What is community service?
Community services include any service provided by government, private or not-for-profit organisations to the public, often to help and support those who are disadvantaged in some way.
There are many career options in the community services sector. All pathways lead to many rewarding work options.
Most notably, the most in-demand jobs in Australia right now are in the areas of Youth Worker, Social Services Specialists, Childcare Workers and Case Managers.
Specialist areas include any of the following –
- Counselling
- Mental health support
- Disability support
- Aged care
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services
- Child protection
- Family services
- Case management
Typically, people that are attracted to community service work love helping people and taking on daily challenges. It is very important to identify these traits when one considers their own personality profile and whether they would be suited to this line of work.
Working in community services in Australia means that you’ll be dealing with vulnerable people who might be experiencing poverty, discrimination, domestic violence, or hardship.
6 Rewarding Career Paths
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Counselling
Counselling is one of the fastest-growing fields in community service. It’s also one of the most fulfilling ways to help others by equipping them with the tools and advice they need to live their best lives.
The workforce is relatively mature, with an average age of 46 years, making this an ideal second (or third) career for many.
As a counsellor, you work with a diverse range of clients — couples, families, individuals and groups — helping people deal with grief, relationship problems, substance abuse, depression or anxiety.
You help clients see different ways to view situations and offer new approaches to manage them. Counsellors also spend a lot of time listening — a skill that takes patience and practice to master.
Formal Counselling Qualifications can be achieved at Diploma and Degree level.
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Mental Health
First-hand experience can also help you get accepted into a mental health course. If you have a friend or family member who has experienced mental health issues, this can give you the understanding and empathy to make a massive difference as a mental health worker.
Many workers in this field enter mental health after either doing some work or volunteer experience in the community services sector before branching out into mental health work.
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Disability
There are now over 175,000 workers in the aged and disabled carers sector, and employment is expected to grow strongly.
Aged and disabled carers work in most parts of Australia, and nearly all job roles are in health care and social assistance.
Job outcomes for a disability worker
If you’re looking to start your career in disability support services, there are many different pathways you can take. It’s a diverse field, with options across residential, community and individualized services.
- Disability support worker
- Special needs teacher
- Education aide
- Personal care nurse
- Disability officer
To start your career in disability support, take a course in individual support. The course will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge you need to work with people who have disabilities. It covers things like how to help someone move safely, what a person’s rights are, how to communicate clearly and much more.
An individual support course is often the first step toward being able to work as a disability support worker or personal care assistant. Over half of disability support workers hold a Certificate IV or Certificate III.
Even if you want to go on to study something different (for example, nursing), it’s still a good idea to complete this course first because it provides you with an excellent foundation for further education or training.
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Aged Care
Aged care is a rewarding career if you are a compassionate and caring person who wants to make a difference in the lives of older people. In an aged care career, you help older Australians and their carers to live comfortably and independently at home, in residential aged care or in retirement villages.
Job outcomes for an aged care worker
Aged care workers may choose to specialise in a particular type of care or focus on a specific group of people.
The scope of aged care workers’ roles varies depending on their qualifications, skills, experience, and the organisation they work for.
Typical Job roles include –
- Personal care worker
- Nurse
- Home care assistant
- Community leisure officer
- Activities officer
5. Work in child protection services
Working in child protection means providing a child-centred, family-focused service that best protects children and young people from harm or abuse within the family. Youth work often involves helping prevent family violence and protecting young people, as well as providing them with care services.
As a child protection practitioner, you’re responsible for:
- Investigating reports of potential harm to a child
- Taking legal action and processing through to court action
- Writing reports
- Providing advice to those who report cases of abuse
- Protecting children from family violence
Child protection services work can also be an incredibly rewarding career, knowing that you’re able to make a difference in the lives of children.
Job outcomes for a child protection worker
- Youth worker
- Child protection practitioner
- Family support worker
- Parole and probation officer
- Welfare officer
6. Support people with drug and alcohol problems
In community services, you can also make a career for yourself helping those suffering from alcohol and drug abuse. Choosing a qualification in Alcohol and Other Drugs can give workers the skills to support clients who are suffering from issues related to alcohol and drugs. By working in this area, you’ll be making a fulfilling contribution to the community and changing lives.
Are you ready for a career in community services?
If you’re interested in beginning a rewarding career in community services, a great place to start is with the CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services.
Oz learn offers this as an online course and classroom based course through our affiliate accredited institutions.,
What are you waiting for? Get in touch with an Ozlearn consultant today and explore the government funded study option available to you.
