If you are passionate about making a positive change to peoples lives, community development offers a rewarding career and an opportunity to give back to your community.

Community Development is about managing community based programs that utilise the skills and strengths of community members and groups. The diploma allows you to delve further into your knowledge of community welfare, gaining enhanced experience in community engagement, providing advanced interventions to clients as well as learning how to respond to crises.

Industry Placement

Get 200 unpaid hours of industry experience with an industry placement! This will give you the hands-on skills to be ready for employment. CIT staff can assist you in organising your placement.

(Diploma: 120 unpaid hours)

Why Study at CIT?

• Hands-on industry experience
• One of five specialised fields of study to personalise your Community Services Diploma
• Many job opportunities in Canberra and throughout Australia

Course Subject:

Core: Complete all 8 subjects

• CHCCOM003 Develop workplace communication strategies
• CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity
• CHCCCS007 Develop and implement service programs
• CHCLEG003 Manage legal and ethical compliance
• CHCDEV002 Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services
• CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
• HLTWHS004 Manage work health and safety
• CHCMGT005 Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes

Electives: Complete all 6 of these subjects

• CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
• CHCGRP002 Plan and conduct group activities
• CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues
• CHCCSL001 Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
• CHCADV005 Provide systems advocacy services
• CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations
• CHCPRT001 Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
• CHCCSM005 Develop, facilitate and review all aspects of case management

Job outcome:

Manager/advanced skills community welfare worker in the health and community services field - including children's services, family support, women's and men's services, residential and non-residential.

Teaching method and Assessment:

Modes of study include:

• simulated workplaces for students to practice their new skills
• work experience or work placement
• supervised study time with a teacher
• on-line learning and student engagement through e-Learn

Students must complete class work, assignments, practical components and project work throughout the course. They may then be assessed using a combination of these tasks, continuous assessment and examinations. Assessment outcomes may be based on competency, marks and grades, or a combination of all three assessment methods.