Youth Work Courses Australia

About Youth Work

You'll become

Average Salaries

Youth Work workers may earn between $33,000 and $63,000 per year

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career? You can help shape the lives of young people – aged 0-25 – through the study of Youth Work. Youth Work courses provide students with an understanding of the social, behavioural, health, welfare and developmental needs of youth. Students of Youth Work courses will be taught how to provide emotional and everyday, hands-on support to young people, and help develop their confidence levels and social skills.

Youth Work courses will explore a range of fascinating subjects, which may include engaging young people, case management, responding to critical situations, promoting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety, providing first aid, working with young people and their families, mental health issues and identifying people at risk.

You’re passionate about young people and committed to supporting their active, fulfilling and meaningful participation in all aspects of society. Build the skills and knowledge required to work professionally in youth work by studying a youth work course now.

As Australia’s population ages, young people are being excluded from critical service delivery. The demand for skilled professionals to provide support is growing. As a youth worker, you’ll work with vulnerable and at-risk young people to provide support, counselling and coaching, and assist them to unlock the potential you know is within them, and help them engage fully in Australian society and life.

A wide range of youth work courses exist, including at the certificate, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree levels, and often qualifications include practical work placements, to ensure you graduate with the practical and adaptable skills necessary to work in the fast-paced and dynamic youth work sector.

Career opportunities after completing a youth work course are varied, and may include working as a youth worker or a more specialised community service worker. Due to the holistic nature of youth service work, you can expect to engage frequently with teachers, social workers, parents and authorities in your work.

What do youth work graduates do?

As a youth worker, you’ll work closely with young people to provide support, coaching, advice and assistance on a range of social, emotional, health, welfare and development matters, and coordinate the services of service delivery agencies. Day-to-day, you can expect to:

Meet with new clients to assess their needs and design support programs, activities and exercises;
Monitor and report on the progress of existing clients;
Communicate with service delivery agencies, including housing, education, employment, counselling and health services, for the benefit of your clients;
Meet with families, teachers and other people in the client’s environment, and assess community needs and resources;
Connect clients to services;
Prepare reports and submissions to government and service bodies.

Youth work is relational, and your tasks will depend uniquely on your clients and their needs. A successful youth worker will focus on building excellent relationships and providing the support, assistance and advice that will help the young person create the change in their life they want to see.

Career Outcomes

The skills and attributes developed while studying youth work may be transferred to a variety of other areas, including working as a youth sports coach, tutoring or mentoring a young person, or advocating for the rights of young people in an advocacy or policy role.

Graduates of youth work courses usually work as youth workers or in community and social service delivery. You may choose to seek employment as a:

Is youth work right for you?

You’ll enjoy studying youth work if you:

Love working with young people
Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Are empathetic, patient and understanding
Respect the dignity and worth of all people
Are proactive
Have excellent organisational and time management skills

Job opportunities

Employment opportunities in youth work have been growing steadily over the past decade, and Job Outlook predicts jobs will continue to grow strongly for the next five years. Youth work is considered a large profession, with approximately 60,000 people in Australia employed in the sector, suggesting employment opportunities are available in most regions of Australia. Job Outlook notes that approximately 56 per cent of youth workers are employed in full-time positions.

Average Salaries

According to PayScale, youth workers may earn between $33,000 and $63,000 per year, with an approximate average salary of $54,000. There isn’t a strong relationship between experience and salary in the youth work sector, and new graduates may find themselves earning competitive rates after finishing their courses. PayScale notes that people remain working in the youth work sector for an average of 10 years.

min $33K

max $63K

ave $54K

Learnhow to become a

Learn how to become a

Youth worker

Industry Bodies

Youth Workers’ Association

Peak bodies for young people also exist in each state and territory of Australia:

Youth Network of Tasmania
Youth Action (NSW)
Northern Territory Youth Affairs Network
Youth Affairs Council of WA
Youth Affairs Council of South Australia
Youth Coalition of the ACT
Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (national)

Course type

Qualification level

Study method

Payment type

Blog

How to become

Youth Work Courses

Location

Industry

Qualification

Payment Option

CHC40413
Certificate IV in Youth Work Open Colleges

CHC40413 Certificate IV in Youth Work

Bachelor of Youth Work Edith Cowan University

Bachelor of Youth Work

CHC50313
Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention BCA National Training Group

CHC50313 Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention

Bachelor of Social Science Edith Cowan University

Bachelor of Social Science

What do youth work graduates do?

Career Outcomes

Career Outcomes

Job opportunities

Average Salaries

Learn how to become a

Industry Bodies

Location

Industry

Qualification

Payment Option

CHC40413 Certificate IV in Youth Work Open Colleges

CHC40413 Certificate IV in Youth Work

Bachelor of Youth Work Edith Cowan University

Bachelor of Youth Work

CHC50313 Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention BCA National Training Group

CHC50313 Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention

Bachelor of Social Science Edith Cowan University

Bachelor of Social Science

What do youth work graduates do?

Career Outcomes

Career Outcomes

Job opportunities

Average Salaries

Learn how to become a

Industry Bodies

CHC40413
Certificate IV in Youth Work Open Colleges

CHC50313
Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention BCA National Training Group