The field of community services is one of the biggest and fastest-growing industries in all of Australia. If you’re looking for your first career or even a career change, then you should seriously consider getting started in the community services industry.
This article is going to be taking a closer look at community service work, what it involves and how you can get started on a rewarding new career path.
What Does Community Services Work Encompass?
Although it’s considered an industry in itself in a broader sense, community services actually encompasses a wide range of different job roles, careers, and industries. If you’re looking for a career path with choices and diversity, community services offer that and much more.
Some people assume jobs in this industry are mostly volunteer work and unpaid, but nothing could be further from the truth. While volunteer work does come under the community services umbrella, volunteer work only makes up a small portion of the available work in this industry.
The majority of those working in community services are trained professionals in their chosen field, earning a comfortable living and enjoying a flexible lifestyle.
Here is a very quick list of just some of the jobs you’ll find in community services:
- Disability support workers
- Case managers
- Psychologists
- Personal carers
- Therapists
- Youth support worker
- Workers in emergency relief efforts
- Working in aged care
- Community health workers
- And so many more…
Being an industry with such a broad scope, the opportunities for career changes within community services work or career advancement are enormous. Not many other industries possess this degree of potential.
Working In Community Services Is All About Helping Others
Essentially, the main focus of any job role in community services is to make a difference in the life of somebody else. Community services work is all about helping others and striving to improve their quality of life, no matter what situation they are in.
It’s the perfect career choice for someone who is a people person, has genuine empathy, and has a deep desire to make a difference in society. While jobs in this industry can certainly be challenging at times, they are also very personally rewarding. When you’ve done something that you know has helped someone else, you can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. While many careers in community services work can be financially rewarding, it’s the personal rewards that often mean the most.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a junior and just starting out, or someone who is a seasoned professional in a chosen field, everyone’s efforts will be having a positive impact on someone in need.
If you’re searching for a career that’s satisfying personally and you love helping others, community services is the industry for you.
Community Services – Entry-Level Qualifications
It’s been mentioned that job roles and careers in this industry are very diverse. Some require specialist education and training over a number of years, such as a counsellor or a therapist. Other job roles in community services work are not so demanding when it comes to qualifications.
To gain entry-level positions in community services, you can start out by successfully completing Cert 3 Community Services. This course spans 12 months full-time or can be completed on a part-time basis over 2 years. The second option is perfect for those leading busy lifestyles or people who already work part-time. A mandatory 120 hours of work placement is required to graduate from the course.
You can even set your own pace and schedule, just so long as you complete the required modules and the work placement. There are not even any stringent entry requirements to sign on for the Certificate III In Community Services course.
Overall, the course is comprised of 5 core units of study that have to be completed and 7 elective core units. Upon successful completion, students can either seek entry-level positions in community service work or go on to further study to attain higher positions within the industry.
In Conclusion
If you want a career that is both personally and financially rewarding, where every day you’re making a positive difference in the world, community services is the career choice for you.
