Undergraduate Certificate of Community Services

What is an Undergraduate Certificate of Community Services?

The Undergraduate Certificate of Community Services gives you practical skills and foundational knowledge for supporting individuals and communities. You'll cover the essentials such as communication, case work, social systems, and ethical practice, while experiencing what a career in community work involves.

With just four subjects, this flexible qualification is ideal if you want to upskill, try something new or explore community services before committing to a full degree. Whether you’re working in the sector, changing careers or just starting out, you’ll open doors to roles across community organisations, government and non-profits. If you want to keep studying, you have a guaranteed pathway into our Bachelor of Community Services.

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Learning outcomes

Understand key structures and systems in the Australian community services sector
Build strong communication and collaboration skills for working with clients and professionals
Recognise ethical, cultural and professional considerations when supporting others
Apply core theories and methods to case management, program planning and service delivery to support diverse client needs
Navigate policies and systems, identifying ways to improve services and advocate for clients

Download course guide Start online application

Study mode

Online

Campus locations

Online

Student

Domestic

Course duration

0.5 year full time (or 2 trimesters), part time options available

Start date

16 Feb 2026

01 Jun 2026

14 Sep 2026

View all key dates

Fee & scholarships

Learn more

This course is provided by Torrens University Australia, ABN 99 154 937 005, TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12209 (Australian University) and delivered by Think: Colleges Pty Ltd through a third-party agreement.

Study 100% online

Learn from anywhere, at your own pace, with support and resources always within reach.

Personal guidance from industry experts

Get tailored support from educators and Success Coaches with industry experience.

Pathways for your next step

Use your diploma to start or progress your career, or put credits towards a bachelor’s degree.

Career opportunities

This course sets you up for a career in the community and human services sector. You’ll graduate ready for entry-level roles across community organisations, government and non-profit settings.

Potential career paths

Community Worker
Average salary: $55,682 - $107,314
Welfare Worker
Average salary: $71,542 - $95,974

Learn more about careers in Health

Subjects and units

Delivered online, this course comprises four core subjects, each subject requiring 10 hours of study per week. Assessments may include activity-based assignments or online quizzes. There are no formal exams.

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Core

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Requirements

These four core subjects must be completed.

Professional Communication and Collaboration | HSC101T

Professional Communication and Collaboration will introduce you to the skills required by health professionals to enable effective interactions within a wide variety of inter-personal and inter-professional workplace settings. You will work on developing practical skills to assist in the building, maintenance, and endings of professional relationships with clients, other professionals, and members of the community across multi-modal communication settings. You will be introduced to frameworks promoting change, compliance, self-efficacy, goal-setting and collaboration. This subject will also cover those foundational counselling skills that are applicable to a wide variety of health professions, such as core counselling behaviours, listening skills, and communication micro-skills. Sessions facilitate your understanding of the importance of ethical communication, diversity and inclusion considerations, professional expectations and the development of professional behaviours including self-reflection and self-care. Agile and adaptable communication skills to support working with clients and with other professionals collaboratively and inclusively, allowing for conflict resolution and appropriate endings of relationships.
Social and Emotional Wellbeing | HWEL2006T

The subject covers the principles of social, emotional and psychological health as they relate to health behaviours. Students will analyse the role of capacity building and the promotion of wellbeing through mindfulness, positive behavioural change and resilience.
Case Management and Understanding Community Services | HCCSSD101T

You will be introduced to the community services sector in Australia and the practice and skills required for case management and program development in community services. The subject includes an overview of the theory and practice of program planning, development and evaluation that address the diverse and varied needs of clients. You will be introduced to appropriate professional standards in case management and how to develop a case management plan that demonstrates how the practitioner can advocate and empower. You will have the opportunity to apply theory to practice within an ethical framework in the context of relevant professional industry bodies.
Health Systems and Community Services in Action | COM201T

This subject builds on your understanding of the structure, purpose and nature of the Australian health care system and community services. It explores the many contexts, settings and roles within this area of work, including the policies, theories and practices applicable to this field. You will explore the important role and function of occupations in community services, and the practices involved such as advocacy, lobbying, networking, and support and service coordination. You will develop an understanding of the variety of community sector organisations that operate in Australia, sources of funding provided by local, state and federal governments, and the challenges, barriers and opportunities for accessing and providing the relevant resources to those in need. Finally, you will explore how policy is created in the sector and how to interpret it so your professional practice can be informed by it, and therefore be in a position to advocate for change when required. Attention will also be given to community development and programs through examples such as public housing, First Nations’ community development, and community engagement.

