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Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Community Services

This qualification prepares people to work directly with clients in community services, whether that means advocacy, case work or practical support for individuals, groups and communities.

Compare 32 providers
How long it takes
8 to 18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $1,990
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $13,364
How you can study
Online, on campus, a mix or on the job
Taught by
32 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate IV in Community Services asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in supporting people from all backgrounds
  • good communication and listening skills
  • a respectful and non-judgemental attitude
  • the ability to work within legal and ethical guidelines

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Certificate IV or Diploma?

The Diploma of Community Services is a higher level qualification. This Certificate IV prepares you to work directly with clients and you may be autonomous with limited responsibility and supervise others.

See the course

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs this course can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Case Manager

    Case managers coordinate the services a client needs and stay with them while the plan is carried out, working between the person and the health, welfare or justice systems involved.

    Median pay$68,600 (estimate)

    In demand

  • Community Development Officer

    Community development officers work with local groups, councils and services to find out what a community needs and help build the programs that meet it.

    Median pay$95,900

  • Liaison Officer

    Liaison officers connect an organisation with the communities, clients and agencies it deals with, keeping information flowing so services reach the people who need them.

    Median pay$94,600 (estimate)

  • Religious Assistant

    Religious assistants support the clergy and the congregation, helping run services and ceremonies and keeping the practical side of a faith community moving.

    Median pay$57,200 (estimate)

  • Social Security Assessor

    Social security assessors decide whether people qualify for income support payments such as JobSeeker and the Age Pension, and work out how much they receive.

    Median pay$75,400 (estimate)

  • Student Services Adviser

    Student services advisers help students work through enrolment, course choices and the personal difficulties that get in the way of finishing a qualification.

    Median pay$77,000 (estimate)

    In demand

  • Volunteer Coordinator

    Volunteer coordinators recruit, support and roster the unpaid workers that community programs depend on.

    Median pay$75,400 (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 $1,990

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

Paying the full fee

$6,945 to $13,364

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

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,990
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $10,850
    How long
    8 to 18 months

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Subsidised
    $6,097
    Concession
    $1,219
    Full fee
    $12,772

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $4,868
    Concession
    $974
    Full fee
    $13,364

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $6,043
    Concession
    $1,210
    Full fee
    $12,148

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $3,555
    Concession
    $2,820
    Full fee
    $6,945

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 32 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

15 units: 7 that everyone takes and 8 you choose.

  • Client rights and advocacy
  • Building professional relationships
  • Responding to family violence
  • Working with diverse people
  • Legal and ethical practice
  • Safe client care
See all 7 core units

Core units

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

  • Loading the details for CHCADV001…

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. 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 directly with clients, providing support, advocacy or interventions in community services. At this level, workers may be autonomous with limited responsibility and may supervise others. It leads to roles such as Family Support Worker, Probation Officer, Welfare Worker and Youth Worker.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.

How is it different from Diploma of Community Services?

The Diploma of Community Services is a higher level qualification. This Certificate IV prepares you to work directly with clients and you may be autonomous with limited responsibility and supervise others.

How is it different from Bachelor of Community Services?

The Bachelor of Community Services is a higher level qualification. This Certificate IV prepares you to work directly with clients and you may be autonomous with limited responsibility and supervise others.

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.