Welfare Support Worker

Key stats

Welfare Support Workers provide an important role in supporting the growth and development of communities across Australia, and are always in high demand. Here are some key facts and figures about this career path:

$1,328
Average weekly salary
41 hrs
Average hours worked per week
43 yrs
Average age of people in this career
Multi-region
Jobs available in metro and rural areas
~46,700
People employed in this industry
63%
Of employees are full time
Low
Unemployment for this industry
High
Skill level required for this career

Source: JobOutlook.gov.au; SEEK.com.au

Core skills of a Welfare Support Worker

Working as a Welfare Support Worker, you’ll have specialised skills in assessing and supporting your clients’ needs. Some of the core skills of Welfare Support Workers include:

Identifying client needs

Interview clients and determine what difficulties they are facing, and what support they might need.

Working with community groups and agencies

Develop relationships with community and government agencies, and promote awareness and uptake of these services amongst your clients.

Educating clients and assisting them to solve problems

Provide advice and education about financial, social, emotional, and health matters, and assist your clients in developing problem solving skills.

Reporting and fundraising

Reporting to government bodies about the state of your community’s welfare, and preparing submissions for funding.

Study pathways

GOTAFE offers one or more courses to prepare you for a career in this industry. Follow the prompts below to find the right path for you.

Start here

Certificate III in Community Services

On-campus

Employment as a Welfare Support Worker

Once you’ve completed your Certificate III

Certificate IV in Community Services

On-campus

Employment as a Specialised Support Worker

You may choose to continue your studies at university to become qualified in social work or human services.

Help people to live their best lives

Support your clients through emotional, financial, and health matters to help them improve their quality of life. Provide information and education about housing, finances, and other welfare issues, and connect your clients to community services and support programs. You’ll develop important relationships with your clients, becoming a trusted source of information and support, and helping them to solve problems and develop new practices to support their lifestyle goals.

Fore more information about studying to become an Welfare Support Worker, get in touch with one of our Course Coordinators. They'll help you understand your study options and match the right course with your goals.

Learn more about the Health & Community study area

Why choose GOTAFE?

Community connections

We work closely with the local community and welfare support industry to make sure your training gives you all the skills you need to succeed in the workforce.

Passionate and supportive trainers

Our trainers are experienced in the welfare support industry and are here to help you achieve your goals and succeed in your studies.

Hands-on experience

Our courses give you the opportunity to apply theory to practice and develop your skills working on real community projects.

Explore more career opportunities

Not sure this is the right career path for you? Explore our other careers and find the right fit for you.

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Helpful advice for planning your career

Still not sure what career path you’d like to follow? Our Skills and Jobs Centre is a one-stop-shop for anyone looking for career planning advice. The Centre is government-funded and you don’t have to be a GOTAFE student to get help from our advisors.

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