CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services

Imperial Institute of Sydney Entry Requirements

1. Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the commencement of the course.

2. Educational Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

   • Completion of Australian Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, or

   • Successful completion of an AQF Certificate III qualification or higher.

3. Course Entry Interview: Applicants must participate in a course entry interview to assess their suitability for the course and identify any specific learning or support needs.

4. Visa Requirements: Applicants must meet the requirements for an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500).

5. English Language Proficiency: Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

   • A minimum IELTS* score of 6.0, with test results issued within the past 2 years, or

   • Documented evidence of at least 5 years of education in an English-speaking country where English was the medium of instruction, or

   • Completion of at least a Certificate IV level qualification through an Australian RTO within the past 2 years.

Note: Other English language tests, including PTE and TOEFL, may be accepted where the results are equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.0. Students must provide valid test results for verification by Imperial Institute of Sydney.

20 units must be completed:

• 12 core units
• 8 elective units, consisting of:
  • at least 6 units from amongst the electives listed in Groups A, B, C, D or E below
  • up to 2 units from the electives listed below, any endorsed Training Package or accredited course.

Where appropriate, electives may be packaged to provide a qualification with a specialisation.

Packaging for each specialisation:

• At least 4 Group A electives must be selected for the award of Diploma of Community Services(Case Management)
• At least 3 Group B electives must be selected for the award of the Diploma of Community Services (Social Housing)
• At least 3 Group C electives must be selected for the award of the Diploma of Community Services (Child, Youth and Family Welfare)
• At least 3 Group D electives must be selected for the award of the Diploma of Community Services (Responding to Family Violence).

Where two or more specialisations are completed, this should be noted on the testamur when awarding the qualification. For example, Diploma of Community Services (Case Management, Social Housing and Child, Youth and Family Welfare).

All electives chosen must contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome.

Check for details and updated packaging rules in https://training.gov.au/training/details/CHC52021/qualdetails

Students may apply for course credit through credit transfer or recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on their existing qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience.

• Full details about course credit and eligibility are available in the International Student Handbook. 
• Course credit applications are assessed in line with institutional and regulatory requirements.

For International Students

• Course credit approval may impact both:
  • Course fees
  • Course duration
• Students will be notified in writing regarding:
  • The outcome of their course credit application
  • Any changes to the course fees or duration

If course credit is granted after the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is issued, a revised CoE will be provided showing the updated course duration

After successful completion of the CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services, students will have developed the knowledge, skills, and confidence to:

• Provide effective support: Assist individuals, families, and communities in a range of community service settings.
• Apply practical skills: Conduct assessments, develop support plans, and implement interventions tailored to client needs.
• Communicate professionally: Engage respectfully and effectively with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• Understand legal and ethical frameworks: Work within the boundaries of legislation, policies, and ethical standards relevant to community services.
• Problem-solve and adapt: Respond to diverse situations with critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness.

Students who successfully complete this nationally recognised training will be awarded the CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services. 

This course opens up multiple pathways for further education and professional development. Students who complete this course may wish to continue their education into BSB60720 Advanced Diploma of Program Management or range of Advanced Diploma qualifications, as well higher education qualifications in project and leadership management.

Students who complete this diploma can choose to:

• Advance to Higher Qualifications: Progress into a Bachelor’s degree in Community Services, Social Work, or Human Services at a university.
• Specialised Training: Undertake short courses or certifications in areas such as mental health, youth work, or aged care to enhance specific skills.
• Professional Development: Access workshops and industry seminars to stay current with evolving community services practices.

Assessments are designed to mirror real-world tasks and industry standards, helping students develop the skills needed for their careers. They take place in a simulated workplace environment and assess practical abilities, teamwork, and time management.

Assessment Arrangements

Assessment will occur through a variety of methods, including projects incorporating role-plays, presentations, reports, portfolios, case studies and short answer questions. Assessment conditions will ensure a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment tasks:

• Reflect real-life work tasks.
• Are required to be performed within industry standard timeframes as specified by assessors in relation to each task.
• Are assessed using assessment criteria that relate to the quality of work expected by the industry.
• Are performed to industry safety requirements as relevant.
• Utilise authentic workplace documentation.
• Require students to work with others as part of a team.
• Require students to plan and prioritise competing work tasks.
• Involve the use of standard workplace equipment such as computers and software.
• Ensure that students are required to consider workplace constraints such as time and budgets.

Assessment Materials

Assessment materials comprise:

• Student Assessment Tasks: There is one for each unit of competency that includes instructions to students about each of their assessments. It also includes an assessment plan where students can record the due dates of each task and an Assessment Task Cover Sheet that must be completed for each Assessment submission.

• Other documents specific to the workplace simulation task requirements are also included with the assessment tasks. These include document templates and simulated workplace policies and procedures, and are described in the student and assessor instructions as relevant.

Re-assessment

Re-assessment criteria:

Each assessment task will be given an outcome of either Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (NS). Students must complete all tasks for a unit satisfactorily to achieve an overall outcome of Competent (C) for the unit. If one or more of the tasks are assessed as Not Satisfactory, they will be given an outcome for the unit of Not Yet Competent (NYC).

The student can have a total of 3 attempts to complete each task and achieve a ‘Satisfactory’ outcome (noting that the third attempt is chargeable as per the fees and refunds policy). If, after the third attempt, the student is still assessed as Not Satisfactory for a task, they will need to re-enrol in the unit.

Assessment Appeals

Students can make an appeal against any assessment decision by following the Complaints and Appeals Policy outlined in the Student Handbook.

Appeals will be dealt with following the Complaints and Appeals Procedure.

At the Imperial Institute of Sydney, we are committed to ensuring student success through c

At the Imperial Institute of Sydney, we are committed to ensuring student success through comprehensive support and monitoring:

• Personalised Intervention Strategies: Tailored plans to address individual student needs and challenges, with additional resources provided to support learning.
• Ongoing Course Progress Monitoring: Regular tracking of student progress to ensure timely completion of course requirements.
• Attendance Monitoring: Adherence to attendance policies, particularly for international students, to ensure compliance with visa regulations.
• Access to Support Resources: A wide range of academic and personal support services, including tutoring, counselling, and study workshops.
• Continuous Feedback: Students receive regular feedback on their performance to help them stay on track and improve.
• Flexible Learning Options: Various resources and facilities available to cater to different learning styles and needs, including online materials and study groups.

omprehensive support and monitoring:

• Personalised Intervention Strategies: Tailored plans to address individual student needs and challenges, with additional resources provided to support learning.
• Ongoing Course Progress Monitoring: Regular tracking of student progress to ensure timely completion of course requirements.
• Attendance Monitoring: Adherence to attendance policies, particularly for international students, to ensure compliance with visa regulations.
• Access to Support Resources: A wide range of academic and personal support services, including tutoring, counselling, and study workshops.
• Continuous Feedback: Students receive regular feedback on their performance to help them stay on track and improve.
• Flexible Learning Options: Various resources and facilities available to cater to different learning styles and needs, including online materials and study groups.