Entry details

Fees

Check the domestic course fee schedule for the cost of your course.

FEE-HELP

Eligible Australian students may choose to defer some, or all, of their tuition fees through FEE-HELP, a loan scheme repaid through the tax system based on income.

Learn more about fees and FEE-HELP

Scholarships

If you are truly passionate about health, we want to hear from you. We have a variety of health scholarships on offer to assist you in becoming a key part of the health industry:

Admission criteria

Before you begin your application to study as a domestic student, check that you meet the requirements listed below.

Year 12 (Australian secondary school certificate) or equivalent

OR

Successful completion of a Vocational qualification (AQF Level 4), or above

OR

Successful completion of at least 0.5 EFTSL at AQF level 5, 0.25 EFTSL at AQF level 6 or above, or equivalent.

The below is an alternative option.

Successful completion of Year 10 or equivalent, and a minimum two years of full time relevant work experience that demonstrates skills and knowledge gained through paid or unpaid employment, formal learning and/or non-formal learning (presented on a current resume with attached cover letter).

View full course admission information

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a course?

Domestic students
Check the entry requirements for the course you’re interested in and submit an online application.

How to apply

If you have any difficulty, please contact a Future Student Advisor, who can talk you through the process.

International students

You can apply to Think Education through one of our Education Agents. Our agents are located throughout the world and will make sure the enrolment process runs smoothly. You can also apply online.

View the full list of Education Agents

For anything else, please contact our International recruitment team at study@torrens.edu.au.
What are the payment options? What are FEE-HELP and VET Student Loan (VSL)? Am I eligible?
Payment options available include:

Upfront payment via Flywire, credit card, BPAY or overseas bank account transfer.

You can also apply for a payment plan if you are a domestic student.

Financial assistance

If you’re a domestic student and looking to study our Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Myotherapy), you may be eligible for FEE-HELP.

If you’re a domestic student and looking to study our, Diploma of Nursing you may be eligible for VET Student Loan.

Your eligibility for FEE-HELP and VET Student Loan depends on criteria such as your citizenship status, and whether you’re looking to study a undergraduate, postgraduate of vocational education program.

Check your eligibility on the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.

View tuition fees

What do part-time and full-time study entail?

A standard full-time study load is made up of three subjects (approximately 30 hours a week). Part-time study is made up of two subjects (approximately 20 hours per week).
What are Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT)? How do I apply?

Recognition of Prior Learning is an assessment process that recognises experience, previous study and qualifications, and other forms of informal and non-formal learning, to determine if you meet course requirements.

If you have relevant qualifications or experience, eligible for credit towards your course and a reduction in tuition costs.

Please speak to one of our Future Student Advisor to advise them on the experience or previous study you have.

View Course Credits

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What is an Undergraduate Certificate of Community Services?

Learning outcomes

Career opportunities

Potential career paths

Subjects and units

Requirements

Entry details

Fees

FEE-HELP

Scholarships

Admission criteria

Frequently asked questions

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Diploma of Health and Wellbeing

Diploma of Counselling and Communication Skills

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Undergraduate Certificate of Community Services(Partnership with Torrens University Australia and Think Education)

What is an Undergraduate Certificate of Community Services?

Learning outcomes

Career opportunities

Potential career paths

Subjects and units

Requirements

Entry details

Fees

FEE-HELP

Scholarships

Admission criteria

Get started

Apply

Offer

Frequently asked questions

Similar courses

Diploma of Health and Wellbeing

Diploma of Counselling and Communication Skills

Undergraduate Certificate of Mental Health

Want to find out more?

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Undergraduate Certificate of Community Services
(Partnership with Torrens University Australia and Think Education)