Certificate IV in Community Services

CHC42021

This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.

Overview

This qualification reflects the role of community service workers who deliver and support person-centred services to individuals and groups. Workers may provide support, advocacy or interventions to individual persons, groups or communities across a range of services.

At this level, workers may be autonomous with limited responsibility within established parameters and may supervise others. Work may take place in a range of community service, case work or case management contexts.

The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

There are 0 minimum work placement hours required for this unit.

  • Financial help

    • Government funding is available for this course. Check your eligibility for:

      • Career Boost (general)
      Check your eligibility

  • Cost

    Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.

    • VET Student Loans are not available
    • You may need to pay for equipment or materials.

    To see how government funding could help to reduce the cost of your course, check your eligibility for funding.

  • On-the-job training

    • Completing this course through a traineeship can help you to learn the skills you need.

    This traineeship is available:

    • Community Services Worker

  • Entry requirements

    This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.

  • Duration

    You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.

    • Through traineeship:
      2 years
    • Qualification only:
      6 months – 2 years

  • Delivery options

    You may be able to access this training in these ways:

    • Workplace-based
    • Some classroom learning
    • Part-time available
    • Partially online
    • Practical learning

Course content

This course is made up of units.

All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.

For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.

Unit Unit type
Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships Core
Facilitate the interests and rights of clients Core
Follow safe work practices for direct client care Core
Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence Core
Use communication to build relationships Core
Work legally and ethically Core
Work with diverse people Core
Address the needs of people with chronic disease Elective
Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing Elective
Assess co-existing needs Elective
Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues Elective
Assess the needs of clients with problem gambling issues Elective
Assist families to self-manage contact Elective
Confirm developmental status Elective
Consolidate and conclude mediation Elective
Contribute to ongoing skills development using a strengths-based approach Elective
Contribute to planning and implementation of care services using a palliative approach Elective
Contribute to the review and development of policies Elective
Coordinate client directed services Elective
Deliver care services using a palliative approach Elective
Deliver structured programs Elective
Determine and respond to carer needs Elective
Develop and deliver community projects Elective
Develop and support community resources Elective
Develop and use strategies for communication with augmentative and alternative communication systems Elective
Develop strategies to address unmet needs Elective
Engage respectfully with young people Elective
Engage with health professionals and the health system Elective
Facilitate and monitor contact Elective
Facilitate and review case management Elective
Facilitate changeovers Elective
Facilitate community participation and social inclusion Elective
Facilitate couple processes in group work Elective
Facilitate family intervention strategies Elective
Facilitate goal directed planning Elective
Facilitate individual service planning and delivery Elective
Facilitate mediation Elective
Facilitate responsible behaviour Elective
Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support Elective
Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes Elective
Identify and report abuse Elective
Identify and report children and young people at risk Elective
Implement case management practice Elective
Implement participation and engagement strategies Elective
Improve clients' fundamental financial literacy skills Elective
Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide Elective
Interpret and use legal information Elective
Lead volunteer teams Elective
Maintain a high standard of service Elective
Manage and maintain tenancy agreements and services Elective
Manage personal stressors in the work environment Elective
Manage volunteer workforce development Elective
Meet community information needs Elective
Operate in a family law environment Elective
Plan and conduct group activities Elective
Plan for the provision of pastoral and spiritual care Elective
Plan, facilitate and review psycho-educational groups Elective
Prepare and evaluate relationship education programs Elective
Prepare for mediation Elective
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety Elective
Promote community awareness of domestic and family violence Elective
Provide advocacy and representation services Elective
Provide alcohol and other drugs withdrawal services Elective
Provide brief interventions Elective
Provide client-centred support to people in crisis Elective
Provide domestic and family violence support in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities Elective
Provide domestic and family violence support in non-English speaking background communities Elective
Provide First Aid Elective
Provide first point of contact Elective
Provide group education on consumer credit and debt Elective
Provide individualised support Elective
Provide intervention support to families Elective
Provide loss and grief support Elective
Provide needle and syringe services Elective
Provide parenting, health and well-being education Elective
Provide pastoral and spiritual care Elective
Provide person-centred services to people with disability with complex needs Elective
Provide recovery oriented mental health services Elective
Provide sexual and reproductive health information to clients Elective
Provide suicide bereavement support Elective
Provide support to children affected by domestic and family violence Elective
Recognise and respond to crisis situations Elective
Recruit, induct and support volunteers Elective
Reflect on and improve own professional practice Elective
Represent clients in court Elective
Respond effectively to behaviours of concern Elective
Respond to client language, literacy and numeracy needs Elective
Support people to improve relationships Elective
Support the rights and safety of children and young people Elective
Support young people to create opportunities in their lives Elective
Undertake bicultural work with forced migrants in Australia Elective
Visit client residence Elective
Work collaboratively to maintain an environment safe for children and young people Elective
Work effectively with young people in the youth work context Elective
Work in an alcohol and other drugs context Elective
Work to empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities Elective
Work with clients to identify financial literacy education needs Elective
Work with clients who are intoxicated Elective
Work with clients within the social housing system Elective
Work with forced migrants Elective
Work with parents or carers of very young children Elective
Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness Elective
Work with people with mental health issues Elective
Work within a community development framework Elective

