Diploma of Community Services

Become a champion for social change with our 104‑week Diploma of Community Services. Delivered in Melbourne’s city centre, this qualification empowers you to support individuals and communities through meaningful programs and coordinated services.

Find Out More About the Diploma of Community Services

Ready to make a real impact in your community? Connect with one of our friendly course advisors to explore how this qualification can help you build a rewarding career in the community services sector.

Diploma of Community Services

Completing this course can open up opportunities for employment or further learning. Potential career paths include various community services management roles, while further education options may include the CHC62015 Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management or a higher education qualification in community services.

Course Information

Course Overview

The Diploma of Community Services prepares you to take on meaningful roles in the coordination, delivery, and management of person-centred support for individuals, groups, and communities.

You’ll develop specialised skills to work independently and confidently across a variety of settings, helping people improve their personal and social wellbeing. The course also covers key areas such as case management, program coordination, and the supervision of staff and volunteers.

To successfully complete this qualification, students must undertake a minimum of 200 hours of work placement, providing valuable real-world experience in community service environments.

All skills and knowledge are applied in line with current legislation, industry standards, and ethical practices, ensuring you graduate ready to make a lasting impact.

The training package sets no entry requirements for this qualification. Sage College of Australia has the following entry requirements:

All students must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Participate in a pre-enrolment review, including a course entry interview, to determine whether the course is suitable for them and what support they need (Outcome Standard 2.2).
  • Complete a language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) assessment. The results are used to advise the student, before they enrol, whether the course is suitable for them and what support will be provided.
  • Be able to meet the pre-placement requirements of host organisations, such as a National Police Check and, where the placement involves work with children, a Working with Children Check, before starting work placement.
  • Have an IELTS* score of 6.0 (test results must be no more than 2 years old). English language competence can also be demonstrated through documented evidence of any of the following:
  1. Educated for 5 years in an English-speaking country; or
  2. Successful completion of an English Placement Test at IELTS level 6.0. 


*Note that other English language tests such as PTE and TOEFL can be accepted. Students are required to provide their results so that it can be confirmed they are equivalent to IELTS 6.0.

Twenty (20) units including twelve (12) core units and eight (8) elective units are required for the award of the CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services.

The 20 units that must be completed include:

  • 12 core units
  • 8 elective units, consisting of:
      1. At least 6 units from amongst the electives listed in Group A, B, C, D or E listed at the link below
      2. Up to 2 units from the electives listed below, any endorsed Training Package or accredited course.

Units have been selected in accordance with the packaging rules and are relevant to the work outcome, local industry requirements and qualification level. In line with the packaging rules, all electives chosen must contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome. The electives selected do not lead to a specialisation. This TAS is based on Release 1 of CHC52025, the current release at the time of this review.

The latest release of the qualification and packaging rules can be found at the following link:

https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/CHC52025

Core Units:

CHCCCS004 Assess co-existing needs
CHCCCS007 Develop and implement service programs
CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations
CHCCSM017 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:

CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practice
BSBPEF401 Manage personal health and wellbeing
CHCCOM003 Develop workplace communication strategies
CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity
CHCMGT003 Lead the work team
CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
BSBTWK503 Manage meetings
BSBPEF502 Develop and use emotional intelligence

This course provides graduates with diverse and fulfilling career opportunities within the community services sector, preparing them for roles such as:

Job roles include:

  • Community Development Worker
  • Case Manager
  • Social Worker
  • Community Outreach Coordinator
  • Aged Care Support Worker
  • Youth Worker
  • Disability Support Worker

This course is delivered through face-to-face training and assessment, as well as through online learning and workplace-based training and assessment. 

You are required to attend classes on campus for 14 hours per week, as well as complete 6 hours per week of scheduled and supervised online learning via a web-based software for 80 study weeks (8 terms of 10 weeks each). Holiday breaks are 24 weeks in total and the timing of these breaks will be advised in your timetable when you start your course.

You will also need to complete a work placement of 200 hours. This will be during terms 4 and 8. Sage College Australia will assist you to find a work placement, or you may find your own work placement. Please read the section in the International Student Handbook that includes additional information about work placements. This is important so that you are fully informed of work placement requirements. Additionally, the work placement requirements will be discussed during your course entry interview and further information will also be provided at your orientation.

In addition to face-to-face training and assessment, scheduled and supervised online learning and your work placement, you will also need to complete approximately 5 hours of additional, unsupervised study per week which includes research for assessments, completion of Self-study Guides and general reading.

You will also need to complete assessments for this course which may include:

  • Written questions 
  • Projects  
  • Presentations 
  • Reports 
  • Role plays/observations 
  • Workplace hours logbook. 

At the beginning of each unit, your trainer and assessor will outline the assessment tasks that must be completed. 

Your classes will be conducted in modern classrooms, and you will be able to access Wi-Fi. There are also areas for you to relax, as well as conduct additional study.   

You will be provided with a Student Guide relevant to each unit in your course.