Overview
Take an important role in community development with leadership skills gained in real-world settings, by studying the Graduate Diploma in International Community Development at Victoria University.
This unique and practical postgraduate course offers you personalised education, specialising in community development at a local or international level.
The program is open to graduates with a bachelor degree, who wish to further their career in community development.
If you are already employed in community development and wish to advance your career, this program will give you the skills to achieve your goals.
You’ll gain expertise in key community development theories, building your knowledge and skills in these main areas:
- community development theories and practices
- project design
- planning and management
- social research and evaluation
- understanding globalisation and its impacts on communities
- peace and conflict resolution
- building capacity and mobilising communities
- advocacy of gender rights and human rights
- leadership in community development
- governance of international organisations.
This diploma is the second stage of three courses in our graduate program. Successful completion leads into our Master of International Community Development.
Our community research focus
VU offers expertise and guidance in several specialised research areas. Progressing to our masters or higher research degree (doctorate) will bring you into contact with our vibrant and innovative research community.
Related research themes include community resilience, liveable and inclusive cities, cultural diversity and wellbeing, and community, identity and displacement.
The Community, Identity and Displacement Research Network (CIDRN) promotes research into displacement, identity, community and change, focused on Melbourne’s west.
Partnerships & international travel
Our partnerships with educational, business and community organisations offer important research opportunities. We have agreements with other universities and NGOs, such as the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL). These give you fantastic options to learn and travel.
Students studying international development at VU have completed placements in the following countries:
- Timor Leste
- Fiji
- Cambodia
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- India
- Bangladesh
- Mauritius
- Kenya
- Botswana.
Progress to the masters degree
If you’re aiming for a leadership, management or public-policy role, our Master of International Community Development will give you the qualifications and skills to get there.
VU offers flexible study options, with courses designed to lead into one another. Completing the Graduate Certificate in International Community Development gains you credit towards this diploma.
From there, you’ll gain entry with credit points to the Master of International Community Development – and you’ll already be halfway to completing the full masters degree.
Planetary health units
The course has recently been updated with the addition of the units from our Graduate Certificate in Planetary Health.
VU is committed to being a leader in planetary health as part of our commitment to protecting Country. The added units address making transformational change within the environment of persistently rising global temperatures, increasing inequality, and the impacts and consequences of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The units take a place-based approach to:
- building sustainable communities
- responding to the complexity of climate change
- improving disaster resilience and responses.
Further related studies can be selected from a range of elective units, including in First Nations perspectives and standpoints.
The units which can be taken as electives are:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This program critically engages with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognising and supporting Victoria University values.
These include respecting cultural diversity and supporting lifelong learning.
VU’s Strategic Plan includes ‘An unwavering commitment to progressive inclusivity’ and further states that:
It is our responsibility to respect and listen to Indigenous voices and standpoints, upholding and privileging self-determination, sovereignty and authority.
Course e-Brochure
Create a customised brochure in a few simple steps. Your brochure will include country-specific information.
Create an e-brochureCareers in community development
Graduates of this course work in many related areas, including international humanitarian work and development aid.
Career possibilities include:
- international and regional consultant in human rights, gender, poverty reduction and project evaluation
- project manager with international, government and local organisations such as Australian Red Cross, Save the Children, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre
- leaders and advisers in government
- community development educator and trainer
- journalist
- activist
- academic and researcher.
Salaries & job growth
Find the average salary for community workers on the government job-data site Labour Market Insights.
With further study or experience, you could become a policy or planning manager. Find salary and job growth information for these roles on Labour Market Insights.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Diploma in International Community Development students will be required to complete 96 credit points consisting of the following:
-
72 credit points of Core Studies.
- 24 credit points of Elective Studies.
Course structure and units
Core Units
-
- Unit code
- AAA5002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5010
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5023
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5050
- Credits
- 12
Elective Units
-
- Unit code
- AAA5011
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5004
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5012
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5024
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASA5055
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- ASX5000
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- VPH6001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- VPH6002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- VPH6003
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- VPH6004
- Credits
- 12
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
| 1. | Interpret community development theoretical concepts and related knowledge to think critically on appropriate approaches to address sociocultural problems in contemporary societies; | ||
| 2. | Utilise critical analytical skills to interrogate and interpret different schools of thought on globalisation and development and their impacts on communities, including through critical engagement with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals | ||
| 3. | Deconstruct the role of civil society and grassroots social movements in relation to international community development; | ||
| 4. | Critique global and regional political structures, and their impact upon community development; | ||
| 5. | Creatively employ advanced skills in research and project management in international community development contexts. |
What's a unit?
A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.
Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.
Credits
Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.
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. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline
OR
Completion of an Australian Graduate Certificate (or equivalent) in a similar discipline
PLUS
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)
Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.
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.
Credit for skills and past study
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.
Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.
How to apply
We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.
Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.
If you have questions, please get in touch:
- Phone: +61 3 9199 1164
- Email: [email protected]
- Online: enquiry form
Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.
VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.
