Diploma of Community Services

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Selection criteria

Domestic students
In order to fulfill the compulsory placement requirement of this course, students must turn 18 years of age in the first semester of study. 
A drivers licence and private vehicle are highly desirable, and will increase the likelihood of finding a range of placements.

Greater Brisbane Region

On campus with some online (South Bank): Only available to students who are in the Greater Brisbane area and willing and able to participate in industry vocational placement within 50km of the Brisbane CBD.

International students
The following selection criteria requirements apply only to International students:

• English Language Proficiency: Academic IELTS 6.0 (no individual band less than 5.5) or equivalent - For a list of all English Language tests accepted by TAFE Queensland International.
• Academic Requirements: Completion of Year 12 (or equivalent). Non school-leavers must have relevant work experience or qualification that indicates likely success of course completion. For more information on the international education achievement levels equivalent to Year 10 and 12.

Applicants must turn 18 years of age in the first semester of study with TAFE Queensland. International students who are under 18 years of age and are applying for a student visa are required by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to have adequate welfare arrangements in place.

During your course you will be required to complete vocational placement so you can start practising your new skills in a real-world environment. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. TAFE Queensland may be able to assist in arranging suitable placements.

Completing placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You are required to complete 200 hours of placement to satisfy this component of your qualification.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
This course requires you to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening Check to be eligible to attend the vocational placement assessment component of your studies.

Prior to Placement, you will need to receive and provide evidence of the following checks:

• Students must complete their online NDIS Worker Screening Clearance application at this link - NDIS Worker Screening Unit (WSU) and nominate TAFE Queensland as your employer. There is no cost to students. TAFE Queensland will verify each student.
• Students must also complete the NDIS Worker Orientation Online Modules (4 modules/approximately 90 minutes in total). Upon completion, students will need to provide their Certificate of Completion to both TAFE Queensland and their placement provider.
• Additionally, if students work with children on Placement, they will also need a Blue Card Working with Children Check (Blue Card in Queensland).
• Please note:  Students can apply for both the NDIS Worker Screening Clearance and Blue Card by completing a combined application via the NDIS Worker Screening portal noted above NDIS Worker Screening Unit (WSU).  

If your check identifies that you have a criminal history, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course outcomes. If you think this might impact you, please speak to the relevant Placement Coordinator for further information.

Please note: TAFE Queensland wishes to warn you, as a Blue Card applicant, that it is an offence for a disqualified person to sign a Blue Card application.  For further information regarding 'disqualified' persons, please contact Blue Card Services.

Vaccination requirements 
Vaccinations may be required by the owner or operator of the facility providing your placement.
These requirements will be provided to the student, prior to arrangements being made for the completion of vocational placement.

Those students who have a medical contraindication may be unable to complete the vocational placement component of their course. This means you may not be able to meet all of the requirements of your course and may not be able to graduate or receive your qualification.

This course requires you to undertake role plays. Role plays will cover sensitive topics such as trauma, domestic violence, cultural diversity, mental health, and children at risk.

Online self-directed
You will need to act out, record, save, and upload role plays to TQ Connect using compatible technology. You must source participants for your role plays, with some requiring more than one participant.
Numerous role plays are required for your online course, varying in duration and complexity.
Most subjects will require you to organise consenting participants to fully address the assessment criteria in each role play to achieve a satisfactory grade.

You are expected to engage in additional personal study to meet the course requirements. Online self-directed students will need to balance work and family commitments with your studies, which may include studying on weekends and outside of normal business hours.

Each assessment task will have specific criteria that you need to meet, which will be clearly outlined in your assessment instructions.
If you are studying via the online self-directed program there will be specific open and close dates for each unit, and each assessment task will have a due date. This forms the structured part of your online course.

East Coast Region Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning with workshops are held at each campus over 3 days - this program is for existing workers only.
Workshops will assist applicants to work through the RPL application. Prior to enrolment, students will receive a training plan identifying any GAP units where learning will need to be undertaken.

To be eligible for the Higher Level Skills subsidised price, you must:

• be an existing worker in the Community Services and Health Industry, (which includes parents and unpaid carers of NDIS participants.) Evidence must be supplied prior to enrolment.
• be aged 15 years or over, and be no longer at school;
• permanently reside in Queensland;
• be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen;
• not hold a certificate IV or higher-level qualification, not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training; and
• not be enrolled in another qualification, not including foundation skills training.

Previous experience and/or studies in the community services sector would be an advantage. It is essential to have sound computer skills in Microsoft Office (eg Word, PowerPoint) as assessments and reading materials are delivered electronically. Due to the sensitivity of course content (eg mental health, addictions, crisis help), it is highly recommended that students are aged 18 or older as well as having a mature outlook.

Existing worker means a current employee who has a one month or more employment relationship with their employer and has actively fulfilled work duties for this period. The one month working relationship could be full-time or on a part-time/casual employment equivalent basis. Existing workers have access to employee entitlements and therefore do not include volunteers. Registration with a Labour Hire Company does not satisfy the ‘existing worker’ requirement, unless at the commencement of the training the prospective student has been engaged in employment for a period of one month or more and is currently employed.