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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention

This certificate prepares people to work with children, young people and families through difficult periods, including trauma, abuse and disruption in care.

Compare 7 providers
Illustration of a person working as family Support Worker
How long it takes
6 to 24 months
typical for this level
What it costs
From $3,955
Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $14,107
How you can study
Online or on campus
Includes a work placement
Main job
Family Support Worker
$70,200 (estimate) median pay
Taught by
7 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in supporting children, young people and families
  • patience and calm when people are under stress
  • an ability to build trust and listen carefully
  • a willingness to follow legal and ethical guidelines

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Family Support Worker

    Family support workers help families through hard stretches, building practical support so children can stay safe and well at home.

    What else you need

    Select the family-support practice specialisation, complete required workplace hours and meet applicable safeguarding and employer checks.

    Median pay$70,200 (estimate)

  • Youth Justice Worker

    Youth justice workers supervise young people on community orders or in custody and help them find a way out of the justice system.

    What else you need

    Youth justice employers set their own requirements, typically including checks such as a Working with Children Check. The certificate alone does not guarantee employment, so check the employer.

    Median pay$91,000 (estimate)

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $3,955

at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$7,825 to $14,107

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Subsidised
    $6,097
    Concession
    $1,219
    Full fee
    $14,107

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $3,955
    Concession
    $3,120
    Full fee
    $7,825

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 7 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

16 units: 11 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.

  • trauma informed care
  • child safety and risk reporting
  • individual service planning
  • building relationships with young people
  • Aboriginal cultural safety
  • legal and ethical practice
See all 11 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for CHCCCS006…

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
  5. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It prepares you to work with children, young people and families through trauma, abuse and disruption in care, under a defined practice framework. The work sits under broad supervision, with clearly defined organisational guidelines and service plans.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements, but individual providers can set their own conditions. Check with the provider you choose before you enrol.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.