We are a private RTO and therefore government funding is not available. Please check eligibility requirements before enquiring.
Course Overview
The Diploma of Youth Work is the preferred industry qualification for the youth services industry in Australia. Youth workers are passionate about helping young members of society achieve their potential.
This course would suit those who are looking to give back to their community by making a difference in the lives of younger Australians. Those who have some work or volunteer experience in the Community Services sector and wish to specialise in youth services will also find this course valuable.
Throughout the Diploma of Youth Work, you’ll learn how to work with diverse groups of young people. Skills in case management and program and activity planning are a focus of this course.
We’ll teach you how to identify young people at risk and how to address legal and ethical issues. You’ll also receive training in counselling and working with individuals with mental health issues.
Who's It For?
This course would suit those who are looking to give back to their community by making a difference to the lives of younger Australians. The Diploma of Youth Work is the preferred industry qualification and is the perfect way to improve your skills and knowledge of the Youth Services sector.
Alternatively, if you have some work or volunteer experience in the Community Services sector and want to take the next step in your career, this Diploma is a great way to formalise your experience to make your career ambitions a reality.
If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation as you may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and may be able to complete your studies faster.
Job Outcomes
Potential career outcomes could include:
- Case manager
- Coordinator youth and family services
- Coordinator youth services
- Program manager
- Senior caseworker
- Senior youth worker
- Youth team leader
What You'll Learn
Learn to look after the holistic welfare of children and teenagers, including their safety, emotional health and social connectivity.
During your course you will learn:
- How to listen to and understand young people’s problems, taking into account their background and circumstances, and counsel them around the areas they are struggling with
- The skills to interact and work with the families and guardians of children and teens, to arrive at the best possible outcomes for your young client’s welfare
- How to understand and work with a variety of cultural perspectives, and promote the health and safety of young people living in these communities
- Key relationship and trust-building skills
- How to assess young people, respond to their needs and link them in with services that will assist them and meet their needs
- Encourage youth participation, and help young people to connect with people and communities that will have a positive and healthy impact on their lives
- How to respond to critical situations, and work with youth who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness
- Understand, work with and support young people struggling with mental health issues
Recognition

Study Method
- OnlineOnline delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
- BlendedBlended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
- In-classIn class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
- VirtualVirtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
Duration Study Load
The duration for the course is 24 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.
Course Features
- This course has been exclusively developed in consultation with current Community Service professionals
- Throughout the Diploma of Youth Work, you’ll learn how to work with diverse groups of young people
- You’ll learn how to identify young people at risk and how to address legal and ethical issues. You’ll also receive training in counselling and working with individuals with mental health issues
- Graduate job-ready with a strong set of practical skills and a thorough understanding of Youth Work in Australia
- Studying online with Open Colleges means you can fit learning around your life. There are no classrooms and no deadlines. You simply study when you want, at a pace that suits your lifestyle, and on any device that’s handy (smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer)
Work Placement
The course contains a minimum of 160 hours of work placement
Your work placement will need to be supervised by a qualified staff member. Students will often undertake work placement in their current workplace or find a workplace through their friends, family or colleagues.
There are a number of statutory checks required by workplaces, such as a Criminal Record Check and a Working With Children Check. These may vary by state. In addition, individual workplaces may impose additional requirements on students undertaking work placement. You will be responsible for the costs of any such checks or requirements.
Your work placement will need to be completed in Australia, and you will be responsible for the costs of any travel, accommodation, statutory checks or other requirements related to your work placement.
Recognition Of Prior Learning
We understand that you may already have many skills and areas of expertise that you have obtained in different ways and these are recognised through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
Open Colleges has developed an RPL application kit for this course.
The Student Handbook, available in the Key Student Information section of our website, provides more information about our RPL process. Alternatively, you can contact an Enrolment Consultant to discuss your RPL options.
Assessment
- Case studies
- Knowledge tests
- Learner and supervisor checkpoints
- Multiple-choice questions
- Practical assessments
- Short-answer questions
- Work Placement final feedback
- Workplace logbook
- Workplace portfolio
- Written reports
Subjects
About Open Colleges
Open Colleges puts you at the centre of everything we do. As an institution, we measure our success in the success of our students.
We have more than 125 years of experience in distance education, and this has given us the time to perfect the ways we deliver education and training to people across Australia. In the last decade alone, we’ve helped more than 450,000 students reach their potential.
We understand the needs of adult learners. That’s why we created OpenSpace, our world-class online learning platform that gives you complete flexibility and control to study whenever and wherever you are. OpenSpace provides you with access to learning resources, expert trainers and assessors, a superior support network and the opportunity to connect with other learners just like you.
Our nationally recognised courses could help you launch, change or accelerate your career. Now is the time to make your next move. With Open Colleges, everything could happen.
Open Colleges Pty Ltd is a Registered Training Organization (RTO 90796)