Certificate IV in Youth Work
Overview
This qualification equips learners with the skills and professional judgement to support young people across community, government and youth sector settings. Working within organisational guidelines, they contribute to the design and delivery of programs and services that address young people's social, behavioural, developmental and protection needs across a range of youth-focused organisations.
This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.
Want to hear more about this course?
Join us at the Swinburne Study Expo to talk with your future teachers and tour the campus and facilities where you’ll be spending your time.
Your industry experience
Students have the option to complete a 120-hour industry placement to gain hands-on experience in youth work settings. The placement will enable students to apply theory in practice, build confidence and develop skills in areas such as case management and client advocacy while transitioning into the sector.
Swinburne provides guidance throughout the placement application process. Applications may involve interviews with host organisations. Placement hours may include days, evenings, nights and weekends, and may involve travel depending on the placement location.
Skills you’ll learn
- Address social needs of young people
- Address behavioural needs of young people
- Design and deliver programs
- Address the health and welfare of young people
Your career opportunities
- Youth justice worker
- Youth housing support worker
- Youth and family services worker
- Youth Indigenous worker
- Youth mental health worker
- Youth recreation worker
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Study Community Services at Swinburne
Have a passion to work in the community services industry? Put your learnings into practice with our Diploma of Community Services.
Admissions
Applicants for this course must be 18 years of age at the commencement of the course and meet the following entry criteria:
- satisfactory completion of VCE
- ACSF Exit Level 3 (working at Level 2), in literacy and numeracy ACSF Exit Level 3 (working at Level 2), as determined by completion of literacy and numeracy testing via the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) testing system as part of the application process.
Applicants are required to demonstrate digital competencies. Non school leavers without formal qualifications are welcome to apply.
Mandatory documentation
Students must have a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) prior to optional placement. We can accept a current Victorian volunteer or employee WWCC. Please apply now if you do not have one.
Students must have a valid National Police Check prior to placement. Please wait to apply for your Police Check. After you have commenced your course, Swinburne will supply you with a personalised link which offers a student discount.
If a candidate believes there would be a disclosable outcome on their Police Check, a confidential conversation will be required prior to enrolment to determine suitability for work within your selected qualification.
This will be assessed at the time of your application. To check your eligibility for this course, visit our entry requirements for international students page.
Other requirements
The following additional criteria for entry apply for this course:
- Students may be required to obtain a NDIS worker screening check prior to placement. Please wait to be advised if you require the NDIS worker screening check for your placement.
- Applicants will need to demonstrate literacy, numeracy and digital competencies.
- Students are required to have access to a computer with an internet connection, a microphone and a webcam.
Informed Choices Statement
View the Informed Choices statement, which provides information about the inherent requirements of community services, specifically the essential physical and behavioural abilities needed to perform assessment tasks, professional placements and progress to a career in this field. This information is intended to assist you to choose whether you can successfully participate in and complete a course.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 65%, all skills 65% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the essential tasks that define a job and must be performed for successful execution. This course involves practical and physical demands, as well as behavioural abilities, required for assessments and placements in community services.
These skills are crucial for career progression in the field. The Inherent Requirements information helps applicants assess their ability to successfully participate in and complete the course.
You must be able to manage multiple demands with focus and composure, engage respectfully with clients and colleagues, and respond appropriately to feedback. Community services work often involves sensitive or confronting content, requiring resilience, objectivity and professional boundaries.
Clear communication is critical for supporting clients and coordinating services. Without it, client needs cannot be accurately identified, and interventions may fail. Community service workers interact with diverse individuals, families and professionals, requiring adaptable and respectful communication.
You must be able to:
- speak clearly and provide information promptly
- interpret and use non-verbal cues to enhance understanding
- build trust and rapport through effective communication
- adjust your style for different clients and contexts
- demonstrate empathy and respect in all interactions.
- Write clear case notes, court reports and budget reports.
- Accurately record and interpret numerical data for budgets and service planning.
- Perform basic maths (addition, subtraction, percentages, ratios) for funding and resource management.
- Read and understand client histories, legal documents and professional reports.
- Contribute to online client records and prepare professional documentation.
- Microsoft Word – create professional reports, case notes and documentation.
- Microsoft Excel – manage budgets, track data and analyse service outcomes.
- Microsoft Outlook – communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders.
- Online systems – update client records and collaborate across teams.
