Youth Worker

There are a few professional bodies you may consider becomming a member with. Here are three options:

1. Community Work Australia (nationally recognised for those who work in the community sector, so not solely for youth workers)
   Membership requirements: To be eligible for membership you must hold a relevant higher qualification or accredited diploma as well as relevant industry experience in some cases. A relevant qualification is one which adequately prepares graduates to perform community work in Australia. It should specialise in community or human services, or a specific service field. Fields of practice include youth work, mental health, applied social science, community development, alcohol and other drugs, disability services and counselling. Specific documentation requirements are:
   - colour scan of qualification certificate, colour scan of transcripts, colour scan of any other recognised prior learning;
   - resume with 2 references, position descriptionf or the most recent industry experience, letter from msot recent employer including position title, type, full-time or part-time, start and end dates;
   - other optional documents include evidence of name change, police check, working with childrens check
   
   
2. Youth Work NSW (for youth workers in New South Wales)
   Membership requirements: to be a full member, you can apply via a vocational pathway, youth work qualification pathway, or portfolio pathway.
   - Vocational pathway: you must hold a recognised diploma or Certificate IV in youth work (or cognate degree) with relevant supervised placement and minimum post-graduate full-time practice (time depending on your qualification).
   - Youth work qualification pathway: you must hold a youth work degree or a two-year diploma or advanced diploma with relevent supervised placement and minimum post-graduate full-time practice (time depending on your qualification).
   - Portfolio pathway: if you do not hold the relevent qualifications, you may apply for membership through the submission of a portfolio as prescribed by the Association. The portfolio my be written or video recorded, or may be conducted by interview.
   You are required to hold a Working With Childrens Check and provide three referees, one of whom must be a youth worker.
   
   
3. Youth Workers Australia (nationally recognised, solely for qualified or experience youth workers)
   Membership requirements: to be eligible for membership with YWA, you will need to have completed a youth work courses from Certificate IV level to Bachelor and Post-Graduate studies. YWA will consider those without formal qualifications but with extensive youth work experience that can be shown with evidence.
   
   As an overseas qualified youth worker, you will likely apply for an Alternative Membership. These requirements are:
   - a certified copy of the your equivalent undergraduate degree/ diploma with proof of youth work components (minimum 6 units to be considered equivalent to a youth work major),
   - a resume with evidence of a minimum 7 years of Youth Work experience, some of which must be in the previous 3 years to indicate industry preparedness,
   - a support letter from a current member of Youth Workers Australia.

Youth Work NSW

Community Work Australia

Youth Workers Australia

If you are seeking support for a visa application, you can complete a skills assessment with Community Work Australia. There are three key steps;

1. Course recognition: must be a) relevant diploma or higher with a specialisation in youth work, b) a Community Work Australia accredited course, c) a recognised relevent qualification in youth work, including YWA accredited course, or d) a relevant non-specialised qualification related to community services that is comparable to AQF level 5 or higher (typically, this qualification would cover topics such as sociology, social policy, welfare services and systems, work with individuals, families, groups and communities, communication and basic counselling and interpersonal skills, additionally things such as child development, social justice, child protection, mental health, case management etc).
2. English proficiency: must meet minimum test results from one fo the recognised tests (IELTS, PTE Academic, C1 Advanced, TOEFL IBT PTE, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET). Cannot be an online test from CELPIP, IELTS, LANGUAGECERT, MET, TOEFL iBT. OR the study you successfully completed was fully undertaken in an English speaking country (Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, NZ, UK, USA).
3. Employment/work experience requirements: a) relevent diploma or higher - requries 1 year of full-time (min. 30 hours per week) (or part-time equivalent) employment and performance at required skill level (The range and complexity of the tasks performed in the occupation require a qualification equivalent to AQF Level 5. Please note: some support worker roles take place in the same setting as this occupation but only require a certificate level qualification (AQF Level 3/4). Employment at this skill level will not be considered.); b) Community Work Australia accredited course - deemed sufficient lindustry experience. If found to be underskilled in certain areas, you may need to complete 3 months full-time work (or part-time equivalent); c) recognised relevent qualification in youth work - deemed sufficient lindustry experience. If found to be underskilled in certain areas, you may need to complete 3 months full-time work (or part-time equivalent); d) relevant non-specialised qualification - 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) employment in youth services setting and performed at the required skill level. Currency of Work - Applicants must also demonstrate their knowledge and skills are up to date in one of the following ways: holding a qualification that is less than 4 years old; a minimum of least 3 months full time (or part-time equivalent) employment in a relevant current role at the required skill level; at least 6 months relevant employment at the required skill level within the last 18 months.

Skills Assessment Criteria

CWA Info for Migrants

You may consider completing a TAFE course to gain a diploma or Certificate IV. These are genrally between 12 months to two years. If you are a Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen, you may be able to access free TAFE courses when available.

NSW TAFE Courses in Youth Work

NSW Fee Free Courses