Diploma of Community Services

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Selection criteria

Domestic students
It is highly recommended that students are aged 18 or older by the course commencement date. A drivers licence and private vehicle are highly desirable, and will increase the likelihood of finding a range of placements.

Greater Brisbane Region

On campus with some online (South Bank)​: Only available to students who are in the Greater Brisbane area and willing and able to participate in industry vocational placement within 50km of the Brisbane CBD.

International students
The following selection criteria requirements apply only to International students:

• English Language Proficiency: Academic IELTS 5.5 (no individual band less than 5.0) or ISLPR 2+ on all skills or other - For a list of all English Language test accepted by TAFE Queensland International
• Academic Requirements: Completion of Year 12 (or equivalent). Non school-leavers must have relevant work experience or qualification that indicates likely success of course completion. For more information on the international education achievement levels equivalent to Year 10 and 12.

Applicants should be a minimum of 17 years of age and turning 18 during the first year of study with TAFE Queensland. International students who are under 18 years of age and are applying for a student visa are required by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to have adequate welfare arrangements in place.

During your course you will be required to complete vocational placement so you can start practising your new skills in a real-world environment. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. TAFE Queensland may be able to assist in arranging suitable placements.

Completing placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You are required to complete 200 hours of placement to satisfy this component of your qualification.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
​This course requires you to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening Check to be eligible to attend the vocational placement assessment component of your studies.

Prior to Placement, you will need to receive and provide evidence of the following checks:

• Students must complete their online NDIS Worker Screening Clearance application at this link - NDIS Worker Screening Unit (WSU) and nominate TAFE Queensland as your employer. There is no cost to students. TAFE Queensland will verify each student.
• Students must also complete the NDIS Worker Orientation Online Modules (4 modules/approximately 90 minutes in total). Upon completion, students will need to provide their Certificate of Completion to both TAFE Queensland and their placement provider.
• Additionally, if students work with children on Placement, they will also need a Blue Card Working with Children Check (Blue Card in Queensland).
• Please note:  Students can apply for both the NDIS Worker Screening Clearance and Blue Card by completing a combined application via the NDIS Worker Screening portal noted above NDIS Worker Screening Unit (WSU).  

If your check identifies that you have a criminal history, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course outcomes. If you think this might impact you, please speak to the relevant Placement Coordinator for further information.

Please note: TAFE Queensland wishes to warn you, as a Blue Card applicant, that it is an offence for a disqualified person to sign a Blue Card application.  For further information regarding 'disqualified' persons, please contact Blue Card Services.

Vaccination requirements 
COVID-19 vaccination requirements across a range of high-risk settings have eased. There are no Public Health Directions in affect requiring you to be vaccinated in high risk settings. However, decisions on mandatory vaccinations will be made by the owner or operator of these settings. Some facilities may also mandate the number of vaccinations required. These requirements will be provided to the student, prior to arrangements being made for the completion of vocational placement.

Those students who have a medical contraindication may be unable to complete the vocational placement component of their course. This means you may not be able to meet all of the requirements of your course and may not be able to graduate or receive your qualification.

East Coast Region Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning with workshops are held at each campus over 3 days - this program is for existing workers only.
Workshops will assist applicants to work through the RPL application. Prior to enrolment, students will receive a training plan identifying any GAP units where learning will need to be undertaken.

To be eligible for the Higher Level Skills subsidised price, you must:

• be an existing worker in the Community Services and Health Industry, (which includes parents and unpaid carers of NDIS participants.) Existing workers must provide a letter from their employer stating that they are an employee of the organisation or a current payslip that displays the ABN and Trading name;
• be aged 15 years or over, and no longer at school;
• permanently reside in Queensland;
• be an Australian citizen, permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen; and
• not hold or be currently enrolled in a Certificate IV or higher-level qualification (does not include qualifications completed at school or foundation skills training).

Previous experience and/or studies in the community services sector would be an advantage. It is essential to have sound computer skills in Microsoft Office (eg Word, PowerPoint) as assessments and reading materials are delivered electronically. Due to the sensitivity of course content (eg mental health, addictions, crisis help), it is highly recommended that students are aged 18 or older as well as having a mature outlook.