Page 1ITA / Icons / Industry Groups * / GeneralIcons/Ionic/iOS/ios-contactFill 1Group 2Triangles
Search
logo Get Started
Menu
Print

Community Services

Overview

The Community Services Industry assists and supports individuals, families and communities in need.  It contributes to the well-being and quality of life of Australians.  The work is divided into areas which are direct community service activities provided to individuals and families and community service activities which include working with groups and communities, social planning and advocacy.

What does this industry cover?

  • Direct Client Care including: children’s services,  education support, youth work, youth justice, child, youth and family intervention, family services, mediation, financial counselling, aged services, alcohol and other drugs, disability, home and community care, leisure and health, and mental health
  • Community Sector Development including: community services, community development, social housing, pastoral care, case management, volunteering and carer and employment services
  • Cross sector areas including: advocacy, celebrancy, communication, diversity, legal and ethical practice, policy and research and professional practice.

Industry Information

The Community Services and Health industry employs 12% of the Australian workforce, with one in four new jobs between 2013 and 2018 being in that industry.

Employment in  Community Services increased by 80% between 2000 and 2014, compared to an average growth across all industries of 32%.

It is projected that 229,400 new jobs will be created in the Community Services and Health industry between 2013 and 2018.

Aged Care and Disability Workers will increase by 40,900 and Child Carers and Education Aides by 36,700.

Employment and wage data for this industry

Commencements Change

The change in Australian Apprenticeships commencements in this industry in the past two years. Commencements year to June 2018: 10 090

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 18/12/2018. AATIS analysis.

Graduate Employment

Australian Apprentice graduates from this industry in employment (in any industry).

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Graduate Wage

Average wage of Australian Apprentice graduates from this industry employed full-time after training.

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Industry Growth

Growth in employment in this industry in the past 5 years.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2017. AATIS analysis.

Industry Size

The number of employees in this industry compared with other Australian industries.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2017. AATIS analysis.

Industry Wage

Average wage of all employees in this industry.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2017. AATIS analysis.

Want to look in detail at related sectors?

Aged Care

Early Childhood Education & Care

Key Occupations

Education Assistant

Preschool Assistant

Outside School Hours Aide

Disability Services Worker

Personal Care Giver

Mental Health Outreach Worker

Accommodation Support Worker 

Care Supervisor - Aged Care

Aged Care Activity Worker

Employment Consultant

This industry is positioned in the following groups

Industry

Health, Care & Community Services

Work Type

Practical & Manual

Helping & Advising

Organising & Clerical

 

Watch Allana - Community Services Trainee

Play video
 

Watch Glennon - Community Services Trainee

Play video

Ready to see where Community Services can take you?

Career Pathways

Community Services has career pathways from Certificate II through to Diploma. Look at the Job Pathway Chart to see what is of interest.

Job Pathway Charts

Practice Aptitude Quizzes

These resources illustrates the maths and literacy needed to complete the entry level training in these sectors.

Download The Quizzes

Support Services

Apprenticeship Network Provider Finder

Apprenticeship Network providers can give information about starting an apprenticeship or traineeship, eligibility questions, and they also handle the paperwork and ongoing administration of apprentices and trainees.

Group Training Organisations Finder

Group Training Organisations employ apprentices and trainees and then host them out to employers. These organisations can provide great information about starting a career through Australian Apprenticeships.

Work Type Explorer

Search for Job and Training Descriptions by selecting from seven work type descriptions. For more details, take yourself through the Career Interest Explorer.

Further Research

Information

Industry information is published by peak level associations, government and major employers.  Accessing industry association sites, including member lists, is a good way of building up an understanding of an industry.  Visiting employer websites and looking for careers or employment menus helps identify how employers recruit and the skills they are recruiting.

Use Google to search for the associations and organisations listed below. 

Industry

  • Australian Council of Social Services
  • Family Day Care Australia (FDCA)
  • Aged and Community Services (ACSA)
  • National Disability Services (NDS)
  • Australian Community Children's Services
  • Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA)
  • Early Childhood Australia
  • Mental Health Coordinating Council
  • Australian Community Workers Association 

Government

  • Department of Human Services
  • Department of Social Services
  • Australian Institute of Family Studies
  • australia.gov.au

​Career Sites