Bachelor of Youth Work

Youth workers provide guidance, support, and resources to assist young people aged 12-26 to navigate the challenges they face, while fostering personal growth and empowerment.

In this course you will learn interpersonal and helping skills, inclusive practice and how to create social change with and for young people.

You'll study specialist youth work units and choose from complementary areas that will support your career as a Youth Worker such as psychology, human services, community development, counselling, and criminology.

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree Award.

1. Apply broad theoretical and technical knowledge of youth work theory, methods, principles and values to a range of situations relevant to Youth Work, including its contribution to society, communities and young people.
2. Think critically to analyse and make decisions about complex ideas encountered in Youth Work that take into account environmental, social, cultural and economic implications.
3. Use digital technologies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources that are appropriate to Youth Work.
4. Communicate knowledge of sociological perspectives on youth, and independently express ideas clearly, coherently and appropriately to diverse audiences including young people, families, colleagues and the public.
5. Demonstrate how global context shapes similarities and differences in work with young people and develop a cross-cultural responsiveness, including Indigenous cultural competence.
6. Work collaboratively to develop programs, projects and services that exhibit social, sustainable, and ethical values relevant young people.
7. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning in professional practice in work with young people.

1. Apply broad theoretical and technical knowledge of youth work theory, methods, principles and values to a range of situations relevant to Youth Work, including its contribution to society, communities and young people.
2. Think critically to analyse and make decisions about complex ideas encountered in Youth Work that take into account environmental, social, cultural and economic implications.
3. Use digital technologies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources that are appropriate to Youth Work.
4. Communicate knowledge of sociological perspectives on youth, and independently express ideas clearly, coherently and appropriately to diverse audiences including young people, families, colleagues and the public.
5. Demonstrate how global context shapes similarities and differences in work with young people and develop a cross-cultural responsiveness, including Indigenous cultural competence.
6. Work collaboratively to develop programs, projects and services that exhibit social, sustainable, and ethical values relevant young people.
7. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning in professional practice in work with young people.

This course prepares graduates for various positions in youth work. Entry level positions may be in youth welfare services including homeless support services, youth health, youth advocacy and support programs, in youth centres, the education sector or with local government. This course can also lead to careers in youth addiction, youth justice, child protection or youth mental health services. Or you may wish to pursue careers with a special focus on recreation, sport, adventure programs, youth arts, youth counselling, addiction services, youth mental health services, or youth justice.

Youth Worker, Youth Support Worker, Youth Development Officer, Youth Activities Officer, Youth Welfare Worker, Youth and Family Mediation, Youth Health Educator, Youth Policy Officer, Youth Outreach Worker, Youth Engagement Worker, Youth Mental Health Worker, School Chaplain, Youth Mental Health Care Coordinator, Youth and Community Worker, Community Education Worker (Youth), Youth Officer, Youth Liaison Worker, School Retention and Participation Officer.