Certificate IV in Youth Work

This course will provide you with foundational skills to work with and support young people for positive outcomes. You'll learn to develop and facilitate programs that address their social, behavioural, health, welfare, developmental and protection needs.

You'll have the opportunity to undertake a community or industry project, which will help consolidate your knowledge. You'll graduate with practical skills and knowledge in:

• effective communication
• child protection
• assessing youth at risk
• advocacy and empowerment
• community education and group activities
• legal and ethical frameworks
• workplace safety and first aid.

This industry-focused certificate will give you the foundational skills for a challenging but rewarding career in youth work. Youth workers operate in a demanding and constantly changing industry with a high level of skill and expertise. Youth work can also offer a diverse and exciting career path, and prospects are strong with employment expected to grow strongly over the next five years (Labour Market Insights).

You could find employment in community, government or youth sector agencies in a range of areas such as:

• psycho-social support services (including residential, day program and outreach)
• recreational programs
• juvenile justice
• housing
• schools.

Potential job titles include:

• community development worker (youth)
• youth and family resource officer
• indigenous youth worker
• youth and family service worker
• recreational youth activities worker
• youth case worker
• residential care worker
• youth housing support worker
• support worker - residential
• youth worker
• community care worker
• youth alcohol and other drugs worker.

To be awarded CHC40413 Certificate IV in Youth Work, a student must successfully complete a total of eighteen (18) units of competency, comprising of:

• fourteen (14) core units, and;

• four (4) elective units of which:

• two (2) units must be selected from the electives listed in the CHC40413 Certificate IV in Youth Work qualification;

• two (2) units may be selected from any endorsed training package or accredited course relevant to the work outcome.

All electives chosen must contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome as well as be approved by the Polytechnic.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.