CHC52021 – Diploma of Community Services

Nationally Recognised Training

Diploma of Community Services qualification reflects the role of community services workers involved in the delivery, management, and coordination of person-centred services to individuals, groups, and communities.

At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously within their scope of practice under broad directions from senior management.

Workers support people to make change in their lives to improve personal and social wellbeing and may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers. They may also undertake case management and program coordination.

The qualification requires that learners must have completed at least 200 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency to be completed in an approved community care provider, such as individual care, disability care and aged care facility, to demonstrate their skills and knowledge and to complete assessment requirements.

Students completing this qualification who wish to register with the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) will need to complete total work placement hours of 420 hours.

Licensing/Regulatory Information:  No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

VET National Code

CHC52021

CRICOS Course Code

111834A

Duration

The course duration is 104 weeks, comprising 80 weeks of study, which includes 70 weeks of scheduled structured face-to-face delivery and up to 10 weeks (200 hours) of work placement. Additionally, the schedule includes up to 24 weeks allocated for term breaks and public holidays.

Delivery Mode

This course includes work placement and comprise a 10-week study period in each term, excluding holidays, with 20 hours per week of face-to-face training and assessment.

Tuition Fee

$AU 28,000

Enrolment Fee

$AU 300

Material Fee

$AU 600
Age Requirements: All international students must be at least 18 years of age or above at the time of course commencement to study at BLC.

Academic Requirements: International students applying for this qualification either off-shore or on-shore will need satisfactory completion of the equivalent of Australian Year 12 or Certificate IV or higher qualification.

English Language Requirements:

To enrol into this course with Blue Lotus College, international students, applying either off-shore or on-shore, must satisfy one of the following requirements:

  • Either a minimum IELTS test score of 6 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course;
  • or, IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent with an ELICOS course (up to 10 weeks) to be taken before the main VET course;
  • or, IELTS score of 5.0 or equivalent with an ELICOS course (up to 20 weeks) to be taken before the main VET course.

Results more than two years old are not acceptable.

OR

  • Evidence that they have studied in English for at least five years in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, or United States.

OR

  • Evidence that, within two years of their application date, they have successfully completed in Australia and in the English language, either the senior secondary certificate of education or a substantial component of a course leading to a qualification from Australian Qualifications Framework at the Certificate IV or higher level, while they held a student visa.

Please note that Blue Lotus College will also accept equivalent test results from the following specified English Language Tests: TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), and TOEFL PBT.

*On 26 July 2023 the TOEFL internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) stopped offering English language tests for Australian visa purposes. A score for a TOEFL iBT test taken on or after 26 July 2023 will no longer satisfy the English language requirement for Student visa purposes. Only TOEFL iBT scores from a test taken on or before 25 July 2023 are accepted for Student visa purposes.

**From 12 February 2024, only results from the paper-based Cambridge C1 Advanced test (previously known as Cambridge English: Advanced CAE) will be accepted for Australian visa and migration purposes. Test scores for both C1 Advanced paper-based and computer-based tests, taken before 12 February 2024, within the specified validity period are still accepted.


Additional Requirement: Student needs to provide National Police check and Working With Children Check (WWCC) prior to work placement


Pre-Training Review: All student will undertake pre-training review which aims to identify their training needs through questions on previous education or training, basic computing skills and interview conducted by BLC enrolment officer.

Interview also aims to identify possible RPL opportunities.

Through pre-training review student will demonstrate that they have necessary skills to successfully complete the course.

Computer Literacy Requirement: Students are required to have basic computer skills including operating MS-word and doing research on the Internet as all the courses require students to make reports in MS word, Excel, PowerPoint Presentation, etc. Student should have ability to use internet and access to PDF application.

Materials and Equipment Requirement: Although Blue Lotus College will provide access to computers/laptops with required resources during classroom hours however to work on assignments and tasks for self-study, all learners are expected to bring a laptop with the Windows 10 operating system or higher. Students must have an active email address for communication and be contactable by phone (mobile or landline) and by mail (postal address).
All learners are expected to have access to MS office applications such as Microsoft Word, an email platform such as Microsoft.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy test (LLN): All students are required to undertake a language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) test mapped to ACSF through LLN Robot to identify if a student requires BLC to provide any additional support. Expected LLN outcome is ACSF Level 3 for Diploma of Community Services.

This is not an entry requirement but is designed to determine if a student has any specific LLN support needs in the context of VET training and has a different purpose to the English entry requirements which are assessed prior to offering a student a place in a course. The results of the LLN test are provided to the trainer who can further advise the student if they require additional LLN support to successfully achieve the course outcomes.

If learners do not meet English and LLN requirements, learners will be asked to take further Language, literacy and numeracy training e.g. English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Learners (ELICOS) programs with BLC.

Upon completion, potential employment options include a direct support worker in aged care, disability, home and community care or other direct care work in the community services industry with roles such as Community Care Manager, Community Work Coordinator, Case Coordinator, Coordinator of Volunteer Work, Team Leader, Care Team Leader, Family Services Coordinator.

BLC does not do any misleading claim or job guarantee or advertise any employment outcome with its courses.
Core Units:
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
CHCLEG003 Manage legal and ethical compliance
CHCMGT005 Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
HLTWHS003 Maintain work health and safety
Elective Units:
CHCCSM009 Facilitate goal-directed planning
CHCCSM010 Implement case management practice
CHCCSM012 Coordinate complex case requirements
CHCCSM014 Provide case management supervision
CHCDIS015 Develop and provide person-centred service responses
CHCDIS017 Facilitate community participation and social inclusion
CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity
CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services

Note: Fees may change during your course of study. BLC reserves the right to discontinue or alter any course date, tuition or service fee, location, timetable or staffing without prior notice. This will constitute a provider default and all tuition fees will be handled in accordance with Blue Lotus College’s Refund Policy. Interest will not be credited to Student Fees or disbursements and therefore no interest will be recovered by students in the event of cancellation. Students must maintain valid Overseas Student Health Care insurance throughout their enrolment.
To find out the methods of application, visit How to apply page If you have a query about how to apply or entry requirements, contact admissions@bluelotus.edu.au