Bachelor of Community Services
Why study the Bachelor of Community Services at UNE?
The Bachelor of Community Services is designed to attract applicants wishing to begin or further a career in community services and welfare sectors as support workers, case managers or service coordinators. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to optimise effective practice in multi-disciplinary health-related community settings and health care facilities. It aims to promote students' understanding of the societal contexts in which they work, their legal and ethical responsibilities, and associated development of skills in analysis and problem solving.
The course incorporates 400 hours of supervised professional fieldwork.
Graduates will be eligible to apply for membership to a wide range of organisations related to community, health and social care work.
The General Program of the Bachelor of Community Services is accredited with the Australian Community Workers Association.
Commencement for Trimester 3 is only available to students admitted under Rule (c).
Career Opportunities
Welfare Support Worker, Care Coordinator, Community Services Case Manager, Community Services Coordinator, Aboriginal Community Care worker, Youth worker and other roles in a range of community work, community development and care services, volunteer programs, residential facilities, correctional facilities, group homes, community agencies and government departments.
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Degree Snapshot
DURATION
2.5 or 3 Years Full-time
Up to 6 years Part-time
FEES
Commonwealth Supported Place
Guaranteed ATAR Selection Rank
72.55
2020 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale
Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 3, Online
| Official Abbreviation | BCommunServ | |||||||||
| Course Type | Undergraduate | |||||||||
| Commencing |
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| Course Duration |
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| Guaranteed ATAR Selection Rank | 72.55 | |||||||||
| Fees |
Commonwealth Supported Place
For fee information, click here |
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| Total Credit Points | 144 | |||||||||
| Intensive Schools | Mandatory intensive schools may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. See Unit Catalogue for specific requirements. |
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| Entry Requirements | A candidate shall: (a) hold an AQF Level 5 Diploma or 6 Advanced Diploma from: a Vocational Education Training (VET) Community Services Training Package; or from a Vocational Education Training (VET) Health Training Package in one of the following areas: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Care; Nursing. For more information go to http://training.gov.au; or (b) be qualified for admission (see Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Rule and Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Procedures); or (c) hold an AQF Level 4 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice (HLT40213) or an AQF Level 4 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (HLT40113). |
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| Additional Requirements | Inherent Requirements: Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course. All students must complete a Working with Children Check application. |
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| Practical, Clinical or Work Experience | This course requires a total of 400 hours field experience. HLTH201 has 150 hours and HLTH301 as 250 hours. |
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| Advanced Standing | Candidates admitted under Rule (a) shall be granted 36 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature. Up to a further 24 credit points may be granted based on units that were not part of the degree on which admission was based and may include relevant professional experience. Please note there will be no Advanced Standing available for HLTH301. Candidates admitted under Rule (b) are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing. The maximum amount of Advanced Standing under Rule (b) is 60 credit points. Please note there will be no Advanced Standing available for HLTH301. Candidates admitted under Rule (c) shall be granted 72 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature. Please note there will be no Advanced Standing for HLTH201 or HLTH301. |
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| Academic Colours | Peony Red (BCC37) |
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| Further Information |
You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE |
Admission to Candidature
A candidate shall:
(a) hold an AQF Level 5 Diploma or 6 Advanced Diploma from: a Vocational Education Training (VET) Community Services Training Package; or from a Vocational Education Training (VET) Health Training Package in one of the following areas: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Care; Nursing. For more information go to http://training.gov.au; or
(b) be qualified for admission (see Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Rule and the Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Procedures); or
(c) hold an AQF Level 4 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice (HLT40213) or an AQF Level 4 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (HLT40113).
Additional Requirements
Inherent Requirements
Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.
Working with Children Check
All students must complete a Working with Children Check application.
Advanced Standing
Candidates admitted under Rule (a) shall be granted 36 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature. Up to a further 24 credit points may be granted, based on units that were not part of the degree on which admission was based and may include relevant professional experience. Please note there will be no Advanced Standing available for HLTH301.
Candidates admitted under Rule (b) are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing. The maximum amount of Advanced Standing under Rule (b) is 60 credit points. Please note there will be no Advanced Standing available for HLTH301.
Candidates admitted under Rule (c) shall be granted 72 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature. Please note there will be no Advanced Standing for HLTH201 or HLTH301.
Period of Candidature
1. For candidates admitted under Rule (a) the period of candidature shall be:
(a) two and a half years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to four and a half years as a part-time candidate.
2. For candidates admitted under Rule (b) the period of candidature shall be:
(a) three years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to six years as a part-time candidate.
3. For candidates admitted under Rule (c) the period of candidature shall be:
(a) 1.5 years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to three years as a part-time candidate.
Course Requirements
To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 144 credit points.
