Careers at Council

Community
Services

A career in Community Services offers great personal rewards.

Each day the work you’ll do will improve the wellbeing of some of our most vulnerable residents. From working with people with disabilities or the elderly, to supporting migrants and refugees, your role will make a real difference to those who need our support the most.

Families and Young Children

Helping to provide a range of services that value and support children, families, parents, grandparents and carers can be one of the most fulfilling career areas within Local Government.

Types of roles:

Children’s Services Coordinator

Children’s Services Leader – Libraries

Children’s and Programs Officer

Early Childhood Educator

Maternal and Child Health Nurse

School Crossing Supervisor

Occasional Care Educator

What we do:

  • Early Childhood Education and Care facilities (preschools and kindergartens, long day care, occasional care and mobile care)
  • Family day care
  • Health care centres for new mothers and babies
  • Toy libraries and Playgroups
  • School holiday programs and after school care
  • Neighbourhood and community houses

Qualification requirements:

Educational requirements vary according to the role but tertiary qualifications appropriate for senior roles in this field include Social Work, Arts (Social Policy/Sociology), Education and Nursing. Those looking to work with children and/or young people will need to check requirements for obtaining Working with Children Checks (WWCC) or Police Checks in their state or territory. All states and territories have legislation providing for child-related employment pre-screening with specific requirements to be met.

Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications are required for roles in childcare, in particular:

  • Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Youth Services

Youth services support the growth, development and education of Australian youth by offering access to a network of young people, youth advisors and a safe place outside of home and school.

Types of roles:

Youth Engagement Officer

Youth Development Officer

Youth Services Facilitator

Community Development Officer

Activity Officer

What we do:

  • Youth centres, youth art classes
  • Sports programs, e.g. basketball, tennis, skating competitions
  • Barbeques, cooking programs
  • Pathways to employment programs
  • Youth-based advisory groups
  • Recreation facilities including playgrounds and skate parks

Qualifications:

Educational requirements vary according to the role but tertiary qualifications appropriate for senior roles in this field include Social Work, Social Science and Arts (Social Policy/Sociology). Those looking to work with children and/or young people will need to check requirements for obtaining Working with Children Checks (WWCC) or Police Checks in their state or territory. All states and territories have legislation providing for child-related employment pre-screening with specific requirements to be met.

Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications relevant for entry-level and Officer level positions include:

  • Certificate IV in Youth Work
  • Diploma of Youth Work
  • Certificate III, IV, Diploma of Community Services

Aged Services

With an ageing population in Australia, the role that councils play in supporting elderly people in their community is becoming increasingly important.

Types of roles:

Coordinator Home Care - Community

Client Services Officer – Home Care Operations

Aged and Disability Services Officer/Coordinator

Regional Development Officer - Ageing

Community Development Officer/Coordinator

Community Bus Driver

What we do:

  • Seniors groups and centres
  • Meal service delivery
  • Home and personal care services
  • Home maintenance and modifications
  • Social support
  • Respite care
  • Residential care (e.g. retirement homes, nursing homes)
  • Community transport
  • Community events
  • Sector support and development

Qualifications:

Educational requirements vary according to the role but tertiary qualifications appropriate for senior roles in this field include Social Work, Social Science and Arts (Social Policy/Sociology).

Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications relevant for entry-level and Officer level positions include:

  • Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)
  • Certificate IV in Ageing Support
  • Certificate III, IV, Diploma of Community Services

Disability Services

One of our key aims is to ensure that services are accessible to all members of the community. This means providing a variety of programs and services that assist people with a disability to participate in community activities.

Types of roles:

Disability Services Officer

Disability Inclusion Officer

Aged and Disability Services Officer/Coordinator

Access and Inclusion Officer

Community Care Worker

Community Development Officer

Community Bus Driver

What we do:

  • Meal service delivery
  • Home and personal care services
  • Arts and recreational programs
  • Community transport
  • Supported accommodation
  • Special equipment to improve access (e.g. beach wheelchairs, swings for people in wheelchairs, keys to toilets)
  • Information on support services, including government schemes, industry bodies, local providers of health and disability services

Qualifications:

Educational requirements vary according to the role but tertiary qualifications appropriate for senior roles in this field include Social Work, Social Science and Arts (Social Policy/Sociology).

Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications relevant for entry-level and Officer level positions include:

  • Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
  • Certificate IV in Disability
  • Certificate III, IV, Diploma of Community Services

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are integral to all communities in Australia. Councils work closely with their local indigenous community to ensure their proper participation in matters that affect their cultural rights and sensitivities and actively work to maintain the integrity of cultural heritage sites within the community.

Types of roles:

Indigenous Projects Officer

Indigenous Support Officer

What we do:

  • Indigenous festivals and events, e.g. NAIDOC Week
  • Arts programs, exhibitions
  • Collaborate with indigenous representatives over native title issues and culturally sensitive matters within the community

Qualifications:

Educational requirements vary according to the role but tertiary qualifications appropriate for senior roles in this field include Social Work, Social Science and Arts (Indigenous Studies).

Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications relevant for entry-level and Officer level positions include:

  • Certificate III, IV, Diploma of Community Services
  • Certificate III, IV in Indigenous Environmental Health
  • Certificate IV in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Governance

Migrants, Refugees and Multicultural Communities

Many Local Government areas are home to large numbers of residents and business owners who come from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Types of roles:

Cultural Development Officer

Multicultural Liaison Officer

Diversity and Inclusion Officer

What we do:

  • Directly support new arrivals with their integration into community
  • English language programs
  • Multicultural events such as Refugee Week, Harmony Day
  • Citizenship ceremonies
  • Arts programs, exhibitions (e.g. murals, street art)

Crime Prevention

Local Government works to create safe communities. We do this by reducing risk from crime on individuals, businesses and the community, developing policy and implementing strategies to reduce crime.

Types of roles:

Manager, Safe City

Community Projects Officer (Safe Communities)

Coordinator Community Safety

Community Planner (Community Safety)

Qualifications:

Educational requirements vary according to the role but tertiary qualifications appropriate for senior roles in this field include degrees in Criminology, Social Science and Arts (Policy).

Social Planning

As populations grow, councils undertake regular social planning to determine the services and facilities required by their communities.

This involves carrying out research, formulating strategic planning policy, advocacy and developing close partnerships with groups within the community.

Types of roles:

Social Planner

Social Planning and Policy Officer

Manager/Coordinator Community Development

Qualifications:

Tertiary degrees appropriate for roles in this field include Social Sciences (e.g. Geography), Arts (Sociology, Social Policy) and Urban and Regional Planning.

The Universities Admission Centre

For more information about university courses visit The Universities Admission Centre.

My Skills

For more information about VET courses and training providers visit My Skills.

Working in Councils

The scale and diversity of work on offer in Local Government is impressive as is the direct and positive impact this work has on the communities we serve.

Is council right for you?

Local Government’s 189,000 employees have many different skills and backgrounds, but together they share certain values and attributes that enable them to succeed at Council.