To make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, please consider the essential skills and knowledge below. You must: 

• Want to work with diverse groups, including youth, older persons, individuals with disabilities, those experiencing mental health issues, and people needing support with alcohol and other drugs or social services.
• Be open-minded and non-judgemental.
• Respect and value diversity, demonstrating appropriate ethical behaviour.
• Be able to work independently and within a team.
• Be able to observe and identify changes in behaviour, abilities, and environment.
• Be able to handle the physical demands of manual tasks in community service work.
• Have strong time management skills.
• Have strong communication and listening skills to liaise and work with a variety of individuals.
• Be a problem-solver with the ability to respond to immediate safety risks.
• Be tolerant, patient, and willing to work with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
• Understand the importance of maintaining personal and professional boundaries.

This course contains material of a sensitive nature, including trauma, mental health challenges, alcohol and other substance abuse, homelessness, family and domestic violence, risk of suicide and/or other crises, which may be upsetting or triggering for some individuals. Please ensure you have sufficient support networks for the duration of your study. Support is also available through South Regional TAFE Student Services(opens in a new tab) , who can direct you to our (including Counsellors, Aboriginal Services, Disability Services, and others.)

Time Commitment: You will need to allocate appropriate time to complete this course. This includes attending classes on-site and/or online as outlined in the study mode; undertake independent study outside of class hours, including private study, assessment preparation, and research to successfully complete this course; and complete the mandatory work placement as scheduled in your Work Placement Agreement.

You will need to complete:

 • Volunteer Work Placement: supervised activities in a suitable environment or volunteer program which provides the services in this selected area of study. South Regional TAFE will assist in the arrangement of this work placement within the industry for you. 

• Volunteer Work Placement depends on your delivery location and will be discussed with your lecturer. • Placement hours will be in keeping with Community Service Industry requirements – generally a minimum of 20 hours but it may be more. This will be outside of your scheduled class hours. 

• Your Volunteer Placement host may require additional clearances or certification, possibly including: 

o Current First Aid Certificate – recommended for all students – you will be able to enrol in scheduled First Aid classes as part of your course if you do not hold a current certificate. 

o Working With Children Check (WWCC). This will incur an additional cost. To find out more visit Working with Children Check Working with Children Check - Application and renewal process

o National Police Clearance. This clearance will incur an additional cost. To find out more visit National Police Clearance Apply for a National Police Certificate | Western Australian Government

o National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Clearance. SRTAFE can assist with this process. This clearance will incur an additional cost. To find out more visit NDIS NDIS Worker Screening Check

o Vaccinations: may be requested by the workplace prior to placement. This will incur an additional cost. To find out more visit Immunisation for Work Immunisation for work | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing .

 • Students under the age of 18 will need Parent/Guardian consent to undertake this activity.

Below are some of the important personal skills you will be required to develop and demonstrate during training. These skills are highly valued by industry:

• Respectful Communication and Empathy: connect with people from different backgrounds; share ideas effectively; build trust and strong relationships; converse with clients and staff in English.
• Behaviour: good ethical behaviour; ability to stand and concentrate for long periods of time; fortitude to cope with the uncertainty of client care.
• Attributes: dexterity; sensory abilities (sight, sound, touch) that enable observation of another person.
• Teamwork: collaborate respectfully with allied health professionals and clients; be receptive to feedback.
• Problem Solving: find solutions; engage with challenges; ask questions; clarify and respond appropriately within your scope of practice.
• Initiative: motivation and proactivity; seek help when necessary.
• Planning: good time management; prioritise and complete tasks efficiently and effectively.
• Self-Management: self-reflection and performance evaluation; acknowledge your successes and accept responsibility for any shortcomings.
• Learning: recognise your strengths; embrace new knowledge and experiences; personal and professional growth.
• Technology: adapt to new tools; access digital resources; integrate technology into your work.