Program of Study
Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:
For candidates admitted under Rule (a)
| Course Structure | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| Specified Advanced Standing | 36 cps |
| Core Units (including 400 hours of field experience) | 84 cps |
| Listed Units | 6 cps |
| General Program or ONE Approved Major | 18 cps |
| Total | 144 cps |
To view complete Program of Study click here
For candidates admitted under Rule (b)
| Course Structure | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| Core Units (including 400 hours of field experience) | 120 cps |
| Listed Unit | 6 cps |
| General Program or ONE Approved Major | 18 cps |
| Total | 144 cps |
To view complete Program of Study click here
Approved Majors
Complete One Major or General Program from the following:
Aboriginal Community Care
Aged Care
Children and Young People
Disability
General Program
For candidates admitted under Rule (c)
| Course Structure | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| Specified Advanced Standing | 72 cps |
| Core Units (including 400 hours of field experience) | 48 cps |
| Listed Unit | 6 cps |
| Complete ONE Major | 18 cps |
| Total | 144 cps |
To view complete Program of Study click here
Approved Major
Complete the following major:
Award of Degree
Candidates who meet the course requirements and who have completed the General Program will be awarded the Bachelor of Community Services. Candidates who have completed one Major shall be awarded the Bachelor of Community Services in one of the following: Aboriginal Community Care, Aged Care, Children and Young People or Disability.
Exit Pathways
Subject to Advanced Standing Rules, candidates admitted under Rule (b) who apply to discontinue their studies in the course may be eligible to exit with the Diploma in Community Welfare and Wellbeing on completion of 48 credit points.
Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies and exit with the Diploma in Community Welfare and Wellbeing must apply for re-admission and will be subject to current course requirements for the Bachelor of Community Services.
Appeals
Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.
Course Progression
Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.
Improper Conduct
Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.
| Course Aims |
Candidates may enter the course without prior qualifications in health or community services. If they have prior AQF level 5 qualifications in a range of Health, Community Services and related fields, the course builds on the workplace based skills candidates have developed as a result of these previously completed qualifications. The course develops breadth and depth of contextual knowledge and associated skills required for employment and career progression as Community Development workers, Case Managers or Services Coordinators in a range of welfare and community care settings. |
| Learning Outcomes |
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
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| Graduate Attributes |
Knowledge of a DisciplineCommunity Services as a collective discipline is taught from theoretical foundations through application in practice from a range of perspectives and across a range of contexts. Graduates will have been assessed on both generalised and specific knowledge through completion of a variety of assessment tasks. Transcultural awareness and associated culturally competent practice are taught as underpinning theory and contextualised in practice across a range of community services settings. Global perspective as this applies to professional practice is assessed as a focus in specific course units and as a part of modules within a range of units throughout the course. Communication SkillsCommunication is taught, assessed and practised as a fundamental component of community services work. Students develop written, verbal and non-verbal interpersonal and inter-professional communication skills built upon strong theoretical foundations through sequential completion of coursework units having professional communication as their focus. Students' communication skills are developed progressively throughout the course and encompass generalised and specialised knowledge and skills appropriate for communicating with clients, co-workers, a range of interdisciplinary health professionals and members of the community. Problem SolvingProblem solving skills are taught progressively throughout the course. Students apply problem solving skills to case and workplace based scenarios which form the basis of a range of assessment tasks. Graduates are equipped with a breadth and depth of problem solving skills enabling them to undertake services coordination and/or case management roles in the community sector. Information LiteracyGraduates will have been taught how to recognise relevant information and use appropriate media, tools and methodologies to locate, access, analyse and apply this information. As a focus of specific units and as an aspect of a number of others throughout the course, students are assessed on the development of their capacity to critically evaluate information and its sources and apply information critically and appropriately. Ethical Conduct and Social ResponsibilityEthical conduct and social responsibility are the focus of specialised course units as well as being unifying themes throughout the course. Students are taught both generalised and context specific legal and ethical principles and demonstrate the application in the community services sector. Social responsiblity is the focus of a number of unit assessment tasks and a component of a range of others. Lifelong LearningGraduates will have developed the knowledge and skills to apply their learning to a range of contexts, and to adapt to change from both within and from outside their workplace or organisation. These skills are taught as a focus of specific course units and as components of a number of others, and are assessed and practised through a range of case based activities. Graduates will have the capacity to apply these skills in an ongoing and self-reflective capacity throughout their professional and personal lives. Independence and CollaborationWorking independently and as a member of a team are taught as fundamental skills in community services contexts. Independent and collaborative skills are developed progressively as a focus of specific course units and as components of a range of other units throughout the course. Independent and collaborative work is practised in a range of workplace and related or simulated contexts beginning with theoretical foundations and progressing to more complex, case based scenarios. |
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