit listing.

Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and the indicative amount should be used as a guide only.  It is based on a typical enrolment for a student undertaking the first year of study in this course.  For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed.  Total cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.

Other fees

You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Fee assistance

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution.  You may also be eligible to defer payment of your SSAF through a SA-HELP loan.

Scholarships

Our scholarships and grants can help with your study costs.  Explore our scholarships to find an opportunity that's right for you.

Can your studies count towards a degree with us? Use our online Credit Search to get the details on completing your studies sooner.

To this course: Pathways into this course may include a Bachelor Degree or a combination of study and work experience.

Please contact the university for further details and to discuss your current academic qualifications.

From this Course:

Successful completion of a related Bachelor degree with four relevant* courses (equal to 0.5 EFTSL) AND successful completion of Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services are eligible for direct entry to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying).
*Relevant courses are typically two units in the study of human behaviour and two units in the study of society

To help you get the most from your online learning experience, it's important that you own or have frequent access to a fast and reliable computer that's ideally not more than two years old.

You will also need frequent access to a reliable high-speed internet connection.  You should expect to use approximately 5GB of data each month, per unit, just for study use.

For further information, visit the Minimum IT requirements for studying online webpage.

A range of student services are available at most campuses. For further information on these services or for course information, please contact us on 1800 333 864.

The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.

All information contained in this course overview including the availability of courses and fees, is correct at the time of being published, however the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Students should check for any amendment prior to enrolment.

CRICOS Provider No.00103D
Please note: This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding to eligible individuals.
National RTO Code: 4909

School department

Social Work, Community & Human Services

Course co-ordinator

Clement Chihota