This week, people across Australia will come together to celebrate National Volunteer Week – a week dedicated to acknowledging the generous contribution of our nations volunteers. Running from May 8th – 14th, this annual celebration is a reminder of the role community services play, in keeping neighbourhoods and communities across Australia thriving. Considered ‘heroes in disguise’, individuals in community service roles focus on providing care, support and counselling to those in need. They help address issues surrounding homelessness, substance abuse, rehabilitation, teenage pregnancy, unemployment, relationships and the elderly.
A career in community services offers a level of job fulfilment like no other. Individual’s best suited to a career in community services are those with a passion for caring and helping the disadvantaged. A formal qualification such as the Diploma of Community of Services aims to provide students with the correct skills, knowledge and practical training to support those in need. Interested in kick-starting a career in community services? Find out 8 reasons why working in community services is so rewarding:
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1. You’ll Change People Lives
Community support workers play a direct hand in changing people’s day-to-day lives – what a wonderful feeling! Helping vulnerable individuals overcome their problems, community workers have an immediate and profound impact on the welfare of those who need help the most. Community workers make a difference to the quality of people’s lives by giving them hope for a brighter future.
Working with individuals or groups to solve the issues they are facing within the community, community workers aim to facilitate change, create solutions, support unconditionally, provide information/resources and assist through community based services and programs. For example: say you were a recent migrant or refugee resettling in Australia. A community support worker, specialising in relocation services, would provide you with all the necessary resources and information to successfully start your new life. They would support your integration into the local community, assist with employment and training and counsel you through issues surrounding social and cultural shock. This support would give you the confidence to start settling in to your new home, instead of feeling lost or alone.
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2. Job Flexibility
A qualification in community services opens up many doors. Unlike some formal qualifications that limit individuals to particular roles, fields, or sectors, a career in community services is quite flexible. Instead of being restricted, community service workers are able to apply themselves across a number of areas before focusing on one area they are passionate about. Having so much flexibility available ensures you will end up in a job that is perfect for you!
A list of community service areas complied by the Australian Salvation Army include:
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3. Highlight Real Issues
It is not uncommon for community service workers to get involved in this area of work because of issues they hold close to the heart. There is no denying that community service work is an extremely, passionate and rewarding area of work, that involves a lot of physical, mental and emotional strength. If you would like to become an advocate for an issue you find important, or you think deserves a voice why not get involved? Isn’t turning your passion into a career everybody’s dream? Be a voice, stand up and contribute to a greater society by evoking social change and highlighting issues bigger than yourself!
4. Industry Growth
A report released by SEEK Australia found that the Department of Employment predicts employment growth rates within the community services sector to increase more than 24.5 per cent between 2013-2018. In fact, it’s biggest occupational group, aged care and disabled care workers, is set to grow from 120,000 workers to 170,000 – an increase of 32 per cent by 2018! Seek, Insight and Resources 2015. This is largely due to Australia’s ageing population.
If you’re looking to kick-start a career in an industry that you know has incredible employment opportunities, community services is the one for you!
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5. Live Everyday with Purpose
If you want to avoid working an unfulfilling 9-5PM with no purpose, then a qualification in community services is worth investing your time, money and effort in.
By doing something you are passionate about, you can confidently wake up every morning with a smile on your face, go to work, and know you are making a difference in the world. Each day, community service workers have a purpose – to improve the quality of life of those who can’t help themselves. They help open doors to life-saving opportunities such as education, housing and employment.  For example, if you were a community support worker who specialised in alcohol and rehabilitation services you could come to work knowing you are actively working towards making someone’s life significantly better. Your purpose is to support a vulnerable individual make good choices, to get back on track. Imagine the joy you’d feel at the end of each day knowing you helped someone turn their life around!
If that isn’t a good enough reason to go to work every day then we don’t know what is!
Read more on National Volunteer Week 2017 (8th – 14th May).Â
6. Move Around
A community services worker is someone who is in high demand in both rural and urban areas. A nation-wide demand means that you’ll have lots of options when it comes to picking where you want to live and work.
Some people enjoy working in remote areas. This is possible for community support workers, as the Government continues to fund remote indigenous community services. In February this year, the Australian Government rolled out its second stage of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Services to Ipswich, Beaudesert, Townsville and Palm Island. In a media statement by the Queensland Government, Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said that this roll out was part of an investment of more than $6 million dollars every year over the next five years to provide more than 60,000 hours of support to 1,300 indigenous families. Fentiman also mentioned that overall, this service was a part of a government funded package across rural Queensland for new community-run services to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. New Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, 2017
There is substantial funding for community based services in remote parts of Australia to continue running – perfect for those looking to work and live remotely.
7. Job Satisfaction
Community workers feel a great sense of job satisfaction. As previously mentioned, a community services worker actively works towards making positive changes in someone’s life to build a better, brighter future! Giving back to society, providing opportunities and offering unconditional support is a great way to make a living!
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Do you think you have what it takes to kick-start a fulfilling career in community services? Take a look at our Diploma of Community of Services. Or if you prefer to speak to a Course Advisor, call us on 1300 236 364.