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Commissioners Information Bulletin 424

Community Services - Traineeship

  • Community Services - Community Services Work

Date of effect: 9 October 2009

The traineeship vocation of Community Services - Community Services Work has been established.

Click here for the Community Services - Community Services Work Vocational Training Order.

Qualifications, structure and packaging

CHC08 Community Services Training Package includes 74 qualifications ranging from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma. Two “pathways” qualifications and one from the Community Services and Development Work sector support traineeship pathways. Their details are below:

Job descriptions

Go to Job Descriptions for details of the jobs supported by each of the community services work traineeship qualifications.

Industrial arrangements

Applications to establish traineeships whether full-time, part-time or school based, will not be approved unless the Commissioner for Vocational Training is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

Some industrial arrangements under which trainees can be employed are listed here.

Employment screening

Workers and learners undertaking work or placements in facilities within NSW Health agencies must comply with Employment Screening Policy Directive PD2008_029.

Working with Children

Where the nature of any employer’s activities is child related and the employer is taking on a trainee, the employer must comply with the NSW Commission for Children and Young People’s Working with Children Program.

Learning resources and assessment materials

A range of resources to support delivery of training package qualifications are available from Australian Training Products and Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council.

Registered training organisations

For registered training providers which can deliver the traineeship qualifications go to National Training Information Service.

For organisations which are in contract with the NSW Department of Education and Training to be paid for the delivery of the traineeship training go to Training Market.

Transition arrangements

Transition arrangements allow the delivery of old and new traineeship qualifications, for three months after the date of effect of the new Vocational Training Order. See here.

Superseded Commissioners Information Bulletins

This Commissioners Information Bulletin supersedes information about Community Services Work traineeships in Bulletins 221, 221a, 281, 290, 300, 314 and 321.

Inspecting Vocational Training Orders

A copy of the Vocational Training Order is available for inspection on this internet site below or at any State Training Services Regional Office of the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Enquiries

For any enquiries regarding this Commissioner’s Information Bulletin, please contact the Vocational Training Tribunal Unit on telephone (02) 9266 8579.

Approved by Phillip Moore
Commissioner for Vocational Training

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Job descriptions

Certificate II trainees are provided with a pathway qualification for entry into community services work. They will learn to support individuals by providing a first point of contact in a crisis situation and referral to a broad range of services. This may involve:

  • assisting and supporting clients needing access to referral services or who are dealing with alcohol and/or other drug issues
  • assisting people in meeting their immediate needs, for example, shelter and food
  • offering short-term contact to clients in a crisis situation to better understand the nature of the crisis and provide referral information as appropriate
  • providing ancillary services such as catering, cleaning, laundry, gardening and home maintenance.

Certificate III trainees will learn to provide day-to-day community support to individuals and groups. This may involve:

  • assisting with entitlements and benefits under the broad direction of others
  • offering emotional and practical support either face to face or over the phone to enable an accurate referral to be achieved.

Trainees will gain a greater understanding of Indigenous culture and history and work with local communities in the provision of services. They are also able to specialise in working with individuals with special needs such as mental health issues, domestic violence, disability and child protection.

Certificate IV trainees will learn about counselling, program development, group work, advocacy, community development, communication skills and other strategies and interventions relevant to the community services industry.

They will know how to:

  • design, develop and implement programs that enhance individual and group wellbeing
  • work with other services within a legal and ethical framework work
  • communicate effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers and use specialist communication skills to build strong client relationships
  • advocate for clients
  • participate in workplace safety procedures.

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Industrial arrangements

Some of the industrial arrangements under which trainees may be employed are:

  • Social and Community Services Employee (State) Award
  • Notional Agreement Preserving State Award
  • Training Wage (State) Award 2002
  • National Training Wage Award 2000.

Note: There are numerous Collective Agreements, current or in negotiation. 

  • In the private health sector, for a new entrant worker there should be provision equivalent to or greater than a Care Service Employee Grade 1.
  • In the non-government community services sector, there should be a minimum SACS Grade 1 award.

If using a Collective Agreement, Australian Apprenticeships Centres will need to ensure appropriate provision for the trainee.

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Community Services - Community Services Work - Traineeship
Vocational Training Order

Date of effect

9 October 2009

Course of study

Terms of training

Full time:

  • CHC20108 Certificate II in Community Services
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

  • CHC30108 Certificate III in Community Work
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

  • CHC40708 Certificate IV in Community Services Work by direct entry
    • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved.

  • CHC40708 Certificate IV in Community Services Work where the trainee holds CHC30108 Certificate III in Community Work
    • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved.

Part-time:
See nominal terms and hours for part-time traineeships

Probationary periods

Where the nominal term is:

  • 12 months the probationary period is 1 month
  • 12 -24 months the probationary period is 2 months.

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