Certificate IV in Youth Work CHC40421

This qualification reflects the role of workers who develop and facilitate programs for young people (aged 12–24) through a range of community-based programs designed to address their social, behavioural, health, wellbeing, developmental, and protection needs. This work may be undertaken through employment in community, government, and youth sector agencies, with workers responsible for implementing the policies and guidelines of their employing organisation. They are largely self-directed, with autonomous decision-making capacity under the indirect supervision of a manager.

This work may be undertaken through employment in community, government and youth sector agencies and workers are responsible for implementing policies and guidelines of the employing organisation. They are largely self-directed with autonomous decision-making capacity under the indirect supervision of a manager.

Learners may choose to enrol in the CHC40421 Certificate IV in Youth Work as an entry point to working as a youth worker. Alternatively, they may undertake the qualification as a pathway to further study in:

• CHC50421 Diploma of Youth Work
• CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services
• CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health
• CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs

During this course, you'll learn how to:

• Work effectively with young people in the youth work context
• Engage respectfully with young people
• Work with diverse people
• Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
• Participate in workplace health and safety
• Provide first aid
• Work effectively with young people and their families
• Work legally and ethically
• Use communication to build relationships
• Work with people with mental health issues
• Provide services for young people appropriate to their needs and circumstances
• Assess co-existing needs
• Respond to critical situations
• Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
• Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
• Support young people create opportunities in their lives
• Work within a community development framework
• Plan and conduct group activities

• Multiple Choice Quiz
• Project
• Written Assessment
• Role Play
• Video
• Work Placement

The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

Recommended Local Entry Requirements

Must have clear criminal record and be able to complete a WWCC. If student is doubting whether this will be clear, they should apply for the WWCC check before enrolling.

Students will need to be at least 18 years old. Students under 18 will need a parent or guardian to complete the parent or guardian declaration on the Enrolment Form.

Students residing in WA/NT under the age of 18, who are not currently studying for their year 12 certificate cannot be enrolled.

Students are recommended to have the language, literacy, and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to read and comprehend technical terms and communicate effectively through email.

These skills are equivalent to:

• Successfully completed Year 12 OR
• ACSF Level 3 OR
• Successful completion of a nationally recognised Certificate III qualification or higher

Tools, equipment, and skills required:

• Access to up to 5 people to participate in role plays and assessments
• Access to a device with audio & video capabilities to record simulated role-play tasks for submission
• A simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions for role-play with facilities and equipment
• Tripod to provide a stable and secure platform to mount the digital recording device
• Basic computing skills
• Access to a modern computer with high-speed internet
• Access to Microsoft Office
  

Additional Requirements:

• Students need to have a reasonable level of fitness, as the role may involve a variety of physical tasks, such as being able to restrain clients from any violent episodes or self-harm, as directed. Be able to conduct client assessments. This will require both a conversational assessment and potentially visual assessment in terms of potential signs of abuse.
• Additionally, where first aid is a requirement of the host organisation, students must have the requisite fitness level that enables them to complete 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an adult manikin placed on the floor.

NDIS worker screening and blue card:

Students can link their NDIS worker screening and blue card to Integrated Care and Management Training so that they can receive a student version. Students are provided a link on how to do this in OpenSpace in the FAQs.

Simulated Environment:

Role Plays are the practical element of an assessment that a student is required to complete via a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions with facilities and equipment including:

• Home / office environment with tables and chairs
• outdoor activity areas
• communication equipment
• up to 5 people to support you in the role-play

For some role-play scenarios, this may include:

• Young people
• People from diverse backgrounds
• People with disabilities (or pretending to have some form of disabilities)
• It is the responsibility of the learner to find suitable role-play participants

Types of resources required for group activities, including:

• venues
• equipment
• information materials
• administrative support
• specialist expertise
• persons approved of by relevant local First Nation community elders
  
  

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

Focus on your studies while we handle your work placement. Through our partnership with SkilTrak, our Guaranteed Work Placement ensures you gain hands-on experience in your dream career—right in your local area. Learn more

• Meet with SkilTrak – Their team will discuss your skills, goals, location, and travel preferences to arrange the best placement for you.
• We’ll do the work – While you continue your coursework, we’ll be behind the scenes securing the perfect placement match.
• Get the details – Have a quick chat with us to go over what to expect from your work placement experience.
• Start your placement – Gain real-world experience while we check in along the way to ensure everything is running smoothly.
• Complete your course – Once your placement is done, upload your workbooks, finish your final assessment, and receive your certificate.

The Host Organisation needs to be able to provide the student with access to equipment and resources necessary to undertake Workplace Assessments. The host organisation must be operating in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards, and industry codes of practice. Additionally, students must be working with youth aged 12–24 during their placement.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) will require a minimum of 160 hours of direct support work.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is completed at the end of the course. Students should start looking for placement facilities once they have commenced their studies. Once they have completed 75% of their course, they can submit their workplace approval form.

There will also be specific assessment tasks including a logbook and portfolios to be completed at the workplace.

Workplaces suitable to undertake SWL include:

• Wellbeing departments in Schools (Primary – grade 6 over 12+) or High School
• Residential Care – Out-of-Home Care
• Youth Justice Departments (must talk to trainer first)
• Youth Recreational Organisations (YCMA)
• Youth mentoring services such as camps

For students to be able to undertake the practical component of the course, approved workplaces must be able to provide students with the required equipment, environments, policies & procedures, documentation, appropriate supervisor, and clients. If host organisations are unable to provide the necessary equipment, resources, and access to clients the student may be required to undertake SWL within 2 (or more) organisations.

The workplace may require the student to meet workplace-specific requirements. These will vary by state and by organisation. Some of the statutory checks and requirements the student may need to provide to commence work placement are:

• Police Check 
• Working with Children Check 
• Occupational Assessment 
• Screening and vaccination against infectious diseases, including COVID-19 
• Signing of Codes of Conduct and Confidentiality Agreements 
• First Aid Certificate 
• Psychological testing 
  
  

For students that are already working in industry and completing placement with their current employer, this may be reduced to 100 hours. To be eligible for this reduction existing workers must be able to provide a job description that shows they are employed in a relevant job role and a recent payslip to show that their employment is current. These documents should be provided as part of the workplace approval process. The reason for this reduction is that existing workers can practice during their work time and are already familiar with the organisations policies and procedures.

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Workplace supervisors are required to have 3 years experience as a supervisor in the community services sector with at least 1 year experience in youth and/or any of the following qualifications:

· Certificate IV in Youth Work

· Diploma of Youth Work

· Diploma of Community Services

· Bachelor of Social Services

· Any other community services based degree or qualification

Open Colleges may need to obtain further evidence to show confirm that the supervisor has the skills and experience to sign off on the required tasks.