Undergraduate - Course4076 - Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling and Diploma of Disability

This accredited course equips students for competent and ethical community welfare and counselling practice. The degree develops skills and knowledge for intervention across a range of practice fields, including (but not limited to): counselling, child protection, disability, family support, homelessness, community corrections, youth justice, community development, aged care, family violence, and research and policy analysis. The study program includes case management and human services practice from a management perspective.

Students complete a structured sequence in community welfare and counselling, and two practice placements in community development and human service organisations. The study program focuses on counselling, group work, community development, social policy and emancipatory practice. Students will also take an arts minor in Australian Indigenous studies, community studies, psychological studies, psychology, criminal justice or sociology, and a specialisation in disability through Gippsland TAFE.

The completion of the diploma meets the professional requirement of the Victorian Department of Human Services for its employees working in this field.

Students receive both of awards from the respective institutions upon successful completion of the program.

At the completion of the course students will have developed values, skills and knowledge appropriate to working with individuals, families, groups and communities at interpersonal, group, organisational and government levels, high-level interpersonal skills, skills in critical thinking and problem-solving, specialist skills and knowledge including counselling, advocacy and education/health promotion as they relate to working with clients with disabilities.

Students are required to undertake a 16-day field education placement and a 60-day field placement during this course.

This course is accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association(ACWA) and the Diploma meets the professional requirement of the Victorian Department of Human Services for its employees working in this field.

This course consists of a community welfare and counselling sequence, four compulsory units and additional studies in arts. Students also undertake a disability specialisation which is undertaken through Gippsland TAFE in flexible face-to-face and online mode. Students must complete 132 points in the Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling, and five modules in the Diploma of Disability component, equivalent to 12 points.

Students complete:

(a.) a community welfare and counselling sequence (66 points) comprising the following:

• ATS1361 Governing inequality: Foundations of social welfare provision
• ATS1362 Interpersonal practice and counselling skills practice
• ATS1363 Counselling and group work skills
• ATS2822 Advanced counselling and case management
• ATS2823 Community development
• ATS2825 Social issues and personal values
• ATS3848 Insights into practice
• ATS3713 Field education and practice (12 points)
• ATS3850 Human services management and practice
• ATS3851 Social policy

(b.) two compulsory supporting units at first-year level (12 points):

• ATS1251 Introduction to Australian Indigenous studies
• ATS1367 Sociological reflections on everyday life

(c.) two compulsory supporting unit at second-year level (12 points):

• ATS2260 Developmental psychology: Behaviour across the lifespan

Plus one of:

• ATS2364 Indigenous Australian politics and activism
• ATS2367 Australian Indigenous women
• ATS2369 Indigenous Australian human rights
• ATS2737 Social justice

(d.) a TAFE Diploma of Disability specialisation comprising five modules (12 points)

(e.) further units to complete a total of 144 points, including the following:

• at least one minor in the available disciplines listed under 'Areas of study'
• 18 points of first-year-level units (which includes first-year level from minor) selected from the disciplines listed under 'Areas of study'.

Students must complete a minimum of 36 points at third-year level.

No more than 10 units (60 points) are to be completed at a first-year level.

Students who choose to complete a minor in psychology must replace ATS2260 Developmental Psychology with PSY2031 Developmental and biological psychology

Note: psychological studies units are tailored to those students intending to proceed in community welfare and counselling, but some students may wish to undertake units in Psychology (APAC accredited) instead. Students who are interested in completing a minor in either of these disciplines must ensure they complete the first-year sequence.

Available minor disciplines

• Australian Indigenous studies
• criminal justice
• psychological studies
• psychology
• sociology

First-year units

• Australian studies
• Australian Indigenous studies
• communications
• community studies
• history-politics
• journalism
• philosophy
• psychological studies
• psychology
• sociology
• writing

Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling