CHC40421 - Certificate IV in Youth Work

Version Effective: 11th of March, 2024

Course Details

Course Summary

Start your career with the Certificate IV in Youth Work. Support young individuals in making positive life changes and empower them to navigate life’s challenges.  This youth work course provides the skills and knowledge necessary to work with young people in the community. The qualification is designed for workers who develop and facilitate a range of community-based programs to address the social, behavioural, health, wellbeing, developmental and protection needs of young people. 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.  Youth workers are largely self-directed with autonomous decision-making capacity under the indirect supervision of a manager. This is a nationally recognised accredited course.

Requirements - To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.

Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) online literacy and numeracy assessment prior to enrolment, unless they have previously completed a Certificate IV or higher-level course. The BKSB will highlight any areas where additional support may be required from CQUniversity.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

CHC40421 – Certificate IV in Youth Work, along with online learning, requires an 80-hour placement within an appropriate work setting.  CQUniversity will support students to source placement in relevant clinics, facilities or organisations who have a suitably qualified supervisor from that sector. While CQUniversity tries to arrange a student's placement within their local community, circumstances may require the student to relocate at their cost to complete the placement. Students who are currently working in a relevant role may be eligible to undertake placement with their existing employer, subject to approval from the CQUniversity Head of Course and agreement from the employer.  Mandatory placement checks are compulsory for this course. Students will be required to obtain a Working with Children's Check relevant to their State or Territory and an Australian Federal Police Check. Students must ensure they can meet the requirements for these checks. Students may be required to undertake a pre-placement interview with host organisations and placement may be subject to the student meeting an organisation's requirements. Placement will be undertaken toward the end of the course. 

Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees
Full Fee $8,007.00 (2026)
Subsidised Full Fee $4,114.00 (2026)
Subsidised Concession Fee $3,298.00 (2026)
Fee for service per unit $471.00 (2026)
Subsidised full fee per unit $242.00 (2026)
RPL Fee for service per Unit $354.00 (2026)
For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Direct To University
How to Apply Please Enquire or Apply Now
Study Area
  • Psychology, Social Work and Community Services
Skill Area
  • Community Services
AQF Level Level 4: Certificate IV

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

This course will give you the specialised skills and knowledge to gain employment as a youth worker in a range of settings including community, government and youth sector agencies. Youth workers develop and facilitate programs for youth, including those at risk, through a range of community-based programs designed to address the social, behavioural, health, wellbeing, developmental and protection needs of young people. Furthermore, your study experience will provide you with skills and a qualification that enable you to further your education.

Course Structures
Standard Course Structure

The course duration is typically 12 months, however as it is competency based, it may be possible for learners to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skills level. There are 17 units to be completed for this qualification, 15 core units and 2 elective units. 

  • Online
Core

This course offers students the opportunity to work at the pace which is suited to them, with the option of enrolling into 1 or more units at a time. Students are recommended to enrol in 1 unit for their first Intake/enrolment period. Students can increase number of units they enrol into (up to four) during later enrolment periods. 

CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people More Information Training.gov Details
CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety More Information Training.gov Details
HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety More Information Training.gov Details
CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically More Information Training.gov Details
CHCCOM002 Use communication to build relationships More Information Training.gov Details
CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues More Information Training.gov Details
CHCDFV001 Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence More Information Training.gov Details
CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care More Information Training.gov Details
CHCPRT025 Identify and report children and young people at risk More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH013 Engage respectfully with young people More Information Training.gov Details
CHCGRP002 Plan and conduct group activities More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH014 Work effectively with young people in youth work context More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH015 Support young people to create opportunities in their lives More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH016 Respond to critical situations More Information Training.gov Details
CHCYTH022 Provide services for the needs and circumstances of young people More Information Training.gov Details
Elective
CHCCCS016 Respond to client needs More Information Training.gov Details
CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Sequence Unit
1 CHCDIV001 - Work with diverse people
2 CHCDIV002 - Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
3 HLTWHS001 - Participate in workplace health and safety
4 CHCLEG001 - Work legally and ethically
5 CHCCOM002 - Use communication to build relationships
6 CHCCCS016 - Respond to client needs
7 CHCPRP001 - Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
8 CHCMHS001 - Work with people with mental health issues
9 CHCDFV001 - Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence
10 CHCMHS007 - Work effectively in trauma informed care
11 CHCPRT025 - Identify and report children and young people at risk
12 CHCYTH013 - Engage respectfully with young people
13 CHCGRP002 - Plan and conduct group activities
14 CHCYTH014 - Work effectively with young people in youth work context
15 CHCYTH015 - Support young people to create opportunities in their lives
16 CHCYTH016 - Respond to critical situations
17 CHCYTH022 - Provide services for the needs and circumstances of young people


Course Assessment Information

Assessment Types
Written/Electronic Assessment
Practical Task
Third Party Verification
RPL
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?

Domestic 2024 Availabilities

Standard Course Structure
Online
June: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time

Domestic 2025 Availabilities

Standard Course Structure
Online
February: Part Time/Full Time
April: Part Time/Full Time
June: Part Time/Full Time
August: Part Time/Full Time
October: Part Time/Full Time

Domestic 2026 Availabilities

Standard Course Structure
Online
February: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
More Details

More Details

Enrolment Advice

New Students must follow course structure as per course planner and enrol in only one unit at a time. Click here for how to enrol video.

Do not enrol into units you are seeking credit transfer for. If seeking credit transfer watch this video.

Continuing Students should follow the recommended course sequence.


Resource and Computing Requirements

It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that you have access to the CQUniversity website. You will be required to undertake various components of study in the course requiring access to a reliable internet connection to access online resources that would include but are not limited to, email, internet, video conferencing (mic and camera), electronic assessment submission. 

 All submissions of assessment must be uploaded electronically to the VET Moodle platform. 

There is a total of 17 units of competency in CHC40421 – Certificate IV Youth Work. You must successfully complete all 17 units of study in this course in order to be awarded Certificate IV Community Service.

All units of competency will be delivered on-line through the Moodle VET platform provided by CQUniversity Australia once you are enrolled. It is also expected that students will avail themselves of opportunities to engage with both teaching staff and other students through on-line discussions, forums and/or presentations.

Work Placement Requirements

To complete this course, you will be required to complete an approved work placement of 80 hours.  Students who are currently working in a relevant role may be eligible to undertake placement with their existing employer, subject to approval from the relevant Educational Team Leader and agreement from the employer. 

If not CQUniversity’s Workforce Integrated Learning (WIL) team will aim to source a placement located within your community; however, circumstances may require you to relocate to complete the placement.

Mandatory placement checks are compulsory for this course and it is important that students ensure they can meet the requirements for these checks. Mandatory Check inquiries can be directed to WILCompliance@cqu.edu.au

further detailed information can be sourced by clicking on the following link:  IMMUNISATIONS AND VACCINATIONS WIL DOCUMENT. 

You may also be required to undertake a pre-placement interview with the host organisation and placement may be subject to you meeting the organisation's requirements.