Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
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About Community Development
You'll become
Average Salaries
Community Development workers may earn between $37,000 and $56,000 per year
Learn how to empower individuals, and entire communities, through the implementation of health advocacy and community consultation programs with these Community Development Courses. Students of Community Development Courses will look at the theory behind: networks within a community, the skills of people, social justice, community resources, social action groups, advocacy services, community priorities and the quality of life. A growing industry, community development is utilised throughout government departments – from health, disability and ageing, through to housing and multicultural – as well as many not-for-profit and volunteer organisations.
Respond to some of society’s biggest challenges and play a leading role in engaging people by studying a community development course.
A dynamic field used within a range of different industries, community development is a broad term that refers to a process that engages community members to solve their own problems and tackle community issues. Done well, community development promotes justice and equality, and creates space for communities and individuals to empower themselves to lead fulfilling, engaged lives.
Recognising the relationship between social, cultural, environmental and economic issues, community development is a holistic and collaborative process that builds the capacity of communities to manage conflict and disadvantage. In communities experiencing poverty, injustice and inequality, community development workers can provide support to ensure problems are addressed in a long-term, sustainable way.
You can complete a community development course as a diploma course, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or post-graduate certificate. You may also choose to undertake research into community development by studying the field in a doctorate of philosophy.
After completing a community development course, you may seek employment in a range of roles working both in Australia and overseas. You may choose to work as a social worker, a program manager, in a non-government organisation or as a consultant to a development program.
If you care deeply about the potential of all people and want to use your skills to fight disadvantage, a career in community development may be for you.
What do community development graduates do?
Community development course workers can work in a range of roles relating to the design, implementation and monitoring of community development programs. Generally, as a community development worker, you can expect to perform tasks like:
- Meeting and consulting with community groups, facilitating discussions and conducting workshops, in order to understand community needs and attitudes;
- Conducting research and data analysis to determine issues, trends and patterns;
- Designing, developing and evaluating development methodologies and approaches;
- Managing the implementation of community development programs;
- Conducting monitoring and evaluation of community development programs;
- Managing staff, budgets and resources;
- Preparing reports, surveys and position papers;
- Advocating and lobbying for the interests of a community;
- Speaking publicly in the media and at events on community development issues; and
- Writing publications and statements on community development issues.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
You may also choose to study a more specialised field of community development, and work specifically in an area like community media development, community arts, or sport for violence prevention. You may also choose to specialise in a particular element of development, working in a role such as a monitoring and evaluation specialist.
Graduates of community development courses can pursue employment in a variety of roles, both within Australia and overseas, and in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. You may choose to seek employment as a:
- Community Worker
- Youth Worker
- Community Development Youth Worker
- Indigenous Youth Worker
- Residential Support Worker
- Youth Support Worker
- Youth and Community Worker
- Residential Care Officer
- Disability Support Worker
- Behavioural Support Officer
- Senior Personal Care Assistant
- Team Leader
- Case Manager
- Case Coordinator
- Community Services Manager
- Program Coordinator
- Family Support Worker
- Community Support Worker
- Support Worker
- Choreographer
- Dance Teacher
- Community Wellness Officer
- Dance Instructor
- Dance Teacher (Secondary school)
- Dance Coordinator
- Physical Health and Education (PE) Teacher
- Recreation Officer
- Sports Development Officer
- Specialist PE Primary School Teacher
- Health Promotion Officer
- Dancer
- Dance Studio Advisor
- Program Manager
- Community Sport Manager
- Facilities Manager
- Centre Manager
- Competition Manager
- Personal Care Assistant
- Accommodation Support Worker
- Aged Care Worker
- Home Care Assistant
- In-Home Respite Worker
- Assistant Community Services Worker
- Care Manager
- Care Coordinator
- Community Development Officer
- Community Services Coordinator
- Aged Care Activity Worker
- Resident Activities Officer
- Dance Studio Owner
- Independent Dance Artist
- Community Dance Facilitator
- Dance Administrator
- Dance Curator
- Dance Director
- Residential Care Worker
- Aged Care Coordinators
- Community Liaison
- Indigenous Community Liaison Officer
- Policy and Project Officer
- Public Policy Researcher
- Public Policy Adviser
- Research Officer
- Social Policy Researcher
- Government Services
- Government Program Consultant
- Research Assistant
- Marriage Celebrant
- Civil Celebrant
- Allied Health Worker
- Disability Officer
- Residential Supervisor
- Lifestyle and Leisure Coordinator
- Job Coordinator (Disability)
- Disabilities Services Officer
- Personal Care Worker
- Educational Leader
- Grief Counsellor
- Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
- Family and Marriage Counsellor
- Rehabilitation Counsellor
- Student Counsellor
- Counsellor
- Youth Health Worker
- Social Worker
- Mental Health Worker
- Project Manager
- Health Promotion Practitioner
- Health Development Officer
- Health Researcher
- Health Administrator
- Public Health Advisor
- Community Health Worker
- Policy Research Officer
- Health Policy Advisor
- Epidemiologist
- Strategic Planner
- Urban Planner
- Town Planner
- Sustainability Consultant
- Planning Consultant
- Senior Planner
- Urban Design Consultant
- Urban Design Director
- Allied Health Assistant
- Physiotherapy Assistant
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Is community development right for you?
You’ll thrive working in community development if you:
- Believe in the inherent dignity and worth of all people
- Are passionate about fighting injustice
- Have strong organisational skills
- Want to see people succeed
- Are a strong leader
- Are curious and open-minded
- Love learning
- Are resilient
- Can work well in high-pressure environments
- Can think creatively
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook reports modest growth in career opportunities for graduates of community development courses. It reports that opportunities in the industry have growth over the last decade, and are predicted to continue rising at a moderate rate until at least 2020.
Average Salaries
A community worker in Australia can expect to earn between $37,000 and $56,000 per year, with most earning around $48,000, according to PayScale. Community workers don’t necessarily earn higher salaries with more experience, according to PayScale, which indicates entry-level practitioners may enjoy competitive salaries.
Depending on the nature of the role you take on, you may earn a significantly higher salary – for example, PayScale reports consultants in Australia earn on average $82,000 per year.
Learn how to become a
Industry Bodies
- Australian Community Workers Association
- Australian Council for International Development