Every community relies on people whose job is to help others with things that are hard to manage alone, whether that’s getting through a crisis, keeping a family safe and supported, or building the skills to live more independently. That work falls under community services, and demand for it is expected to keep growing over the coming decade.
Here’s a look at five careers in the field.
Disability Support Worker
Disability Support Workers help people with disability build independence in their own homes and communities. Day to day, that could mean helping with personal care, meals, housework and medication, supporting someone to take part in social activities, or helping them access disability services, training and employment.
It’s the most accessible starting point of these five roles, since it can be reached through a Certificate II or III, or at least a year of relevant experience. With experience, some Disability Support Workers move into team leader roles, overseeing the support provided to several people.
Youth Worker
Youth Workers support young people, one-on-one or in groups, to work through social, emotional and financial problems, usually as part of a youth service or community organisation. The job involves understanding what a young person needs, planning support, and referring them to other services where that would help.
Most Youth Workers enter through a diploma in youth work or a related field, or with at least three years of relevant experience. The same group of roles includes Residential Youth Workers, who care for young people living in settings like group homes, and Youth Justice Workers, who support young people in a correctional setting to build education and work skills and prepare to return to the community.
Community Development Officer
Community Development Officers work with a whole community rather than one person at a time. They assess what a local area needs, then set up and run programs, groups and services to meet those needs, such as neighbourhood houses or activities that encourage people to get involved. Building partnerships with other organisations is a large part of the role.
Entry is at a similar level to youth work. A related role, Community Support Worker, focuses on helping deliver community development and education programs. It suits you if you enjoy planning and organising as much as working with people.
Family Support Worker
Family Support Workers provide advice and support to children, young people and families with a range of needs, both at home and in the community, while respecting each family’s culture and background. That includes identifying families who need extra support, making referrals, and helping families access the right services and support groups.
The same diploma-or-experience pathway applies here. A related role, Child Protection Practitioner, delivers child protection services under legislation, which involves assessing children’s safety, putting safety plans in place and sometimes attending court.
Social Worker
Social Workers assess the needs of the people they work with and help them build the skills and find the resources to resolve social and other problems. Their work is grounded in human wellbeing, human rights and social justice, and it can involve working with individuals, families or larger groups.
Unlike the other roles here, social work requires a specific university qualification. To enter the profession, you’ll need an AASW-accredited Bachelor of Social Work, or a Master of Social Work (Qualifying) if you’ve already completed another degree.
Checks you may need
Because community services involves working with people who may need extra protection, many roles require background checks before you start. Work with children generally requires a Working with Children Check, which each state and territory runs separately. Roles with registered NDIS providers that involve close contact with participants usually need an NDIS Worker Screening Check, a national check you apply for through your state or territory. Your employer or training provider can tell you which checks apply to a specific role.
What you’d need to get started
Some people start in a support role and build on it with further study later, so your first job in community services doesn’t have to be your last. Beyond qualifications, a few things matter across all five roles:
- Communicating clearly & listening carefully
- Staying calm when someone is going through a difficult time
- Respecting people’s privacy, choices & cultural background
- Knowing when to involve other services or professionals
Volunteering with a community organisation or doing work experience in a support setting can be a practical way to find out whether the field suits you before committing to a qualification.
If you’d like to find out about more careers, head to our jobs and careers page.
