Diploma of Community Services

Applicants must satisfy all requirements as below:

Academic: 

• Successful completion of Year 11 or 
• Mature aged students who can demonstrated basic level understanding of community work, or some level of vocational experience in a range of work environment in the community services industry. 
• Minimum of IELTS 5.5 (no band less than 5) or equivalent, or 
• Satisfactory outcome for Internal English placement, or 
• Successfully complete the GBCA English course/s to meet the English requirements of the intended course. 
• Students who are unable to provide evidence to demonstrate meeting the above English requirement may be interviewed or asked to undertake the language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills to ascertain their existing skills.  

It is recommended that students have prior knowledge and experience in age/ disability care environments prior to enrolling into this course.

Vocational placement requirements:

Students are required to complete at least 200 hours of work placement as part of course requirements. We understand the industry and will assist you in finding Work Placement. GBCA work placement coordinator, GBCA trainers and the student will work collaboratively in securing a work placement. Once you are marked satisfactory in the required units, you apply for work placement by completing an online placement application form. You can indicate your availability and preferred location. We endeavour to place you in an aged care facility and/or disability facility and/or community care setting of your choice, however we cannot guarantee this as it depends on the availability in the facilities of your preferred location.

Once you submit your form, all parties will work towards securing a place for you.
Remember, Aged care facilities and/or Disability and/or community care facilities prefer students who are both flexible and reliable. On average, it takes approximately 4 weeks to secure work placement.
The Fair Work Act 2009, under the definition of Vocational Placement in section 12 outlines the rules
restricting unpaid work.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a clear explanation of these rules in the Internships, Vocational Placements & Unpaid Work Fact Sheet.

Due to the requirement to complete vocational placement, a final outcome for each unit would not be provided until the relevant component of vocational placement had been completed.