Overview
Begin your career making a difference to the lives of young people with a Certificate IV in Youth Work CHC40413 at Victoria University Polytechnic.
This course will provide you with foundational skills to work with and support young people for positive outcomes. You’ll learn to develop and facilitate programs that address their social, behavioural, health, welfare, developmental and protection needs.
You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a community or industry project, which will help consolidate your knowledge. You’ll graduate with practical skills and knowledge in:
- effective communication
- child protection
- assessing youth at risk
- advocacy and empowerment
- community education and group activities
- legal and ethical frameworks
- workplace safety and first aid.
Free TAFE - apply now
Eligible students currently won’t pay tuition fees for this course.
Free TAFE courses align with skills and jobs that are in high demand from Victorian employers.
Find out more about Free TAFE.
Practical learning & industry links
Everything you learn at Victoria University Polytechnic has direct links to the real world. Learning with us means you’ll get the hands-on learning to be job-ready when you graduate. You’ll consolidate your skills through participation in an industry or community-based project.
You’ll learn from teachers who have valuable industry contacts and the latest industry-standard skills and knowledge. You’ll also develop links with industry and professional experience through:
- guest speaker presentations
- workshops
- scenario-based learning and assessments.
Learning advice
VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.
Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.
We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.
Our programs include:
- workshops
- drop-in sessions
- peer mentoring
- maths and writing resources
- resume and career guidance.
We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.
Community-focused place to study
Victoria University Polytechnic believes in inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. We have a strong history of community engagement, working with organisations in the region to develop programs that meet local needs.
These partnerships benefit the communities near each of our campuses, and benefit our students too. By contributing to local projects, we can ensure our students’ skills are well matched to opportunities in the region, and create networks for future employment.
Information sessions
Join us at one of our information sessions (online) to find out more about our courses in community services, community development, youth work, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs. The sessions will cover:
- the course structure
- information industry connections
- placement opportunities
- pathways to further study.
TAFE resources
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Free TAFE
No tuition fees for eligible students. - Fee subsidies
- Course information sessions
Careers in youth work
This industry-focused certificate will give you the foundational skills for a challenging but rewarding career in youth work. Youth workers operate in a demanding and constantly changing industry with a high level of skill and expertise. Youth work can also offer a diverse and exciting career path, and prospects are strong with employment expected to grow strongly over the next five years (Labour Market Insights).
You could find employment in community, government or youth sector agencies in a range of areas such as:
- psycho-social support services (including residential, day program and outreach)
- recreational programs
- juvenile justice
- housing
- schools.
Potential job titles include:
- community development worker (youth)
- youth and family resource officer
- indigenous youth worker
- youth and family service worker
- recreational youth activities worker
- youth case worker
- residential care worker
- youth housing support worker
- support worker - residential
- youth worker
- community care worker
- youth alcohol and other drugs worker.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
To be awarded CHC40413 Certificate IV in Youth Work, a student must successfully complete a total of eighteen (18) units of competency, comprising of:
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fourteen (14) core units, and;
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four (4) elective units of which:
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two (2) units must be selected from the electives listed in the CHC40413 Certificate IV in Youth Work qualification;
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two (2) units may be selected from any endorsed training package or accredited course relevant to the work outcome.
All electives chosen must contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome as well as be approved by the Polytechnic.
Course structure and units
VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).
Core units
Elective units
ELECTIVE UNITS Imported
Units in Transition for current/continuing students only
Recognition of Prior Learning and/or Credit Transfers
Previous completion of units at the Polytechnic or any other Registered Training Organisation and/or previous attainment of skills and knowledge may be credited towards this course. Units must satisfy the completion rules of the qualification and be assessed as appropriate by the Polytechnic.
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of workers who develop and facilitate programs for young people through a range of community-based programs designed to address the social, behavioural, health, welfare, developmental and protection needs of young people.
Fees & scholarships
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
- full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).
Calculate your VET course fees.
Find out more about:
- the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
- ways to pay your fees
- important fee dates
- how to apply for a VE/TAFE refund
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admission & pathways
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
As part of the application process, applicants must complete a Pre-training Review (PTR) and undertake a literacy and numeracy (LN) assessment to determine suitability for admission and identify support needs.
Placement:
For fieldwork purposes, this vocational sector typically requires current:
- Working with Children Check
- Satisfactory Police Check
- In response to Victoria's Roadmap announced in September 2021, all students must have any COVID-19 vaccine prior to the commencement of placement. Students will be required to provide evidence prior to commencement of placement. If students are not compliant with this requirement they are not eligible to undertake a placement and this will mean that they will not be able to progress within their course
Failure to provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator, means you will be unable to undertake practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course.
The following are suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks:
Working with Children Check - http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/Police Check - https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checksx
Pathways from VU courses
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
Pathways to further study
On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:
You will be guaranteed entry only.
Find out more about our study pathways to VU
How to apply
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
Applications for this course are not being taken at this time.
Browse our other Youth work courses or send us an enquiry to be notified of updates relating to this course.
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Contact VU Polytechnic
Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
