Diploma of Community Services

The Diploma of Community Services at Fusion College of Technology 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. To achieve the qualification, candidates must have completed at least 100 hours of work as detailed in the assessment requirements of the units of competency, and Fusion College requires students to complete a minimum of 200 hours of practical placement. The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. The course comprises 20 units of competency - 12 core and eight electives - covering the assessment of co-existing needs, developing and implementing service programs, facilitating and reviewing case management, the sociological factors affecting clients, responding appropriately to domestic and family violence, working with diverse people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety, managing legal and ethical compliance, workplace debriefing and support, leading the work team, and maintaining work health and safety. It is delivered over 104 weeks, including 80 weeks of training and assessment spread over eight terms of ten weeks each and 24 weeks of holidays. No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply at the time of publication.