Bachelor of Community Services

No further student intake

The Bachelor of Community Services requires the completion of 108 units of study and can be undertaken in 3 years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). Credit of up to 54 units may be granted depending on the student's previous Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector qualification in community services. Students entering via the Diploma entry may complete in 2 years of full-time study and those entering via the Advanced Diploma entry may complete in 1.5 years of full-time study.

The course is offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses as specified in detail in the University Entry requirements.

Applicants must have completed an approved VET sector Diploma or Advanced Diploma in community services (or equivalent) to be eligible for admission to either the 72 unit or 54 unit pathway options.  Students who complete a Diploma will receive 36 units of credit towards the Bachelor of Community Services. Students who complete an Advanced Diploma will receive 54 units of credit towards the Bachelor of Community Services.

Course aims

The Bachelor of Community Services aims to:

• prepare students to work as policy makers, practitioners and managers in community services
• enable students to apply concepts, theories and research skills from the Social Sciences
• articulate with recognized VET-accredited courses developing practical skills in community services
• provide students with opportunities to acquire and develop work-place related skills and knowledge

Learning outcomes 

Bachelor of Community Services' graduates should be able to:

• understand the political, economic and social context of work in community services
• communicate in a professional manner in a range of forms
• apply skills relating to information processing, archival research, documentary and other related analytical and research techniques
• Plan and implement programs and activities to support people to overcome difficulties and reach their full potential

Program of study

Diploma Entry (72 units)

To qualify for the Bachelor of Community Services, a student must complete 108 units as follows:

• 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study listed below; and
• An approved VET sector Diploma, for which 36 units of credit will be granted.

63 units of core topics comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

AUST1004  An Introduction to Aboriginal Studies  (4.5 units)
BUSN1011  Accounting for Managers  (4.5 units) OR
BUSN1021  Organisational Behaviour  (4.5 units)
COMS1001  Academic and Professional Communication  (4.5 units) OR
SOAD1009  Critical Thinking and Communication  (4.5 units)
POLI2011  Australian Public Policy: Applications, Issues and Dilemmas  (4.5 units) OR
SOAD2007  Social Policy and Practice  (4.5 units)
SOAD2002  Human Social Development  (4.5 units)
SOCI1001  Issues in Sociology  (4.5 units) OR
SOCI1010  Sociology of Everyday Life  (4.5 units)
SOCI2025  Sociological Research: Design, Methods and Ethics  (4.5 units) OR
SOAD3006  Practice Research (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

BUSN2038  Human Resource Management  (4.5 units)
POLI2025  The Politics of the Australian Welfare State  (4.5 units) OR
POLI3010  Advanced Perspectives on Public Policy (4.5 units)
SOCI2026  Contemporary Social Problems (4.5 units) OR
SOCI2015  Sociology of Deviance  (4.5 units)
WMST2012  Sex, Gender and Identities in Australia  (4.5 units) OR
WMST2013  Gender, Power and Change: Introducing Feminist Debates  (4.5 units)
SOCI3008  Knowing the Social World  (4.5 units)
SOCI3051  Families and Social Policy
WORK3200  Social and Policy Studies Workplace Research Project  (4.5 units)

Option topics

Plus 9 units selected from the following level 2 and 3 topics:

AUST2612  Reconciliation and Indigenous Knowledges  (4.5 units)
POLI2002  Government Business and Society  (4.5 units)
POLI3010  Advanced Perspectives on Public Policy (4.5 units)
SOCI2001  Communication Media and Social Life  (4.5 units)
SOCI2015  Sociology of Deviance  (4.5 units)
SOCI2021  Racism, Recognition and Identity  (4.5 units)
SOCI3047  Shaping the Future: Social Change in the New Century  (4.5 units)
WMST2016  Indigenous Women's Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism  (4.5 units)
WMST3012  Performing Masculinities  (4.5 units)
WMST3013  Gendering Politics and Policy: Justice, Rights  (4.5 units)

Advanced Diploma Entry (54 units)

To qualify for the Bachelor of Community Services, a student must complete 108 units as follows:

• 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study listed below; and
• An approved VET sector Advanced Diploma, for which 54 units of credit will be granted.

45 units of core topics comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

AUST1004  An Introduction to Aboriginal Studies  (4.5 units)
COMS1001  Academic and Professional Communication  (4.5 units) OR
SOAD1009  Critical Thinking and Communication  (4.5 units)
POLI2011  Australian Public Policy: Applications, Issues and Dilemmas  (4.5 units) OR
SOAD2007  Social Policy and Practice  (4.5 units)
SOAD2002  Human Social Development  (4.5 units)
SOCI1001  Issues in Sociology  (4.5 units) OR
SOCI1010  Sociology of Everyday Life  (4.5 units)
SOCI2025  Sociological Research: Design, Methods and Ethics  (4.5 units) OR
SOAD3006  Practice Research (4.5 units)
WORK3200  Social and Policy Studies Workplace Research Project  (4.5 units)
WMST2012  Sex, Gender and Identities in Australia  (4.5 units) OR
WMST2013  Gender, Power and Change: Introducing Feminist Debates  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

POLI2025  The Politics of the Australian Welfare State  (4.5 units) OR
POLI3010  Advanced Perspectives on Public Policy (4.5 units)
SOCI2026  Contemporary Social Problems (4.5 units) OR
SOCI2015  Sociology of Deviance  (4.5 units)

Option topics

Plus 9 units selected from the following level 2 and 3 topics:

AUST2612  Reconciliation and Indigenous Knowledges  (4.5 units)
POLI2002  Government Business and Society  (4.5 units)
POLI3010  Advanced Perspectives on Public Policy (4.5 units)
SOCI2001  Communication Media and Social Life  (4.5 units)
SOCI3047 Shaping the Future: Social Change in the New Century  (4.5 units)
SOCI2015  Sociology of Deviance  (4.5 units)
SOCI2021  Racism, Recognition and Identity  (4.5 units)
WMST2016  Indigenous Women's Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism  (4.5 units)
WMST3012  Performing Masculinities  (4.5 units)
WMST3013  Gendering Politics and Policy: Justice, Rights  (4.5 units)