Swinburne Open Education acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.
To learn more, you can refer to this interactive map of Indigenous Australia.
Welcome to the world of the Community Services Industry.
Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs is a nationally recognised qualification. Successful completion of this course will enable you to pursue a career in community-based organisations, withdrawal services, residential rehabilitation services and outreach services in Australia.
Throughout this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills required to provide services and interventions to clients with alcohol and other drugs issues and/or implement health promotion and community intervention and will gain an understanding of:
- working with people with mental health issues
- applying critical thinking to work practices
- providing treatment plans and interventions
- working legally and ethically while also reflecting on your own professional practice
- assessing the needs of a diverse range of clients.
On completion of this course, you will have a strong foundation to commence work in a variety of roles such as a Detoxification Worker; Drug and Alcohol Community Support Worker; Family Support Worker; Mental Health Outreach Worker; Case Worker; Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker, at a variety of workplaces within the Community Services sector.
We hope you have a wonderful time studying with Swinburne Open Education.
The Community Services Industry generally refers to a diverse range of organisations supporting social and economic inclusion across the community.
The community services industry in Australia originated in the charity sector. Primarily, the wealthy and middle-class would give donations to church organisations so that they could provide funds and services to individuals and families who were struggling to meet their primary needs of food, shelter and safety.
Like many industries, community services are experiencing a period of change driven by technology, social policy, legislation, resourcing, research, workforce
issues, economic and environmental concerns, as well as contemporary attitudes and emerging generational issues.
The sector is one of the biggest employers in the economy, and demand will continue to grow, particularly in relation to providing care services for the ageing population.
According to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee the community services sector has six compartments: 
- Community services
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's environment health and population health
- Volunteering
- Youth services and child protection
- Youth justice
- Housing.
The Legal Framework
In Australia the provision of services and support to vulnerable people and communities is highly regulated. There is a broad range of legislation that applies to the community services sector and, as a community services worker, particularly as a supervisor, you will play a key role in ensuring that relevant legislation is adhered to.
The areas where legislation impacts community services work include:
- privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
- industrial relations
- workplace health and safety (WHS)
- mandatory reporting
- anti-discrimination
- human rights
- duty of care
- business registration and licensing
- financial services
- child protection
- domestic and family violence
- mental health
- disability support
- aged care
- alcohol and other drugs.
| TOPIC | LEGAL AND ETHICHAL CONSIDERATIONS | FURTHER INFORMATION | EFFECT ON YOUR WORK PRACTICES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working Safely |
|
|
|
| Respecting Confidentiality |
|
|
|
| Working With Children and Youth |
|
|
|
| Developing Appropriate and Ethical Relationships With Clients |
|
|
|
| Managing Stress and Reducing the Chance of Burnout |
|
|
|
| Mandatory Reporting |
|
|
|
| Understanding the Responsibilities and Limits of your Role |
|
|
|
| Duty of Care |
|
|
|
National
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Ethics and Practice Guidelines.
The AASW developed and published the Practice Standards 2023 which replace the Practice Standards 2013. The new practice Standards 2023 align with the Code of Ethics 2020 and reflect the core elements of all workers’ practice regardless their role in the community service organisations.
AASW also developed resources for social workers to support them with common issues arising in day-today activities, and ethics and practice guidelines.
The guidelines refer to the following aspects of community work:
- mandatory reporting
- writing court reports
- consent and working with children
- case note recording
- ‘You’ve Been Served’ – responding to a subpoena
- international ethics – Australian social workers overseas
The Code of Ethics outlines the essential values and responsibilities in social work that characterise the profession. The code provides clear explanations of the context of social work in Australia, the context of the code, its nature and purpose, and the values required of those working in social work. It provides guidance about ethical decision-making.
- supporting ethical practice in the workplace
- professional boundaries and dual relationships
- information management
- conflicts of interest
- social media, information and communication technologies.
ACWA Ethics and Standards.
Industry videos
Choosing a career in Community Services may be considered one of the most rewarding professions. Here are some videos that showcase how the lives of others are impacted through this work.