Credit transfer
Credit transfer is the recognition of academic credits gained through formal study (i.e. units of competency) completed either at another institute or in another qualification. The total amount of credit will vary from individual to individual, based on the unit/s that have been successfully completed.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of transferring the skills and knowledge that you have acquired over your lifetime (irrespective of how they were obtained) against the requirements of the unit.
RPL is an assessment process that requires you to provide evidence that demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the unit/s. The amount and types of evidence you will need to provide will depend on the unit requirements.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
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Certificate IV in Community Services
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Certificate IV in Mental Health
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Diploma of Community Services
Course structure
To be awarded this qualification, students must complete 17 units of competency, comprising 15 core units and 2 electives. Students are also offered the option to undertake a 120‑hour practical placement, providing an opportunity to gain real‑world experience in youth work settings.
Assessment methods include group activities, simulated scenarios with actors, role plays and written assessments, designed to reflect industry practice. From time to time, students may be required to attend other campuses for events or course‑related activities.
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Use communication to build relationships
Core unit |
CHCCOM002 |
|
Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence
Core unit |
CHCDFV001 |
|
Work with diverse people
Core unit |
CHCDIV001 |
|
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
Core unit |
CHCDIV002 |
|
Plan and conduct group activities
Core unit |
CHCGRP002 |
|
Work legally and ethically
Core unit |
CHCLEG001 |
|
Work with people with mental health issues
Core unit |
CHCMHS001 |
|
Work effectively in trauma informed care
Core unit |
CHCMHS007 |
|
Identify and report children and young people at risk
Core unit |
CHCPRT025 |
|
Engage respectfully with young people
Core unit |
CHCYTH013 |
|
Work effectively with young people in the youth work context
Core unit |
CHCYTH014 |
|
Support young people to create opportunities in their lives
Core unit |
CHCYTH015 |
|
Respond to critical situations
Core unit |
CHCYTH016 |
|
Provide services for the needs and circumstances of young people
Core unit |
CHCYTH022 |
|
Participate in workplace health and safety
Core unit |
HLTWHS001 |
| Elective units | |
|
Assess co-existing needs
Elective unit |
CHCCCS004 |
|
Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
Elective unit |
CHCPRP001 |
Study requirements
Timetable
- Classes run Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 3:30pm, with approximately 20 hours over three days of on-campus attendance per week.
- Scheduled days depend on group allocation, and may vary according to the stage, with semester and terms breaks included in the timetable.
- Students must access online resources and attend on-campus classes to consolidate learning.
- Practical skills are taught and assessed in a simulated environment and on placement, where applicable.
- Students are expected to engage in approximately 10 hours per week of self-managed study outside of scheduled classes.
- Students may be required to attend other campuses from time to time for events and other course engagements.
- Students have the option to undertake 120 hours of practical placement.
Assessment
- Assessments occur throughout the course and include various methods such as quizzes, case studies, practical observations, group work, actor simulations, role plays and written assessments.
- Students must demonstrate required skills and knowledge by satisfactorily completing assessments at different points in the course.
2026 fees
Free TAFE eligible students
Full fee* ($AUD)
$14,710
Skills first government-subsidised place* ($AUD)
$3,510
2026 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$0.00
Fees are estimates only
Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2026 only and may change for units studied in future years. There may be additional costs related to learning material and equipment.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
Skills first government-subsidised place
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. To qualify for a government-subsidised place, you must meet various eligibility criteria. The course you’ve applied for must also be offering government-subsidised places. Swinburne will determine your eligibility by conducting a full assessment of your eligibility during the course application process.
How do I pay my fees?
You can pay your Swinburne fees in person, via credit card, BPAY, or at Australia Post. Check to see if loans and employer sponsored training are also available.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Finances
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Concessions rates for vocational students
If you’re enrolling in a Certificate IV-level program or below, are eligible for a government-subsidised training place and hold a valid concession card, you may be eligible for a concession of 80 per cent off the published fee of your unit(s) tuition – which means you’ll only be charged 20 per cent of the published fee.
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Study this course for free in 2026
You could have your tuition fees covered in 2026 thanks to the Victorian Government's Free TAFE initiative.
Free TAFE is available to any Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen.
There are other factors, too. The best way to find out if you’re eligible is to apply!
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2026 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 30 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.
Apply through VTAC
International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.
VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.