Diploma of Community Services at Stanley College

Build the specialist skills to support individuals, families and communities while preparing for coordination and leadership responsibilities in the community-services sector. Stanley College’s CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services combines person-centred practice, case management, advocacy, crisis response and 228 hours of Work-Based Training in Perth.

This program is designed for students who want to move beyond direct support into the delivery, management and coordination of community services. You will learn how to help people create meaningful change, improve personal and social wellbeing, navigate complex needs and access services with dignity and choice.

Why this community-services diploma stands out

Advanced person-centred practice: Learn to assess co-existing needs, coordinate services and empower people receiving support.

Real workplace experience: Complete six full-time weeks of Work-Based Training at 38 hours per week, for a total of 228 hours.

Leadership-ready skills: Develop capabilities in case management, service-program design, workplace communication, professional networks and team-support processes.

Complex community needs: Prepare to respond to crisis situations, domestic and family violence, mental-health needs and the social factors affecting individuals and communities.

Practical learning environment: Combine face-to-face study with simulated activities in Stanley College’s Community Services facility before applying your skills in the workplace.

Program at a glance

Qualification: CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services.

CRICOS course code: 118709E.

Campus: Stanley College Mirrabooka Campus and West Perth Campus at 69 Outram Street.

Duration: 55 weeks, including nine weeks of holidays.

Learn to coordinate services that create real change

Community-services professionals work with people whose needs may involve housing, family relationships, mental health, safety, social inclusion or access to essential services. This diploma develops the judgement and communication skills to understand those needs, design responsive support and coordinate services across organisations and professional networks.

You will learn to assess co-existing needs, develop service programs, recognise and respond to crisis situations, facilitate case management and analyse how sociological factors affect people using community services. Your studies also cover advocacy, counselling relationships, workplace communication and building collaborative professional partnerships.

Respond safely to complex situations

The curriculum prepares students to recognise domestic and family violence, work with people experiencing mental-health issues and respond appropriately when a person is in crisis. You will explore how legal, ethical, cultural and workplace responsibilities shape decisions in community-service environments.

Training also develops cultural safety, work-health-and-safety knowledge, reflective practice, professional wellbeing and workplace debriefing skills. These capabilities are important for supporting clients effectively while maintaining appropriate boundaries and sustainable professional practice.

Develop leadership and case-management confidence

At diploma level, community-services workers may operate autonomously within their professional scope under broad direction from senior management. They may coordinate programs, facilitate case management and take responsibility for supporting or supervising other workers and volunteers.

Stanley College prepares you for these responsibilities through service-planning activities, case-based learning, communication practice and simulated community-services scenarios. The result is a practical foundation for contributing to teams, coordinating client support and helping services respond more effectively to community needs.

Turn your learning into workplace experience

Work-Based Training gives you the opportunity to practise your knowledge in a real community-services setting and understand the standards expected by employers. Stanley College’s Employment Liaison Team organises the placement in consultation with students, and the six-week placement must be completed full-time at a minimum of 38 hours per week.

Before placement, students need a WA National Police Clearance, an NDIS Worker Screening certificate, a current Working with Children Check and the vaccination evidence required by the host employer. Evidence of influenza vaccination is listed, and medical clearance may also be required. A valid driver’s licence is recommended because some community roles involve travel between clients or services. These requirements and their associated costs are separate from tuition.

Entry requirements

Academic entry: Completion of Australian Year 12 or an equivalent secondary-school qualification.

English level: Upper-intermediate English, IELTS Academic or General Training 5.5, or another accepted equivalent.

Accepted equivalents: TOEFL iBT 51–66, PTE Academic 39, Cambridge English 162, OET grade C, Duolingo 95–100, CEFR or Oxford Test B2, CELPIP General 6, LANGUAGECERT Academic 54, or Michigan English Test 49.

Australian study pathway: Applicants may also qualify through completed Australian study at Certificate III level or above, with the Certificate III having a minimum duration of 26 weeks.

There are no formal prerequisite qualifications for this course. Recognition of Prior Learning may be available to students with relevant skills, experience or previous study and can reduce the study duration after assessment.

Asia Pathway will review your academic and English evidence before submission and help you prepare the documents required for admission and Work-Based Training.

Career opportunities after graduation

The Diploma of Community Services can support entry into roles involving direct service delivery, coordination, case management and team leadership. Potential roles include Child Welfare Officer, Residential Carer in child protection, Social Housing Coordinator, Community Services Case Manager or Case Worker, Case Coordinator, Case Management Supervisor, Community Care Worker, Community Services Worker, Program Coordinator and Team Leader.

Employment outcomes depend on the role, employer requirements, experience, professional checks and eligibility to work in Australia. The qualification builds a broad skill base, while individual organisations decide the exact experience and screening required for each position.

Continue toward a bachelor’s degree

After completing CHC52025, students may pursue a bachelor’s degree at Stanley College or selected universities. Admission, credit and the remaining study duration are assessed by the receiving institution, so Asia Pathway will request current written confirmation before presenting an accelerated pathway.

Course completion does not guarantee employment, university credit or a migration outcome. Asia Pathway can help you plan the education route and identify when separate advice from the relevant Australian authority is required.

2026–2027 tuition in USD

Tuition: approximately USD 7,095 for the 55-week Diploma of Community Services.

The tuition estimate does not include materials, the application fee, Overseas Student Health Cover, visa costs, accommodation, everyday living expenses, travel or the police, screening, health and vaccination documents required for placement. Currency values and fees may change, so Asia Pathway will help you prepare a realistic budget before enrolment.

Who this program is for

Future case managers and coordinators: Students who want to organise person-centred services and support clients with complex needs.

Community advocates: Students interested in empowerment, representation, social inclusion and improving access to support.

Emerging team leaders: Learners who want to develop program coordination, communication and supervisory capabilities.

Purpose-driven professionals: Students prepared to work respectfully with diverse individuals, families, communities and service organisations.

Apply with Asia Pathway

Asia Pathway will help you review your eligibility, organise academic and English evidence, prepare your application, understand Work-Based Training requirements and explore the most suitable pathway toward further community-services study.

Contact Asia Pathway for a personalised eligibility review and application plan for the Diploma of Community Services at Stanley College.