The Bachelor of Community Services is offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences as a dual award with a number of Diplomas and Advanced Diploma offered by TAFE SA. It may be completed by concurrently enrolling in the TAFE and Flinders awards, or by enrolling in the Flinders award following completion of the TAFE award.

Students will study core subjects at Flinders providing a broad conceptual and theoretical framework to complement the practice skills and knowledge obtained through TAFE studies. Students are able to select topics to gain deeper theoretical knowledge about specific areas of community sector practice and governance.

Admission requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses as specified in detail in the University Entry requirements.

Course aims

The Bachelor of Community Services aims to:

  • prepare students to work as policy makers, practitioners and managers in community services
  • enable students to apply concepts, theories and research skills from the Social Sciences
  • articulate with recognized VET-accredited courses developing practical skills in community services
  • provide students with opportunities to acquire and develop work-place related skills and knowledge

Learning outcomes 

Bachelor of Community Services' graduates should be able to:

  • understand the political, economic and social context of work in community services
  • communicate in a professional manner in a range of forms
  • apply skills relating to information processing, archival research, documentary and other related analytical and research techniques
  • Plan and implement programs and activities to support people to overcome difficulties and reach their full potential

Credit

Students who complete one of the Diplomas listed below will receive 36 units of credit towards the Bachelor of Community Services.

  • Diploma of Community Development CHC50708
  • Diploma of Community Services Work CHC50612
  • Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) CHC52008
  • Diploma of Community Services Work 078833C
  • Diploma of Family Intake and Support Work CHC57812

Students who complete the following Advanced Diploma will receive 54 units of credit towards the Bachelor of Community Services.

  • Advanced Diploma of Community Services (Management) CHC60312

Program of study

Embedded Diploma or Diploma Entry (72 units)

To qualify for the Bachelor of Community Services, a student must complete 108 units as follows:

  • 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study listed below; and
  • One of the Diplomas at TAFE SA listed above, for which 36 units of credit will be granted.

58.5 units of core topics comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

AUST1004  An Introduction to Aboriginal Studies  (4.5 units)

BUSN1011  Accounting for Managers  (4.5 units) or
BUSN1021  Organisational Behaviour  (4.5 units)

COMS1001  Academic and Professional Communication  (4.5 units) or
SOAD1009  Critical Thinking and Communication  (4.5 units)

SOCI1001  Issues in Sociology  (4.5 units) or
SOCI1010  Sociology of Everyday Life  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

BUSN2038  Human Resource Management  (4.5 units)
SOAD2002  Human Social Development  (4.5 units)
SOCI2026  Contemporary Social Problems (4.5 units)
WMST2012  Sex, Gender and Identities in Australia  (4.5 units)

POLI2011  Australian Public Policy: Applications, Issues and Dilemmas  (4.5 units) or
SOAD2007  Social Policy and Practice  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

SOAD3005  Access and Equity: Social Issues in Public Policy  (4.5 units)

SOCI3008  Knowing the Social World  (4.5 units) or
SOCI3051  Families and Social Policy (4.5 units)

SOCI2025  Sociological Research: Design, Methods and Ethics  (4.5 units)
SOAD3006  Practice Research (4.5 units)

WORK3200  Social & Policy Studies Workplace Research Project (4.5 units)

Option topics

Plus 13.5 units selected from the following level 2 and 3 topics:

AUST2612  Reconciliation and Indigenous Knowledges  (4.5 units)
POLI2002  Government Business and Society  (4.5 units)
POLI2025  The Politics of the Australian Welfare State  (4.5 units)
POLI3010  Advanced Perspectives on Public Policy (4.5 units)
SOCI2001  Communication Media and Social Life  (4.5 units)
SOCI3047  Shaping the Future: Social Change in the New Century  (4.5 units)
SOCI2015  Sociology of Deviance  (4.5 units)
SOCI2021  Racism, Recognition and Identity  (4.5 units)
WMST2016  Indigenous Women's Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism  (4.5 units)
WMST3012  Performing Masculinities  (4.5 units)
WMST3013  Gendering Politics and Policy: Justice, Rights  (4.5 units)

Embedded Advanced Diploma or Advanced Diploma Entry (54 units)

To qualify for the Bachelor of Community Services, a student must complete 108 units as follows:

  • 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study listed below; and
  • The Advanced Diploma in Community Services (Management) at TAFE SA, for which 54 units of credit will be granted.

45 units of core topics comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

AUST1004  An Introduction to Aboriginal Studies  (4.5 units)
SOAD1009  Critical Thinking and Communication  (4.5 units)

SOCI1001  Issues in Sociology  (4.5 units) or
SOCI1010  Sociology of Everyday Life  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

SOAD2002  Human Social Development  (4.5 units)
WMST2012  Sex, Gender and Identities in Australia  (4.5 units)

POLI2011  Australian Public Policy: Applications, Issues and Dilemmas  (4.5 units) or
SOAD2007  Social Policy and Practice  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

SOAD3005  Access and Equity: Social Issues in Public Policy  (4.5 units)
WORK3200  Social & Policy Studies Workplace Research Project (4.5 units)

SOCI3008  Knowing the Social World  (4.5 units) or
SOCI2026  Contemporary Social Problems  (4.5 units)

SOCI2025  Sociological Research: Design, Methods and Ethics  (4.5 units) or
SOAD3006  Practice Research (4.5 units)

Option topics

Plus 9 units selected from the following level 2 and 3 topics:

AUST2612  Reconciliation and Indigenous Knowledges  (4.5 units)
POLI2002  Government Business and Society  (4.5 units)
POLI2025  The Politics of the Australian Welfare State  (4.5 units)
POLI3010  Advanced Perspectives on Public Policy (4.5 units)
SOCI2001  Communication Media and Social Life  (4.5 units)
SOCI3047 Shaping the Future: Social Change in the New Century  (4.5 units)
SOCI2015  Sociology of Deviance  (4.5 units)
SOCI2021  Racism, Recognition and Identity  (4.5 units)
WMST2016  Indigenous Women's Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism  (4.5 units)
WMST3012  Performing Masculinities  (4.5 units)
WMST3013  Gendering Politics and Policy: Justice, Rights  (4.5 units)

TAFE SA RTO Code: 41026