Job prospects

The Certificate IV in Community Services sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.

  • Welfare Centre Manager

    ANZSCO 134214

    Welfare Centre Managers manage centres, programs or projects concerned with social welfare support.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Recruitment Consultant

    ANZSCO 223112

    Match people looking for work with employers looking for staff.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Liaison Officer

    ANZSCO 224912

    Liaison Officers establish and facilitate communication between different community groups, organisations and governments.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Health Promotion Officer

    ANZSCO 251911

    Health Promotion Officers assist health and community groups to improve the health of individuals and the community by raising awareness of healthy lifestyles, disease and disability, and other health-related issues.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Drug and Alcohol Counsellor

    ANZSCO 272112

    Drug and Alcohol Counsellors provide support and treatment for people with drug and alcohol dependency problems, develop strategies which assist them to set goals and affect and maintain change, and provide community education. They may work in call centres.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Other Counsellor and Life Coach

    ANZSCO 272199

    Other Counsellors and Life Coaches includes jobs like Gambling Counsellor, Grief Counsellor, Life Coach, Sexual Assault Counsellor, and Trauma Counsellor. Occupations in this group may work in call centres.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Welfare Worker

    ANZSCO 272613

    Welfare Workers assist individuals, families and groups with social, emotional or financial difficulties to improve quality of life, by educating and supporting them and working towards change in their social environment.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Community Worker

    ANZSCO 411711

    Develop and implement plans to improve life in the local community.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Family Support Worker

    ANZSCO 411713

    Family Support Workers assist the work of Social Workers and Welfare Workers by providing services and support to families.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Parole and Probation Officer

    ANZSCO 411714

    Parole or Probation Officers supervise offenders who have been placed on probation by court order or released conditionally from corrective service institutions.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Residential Care Officer

    ANZSCO 411715

    Residential Care Officers provide care and supervision for children or disabled persons in group housing or institutional care.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Youth Worker

    ANZSCO 411716

    Support young people in the social, emotional, financial, study and employment aspects of their lives.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Aged and Disabled Carer

    ANZSCO 423111

    Provide companionship and practical support to aged and disabled persons in their own homes

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Personal Care Assistant

    ANZSCO 423313

    Personal Care Assistants provide routine personal care services to people in a range of health care facilities or in a person's home.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Child and Youth Residential Care Assistant

    ANZSCO 423411

    Child or Youth Residential Care Assistants provide care and supervision for children and young people living in residential or institutional facilities such as group homes and correctional institutions.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate III or IV

  • Refuge Worker

    ANZSCO 423413

    Refuge Workers provide services and support to people seeking assistance in a refuge.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate III or IV

  • Funeral Director

    ANZSCO 451311

    Funeral Directors plan and coordinate arrangements for funerals according to the wishes of the deceased or their relatives.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Funeral Worker (Other)

    ANZSCO 451399

    Funeral Workers (Other) includes jobs like Embalmer, and Funeral Director's Assistant.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate III or IV

Training providers delivering Certificate IV in Community Services

It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.

Showing: 85 providers

How to enrol in this course

To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.

When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.

The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.

Delivery locations can change as students enrol. If you're doing any workplace-based training, like an apprenticeship, this will take place in a different location from your classroom training. Contact your training provider to confirm delivery locations.
Government funding may be available. Contact your training provider to confirm.
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