CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services

CRICOS Course Code: 115220K    Campus locations: Sydney and Adelaide

COURSE  DESCRIPTION

This qualification focuses on the roles of workers across community services settings. Workers are involved in delivering specialised services and direct support to individuals, or groups and communities. There may be some case management directed by senior management. There may be supervision of other workers and volunteers.

 

ENTRY  REQUIREMENTS

International students must be over eighteen years old and provide evidence to demonstrate both academic and English language entry requirements as follows:

Academic Requirements:

• Successful completion of Year 12 or equivalent and/or above – or
• Experience in an aged care or nursing environment;

English Language Requirements as follows:

• IELTS 6.0 overall (no less than 5.5 in each band) or equivalent test result, or General English / EAP at the Upper Intermediate level from an approved ELICOS provider

Any AQF qualification at the Certificate IV or above in any discipline area delivered and assessed in English only will be deemed as meeting both the academic and English language entry requirements.

Entry into the course will depend on the Australian Immigration office’s Assessment Level for an international student’s country. At present, countries are classed from Level 1 through to Level 3. See Immigration’s website: www.immi.gov.au for details.

Physical requirements

Participants must beable to undertake thephysical tasks required in this role including manual handling using equipment in an aged care setting.

Requirements for the work placement

A Police Clearance Certificate is mandatory prior to your work placement; you must undertake a Federal Police Check (AFP) or NSW Police check (it must be no less than 3 years old). This can be done through a website.

There is also a Working with Children check and relevant immunisation check.

These checks will be completed at the start of the course and prior to industry work placement. Our staff give advice and assist you to complete these checks.

 

DURATION

The CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services duration is 104 weeks. The structure is based on 20 hours per week as follows:

You attend College two days a week for classroom learning, practice and assessment (7.5 hours each).

You also study a structured study program by unit in the online learning platform for 5 hours per week.

To get the most out of your course you need to do some self-study in your own time. There is a lot of theory learning and practice prior to work placement. Work placement of 400 hours is required towards the end of the course .

Commencement dates: See the website for our intake dates or ring the office for details.

 

CAREER  OPPORTUNITIES

People pursuing a career in a case worker community worker role in a community setting.

Graduates may seek employment in the following jobs:

• Community services worker
• Early intervention worker
• Group facilitator
• Program coordinator
• Youth officer
• Welfare worker
• Case worker

 

PATHWAYS

After achieving the Diploma of Community Services, you have several pathway options. You can complete further study such as social work and counselling at university depending on your grades. This is on an individual application basis.

 

QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE AND COURSE CONTENT

Study 20 units to gain your qualification

Our course has been designed to meet the requirements for the CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services.

It contains 20 Units; 12 Core units and 8 Elective units:

Core units
CHCLEG003	Manage legal and ethical compliance
CHCCCS004	Assess co-existing needs
CHCCCS007	Develop and implement service programs
CHCCCS019	Recognise and respond to crisis situations
CHCCSM013	Facilitate and review case management
CHCDEV005	Analyse impacts of sociological factors on people in community work and services
CHCDFV001	Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence
CHCDIV001	Work with diverse people
CHCDIV002	Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
CHCMGT005	Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes
CHCPRP003	Reflect on and improve own professional practice
HLTWHS003	Maintain work health and safety
Elective units
CHCMHS001	Work with people with mental health issues
CHCCOM003	Develop workplace communication strategies
CHCDIV003	Manage and promote diversity
CHCCSL001	Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
CHCPRP001	Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
CHCADV002	Provide advocacy and representation services
CHCADV001	Facilitate the interests and rights of clients
CHCLEG001	Work legally and ethically

 

DELIVERY  STRUCTURE

Delivery is a combination of methods to cover the theory and practice requirements:

• Workshops for developing your theory knowledge such as anatomy and medications and care plans.
• Supplementary learning online for each unit in theory and skills and case studies.
• Demonstrations then practice to give you that valuable practice time before you go to the work place.
• Self-paced study and support to embed your learning and practical skills.
• Work placements to apply your skills.

 

WORK PLACEMENT

Work Placement at an appropriate services provider is arranged with you to make this a rewarding experience. Our work placement coordinator will assist you. We have arrangements in place with different community service organisations and facilities or you may already be working in an appropriate service organisation and can use your workplace for the required placement hours. There is plenty of time to set up a work placement that will suit each student as you do not go out to placement until term 4 and term 6 of the course. We coordinate 400 hours of work placement in an arrangement to suit you and the community services organisation. It is usually 2 days a week. When you are on placement, Mercury College staff and Assessor visit you and the supervisor.

For work placement, students must wear your own black trousers and black closed shoes, we will provide you with a T-shirt.

Please note that any additional work placement arrangements will incur a $500 fee (if the first offered option is rejected). 

 

ASSESSMENT  STRUCTURE

As this is a nationally recognised qualification, you will be required to successfully complete all units to a standard so that you are job ready. Each unit contains assessments which include:

• Practical demonstrations where you will be observed by one of our assessors in a simulated environment and at your work placement.
• Knowledge based tests which contain written short answer questions.
• Small projects which contain written tasks for you to investigate and complete in your own.

Note: You must be deemed competent with each unit in order to receive your qualification.

 

RESOURCE  REQUIREMENTS

Computers – Students must have their own laptop computer.  You will use a computer to complete the course in class and in your own time. You may also access College computers when available.

Online learning – Students are required to pay a one-off compulsory resource fee to receive the Mercury Colleges online learning resource called ELearn.

 

COURSE CREDIT AND/OR RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Students may be entitled to gain course credit and/or recognition before or after commencing the course that will exempt them from completing one or more units of competency. See the Student Handbook for more details and talk to a course advisor.

 

EXIT POINT/AWARD

Students that successfully complete all units of competency as stated in the Qualification and Structure will be issued with CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services by Mercury Colleges. This qualification is recognised nationally under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).