There are many career choices available for Aussie workers. Some are well-known while others are often unfairly overlooked. A career in community services may be one career path that hasn’t received as much limelight as it possibly deserves.
In this post, we’ll take a look at what it means to have a community services career, what training and qualifications are required and why it can be a very rewarding job choice.
What is a Community Services Career Exactly?
A community service role is essentially any role that gives back to the community in some way. Generally, it involves giving help and support to other people, or working on projects that benefit the community. Although a lot of community service positions are volunteer roles, there are many paid jobs in the industry as well.
A few examples of community service work include:
- Counseling
- Helping the disabled
- Family services
- Aged care
- Child protection services
- Caseworker
- Crisis intervention worker
- And many more…
Why Choose This Career Path?
In Australia, the community services industry is growing every year, so it’s a fantastic career choice if you feel you would be suited to the variety of roles on offer, where you get to help others and give back to the community.
Depending on your job role, experience, and qualifications, community service workers in Australia can make some really good money, too. In some instances, very high hourly rates.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of working in community services is a feeling of accomplishment. Because it’s a people-centric industry, anyone working in this field will derive a lot of job satisfaction through helping others have an improved quality of life or by bettering the community within which they live.
Another key point to consider is that once you’re involved in community services, your job role doesn’t have to remain the same forever. You can move into different roles, whether they are similar to your current role, or a completely new path in community service work. You may need to further your training in some instances, but there are so many options, you’ll really be spoilt for choice.
No matter what role you end up choosing in community services, it’s definitely a growth career, both in job options as well as clients. Many roles operate 24/7, so your work hours are flexible too.
If you are a people person, you’ll love every single day of your career as a community service worker. It probably won’t even feel like work, as you’ll be fulfilling a passion. It can be a challenging career at times, but the rewards are well worth it.
Work For Non-Profits, the Government Or the Private Sector
Another great thing about a career in community services is you can work for a government department, non-profit entity, or business in the private sector. Each of these sectors comes with its own unique benefits and job roles, so you can choose which is the best fit for your career aspirations.
You also get the choice to either work in a city or more regional and remote areas, helping people and communities that are disadvantaged because of location as well as other challenges they may be facing.
What Training Or Qualifications Are Required?
The first step in achieving a career in community services is to get training and qualifications in this field. Certificate III In Community Services is essentially a prerequisite for a community service career.
Officially known as “CHC32015 Certificate III In Community Services”, the good news is, you can do your Certificate III In Community Services online for the most part. Essentially, this course gives you the base skills in the industry and you can further your education when you decide on a particular career path in community services.
Certificate III can either be completed full time in 12 months or part-time over a 2 year period. There are also 120 hours of work placement required to successfully complete the course.
In Conclusion
The role of a qualified community service worker is varied and it’s a very rewarding career, both on a personal level and a financial one. If you’ve been wondering what career choice to make, then it’s well worth looking into community service work.
