Diploma of Community Services

Students are required to complete a total of 400 hours of work placement. Typically, students will undertake 200 hours of placement at the end of their first year and 200 hours at the end of their second year. Melbourne Polytechnic has a placement co-ordinator who sources placement for students, liaises with industry organisations, and arranges workplace visits and assessment. There is also the option of arranging a placement in your current workplace.

For the February full-time intake at Preston, classes run Tuesday to Thursday, with times varying from full days 9am–4pm to half days 9am–12pm or 1pm–4pm. For the July full-time intake, classes run Tuesday to Friday with similar time variations. The April part-time intake runs Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 5:30pm–8:30pm (virtual with some practical classes on campus) and Saturdays 9am–4pm face-to-face.

This course is eligible for Free TAFE, meaning eligible students pay $0 in tuition fees (only a $20 materials fee and up to $260 annual amenities fee apply, totalling $280). For government subsidised students not eligible for Free TAFE, the tuition fee is $11,300 (total $11,580). Non-subsidised students pay $20,000 in tuition (total $20,280). This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

Graduates are qualified to work as Child Protection Workers, Family Service Workers, Community Service Workers, Community Development Workers, Social Housing Coordinators, Community Service Case Managers, Case Support Workers/Managers, Community Group Facilitators, and Mental Health Workers. The sector often overlaps with Housing, Health, Education, Aged Services, and Disability Services.

Yes. Once you have successfully completed the Diploma of Community Services, Melbourne Polytechnic encourages you to apply to tertiary institutions offering courses in the areas of social work and community development, providing a pathway to further higher education qualifications.