Community and Welfare Support Workers

How to become a Community Support Worker

Also called: Community Service Coordinator, Community Services Worker, Community Worker

Facilitates and assists with the delivery of community development and education programs within a community to address issues, needs and problems associated with recreational, health, employment and other welfare matters.

Main tasks

Provides practical and emotional support to individuals and families, and referrals to available resources and emergency supplies, such as food vouchers
Assesses individuals' and families' needs by planning, implementing and accessing relevant educational, training and support programs
Assesses community needs and resources for health, welfare, housing, employment, training and other facilities and services
Raises awareness in the community and advocates for groups of people that require additional assistance to establish community connectivity
Educates individuals to gain life skills to enable independent living and informs them of available support resources
Identifies and provides resolutions to immediate issues such as lack of housing, mental health crises and other health emergencies
Assists individuals and families to be actively involved in their local community and engage in meaningful opportunities to promote healthy active living
Coordinates mobile voluntary services such as emergency food response or delivery of food for community programs
Provides individuals with transport to appointments, programs or recreational activities
Supports individuals and families with recovery planning, goal setting and access to mental health services

Ways in

TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Active Volunteering (CHC34015); Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015); Certificate IV in Community Development (CHC42121); Certificate IV in Community Services (CHC42021); Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215); Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315); Diploma of Community Development (CHC52121); Diploma of Community Services (CHC52021)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Typical full-time pay: $75,920 a year
About 1,200 people work in this job group now, and about 1,400 are projected by 2035. (+20.2%)
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Community Support Worker?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Active Volunteering; Certificate III in Community Services.

How much does a Community Support Worker earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $75,920 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Community Support Worker a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2035, from about 1,200 to about 1,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Community Support Worker?

Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Active Volunteering; Certificate III in Community Services.

Will AI change the work of a Community Support Worker?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04