HomeCoursesCommunity servicesCertificate IV in Youth Work
Certificate IV in Youth Work
This qualification prepares you to work with young people in community, government and youth sector agencies, running programs that respond to their social, behavioural, health and wellbeing needs.
- Duration: 1 year
- Study mode: Online, on campus, blended and workplace based
- Course code: CHC40421
Where you can study this course
- Campuses
- Any Location
- Duration
- 1 year
- Study mode
- Virtual classroom off campus
- Full fee
- $10,860
- Eligible students: subsidised from $1,990, concession $240
What students say
Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
- Campuses
- 11 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Most students praise the student support, while others find it frustrating. Many rate the facilities and campus well, and some criticise the organisation and admin.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
- Campuses
- 8 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Some students praise the facilities and campus, while some criticise organisation and admin for being frustrating, and opinions are mixed on course content. A number also mention student support and teaching positively or negatively.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
RMIT University
- Campuses
- 15 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students often find organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some praise the facilities and campus and student support.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
- Campuses
- 8 campuses
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- $7,840
- Eligible students: subsidised from $3,965, concession $3,130
What students say
Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.
- Campuses
- 26 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students rate the trainers, teaching, facilities and campus highly, though some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating; opinions are mixed on facilities and campus.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Box Hill Institute
- Campuses
- 4 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students speak highly of the trainers and teaching, with the campus and facilities also well regarded. Many found student support frustrating, along with organisation and communication.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
The Gordon
- Campuses
- Geelong City Campus
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- Not stated by provider
- Full fee
- $12,130
- Eligible students: subsidised from $3,940, concession $784
What students say
Students rate the trainers and teaching highly, along with the student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on student support and course content.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
- Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
- No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:
- an interest in the lives and wellbeing of young people
- patience and a calm approach with people in distress
- good communication skills, especially listening
- a willingness to work within policies and the law
What will you learn?
You learn how to build trust with teenagers and young adults, plan and lead group activities, and notice when someone is at risk of harm or dealing with family violence or mental health difficulties. The role sits under the indirect supervision of a manager, so you are expected to make your own decisions within your employer's policies and the law. Training is practical, covering trauma informed practice, cultural safety, and how to report concerns about a young person's safety while still working respectfully alongside them.
- Building trust with young people
- Planning and leading group activities
- Trauma informed practice
- Recognising and reporting risk
- Supporting mental health
- Cultural safety and diversity
Units of competency (15 core, 2 elective)
The qualification is made up of 17 units. Everyone completes the 15 core units below, and the remaining 2 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Career pathways
Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.
A recognised route into Youth Worker
Youth Worker
Youth workers support young people through the personal, family or social difficulties that put their safety, education or independence at risk.
Explore this career →- Weekly pay
- $1,844
- Full-time share
- 62%
- Employment size
- 16,200 workers
- Average age
- 34 years
- Average full-time hours
- 42 hours
- Gender share
- 59% female
- Future growth
- +11.9%
- Job market
- Not in shortage
Work within the employing organisation's policies and applicable safeguarding requirements.
Where this fits
Certificate IV in Youth Work in community services: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.
Before
No earlier step listed.
You are looking at
Certificate IV in Youth Work
Other routes at the same level
- Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer WorkConsider this instead if you have lived experience of mental illness as a consumer or carer and want to use it in a mental health service.
- Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family InterventionThis one suits people starting out or moving across from a related role, with a supervised placement and a defined practice framework.
Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).