How to become a Refuge Worker

Also called: Support Worker (Refuge House)

Provides services and support to people seeking assistance in a refuge.

Main tasks

• Assists individuals, families, refugees and asylum seekers with provision of crisis/refuge accommodation, and provides support to access relevant resources
• Ensures security of refuge
• Admits into refuge individuals and families who are homeless as a result of family and domestic violence, and/or crisis in emergency situations
• Provides emotional support to residents of the refuge
• Advises individuals and families about health and welfare resources and assistance, and refers them to relevant Professionals
• Provides assistance to access and transition to appropriate accommodation options, such as youth housing, family reconciliation, private rental and public housing
• Advocates for, and supports, individuals and families

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Housing (CHC42221)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $88,816 a year
• About 4,200 people work in this job group now, and about 4,700 are projected by 2035. (+14%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Community Corrections Officer
• Family Support Worker
• Financial Counsellor (Community)
• Housing Officer
• Welfare Worker

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Refuge Worker?

Ways in include: Certificate IV in Housing.

How much does a Refuge Worker earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $88,816 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Refuge Worker a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2035, from about 4,200 to about 4,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Refuge Worker?

Not always. 36% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate IV in Housing.

Will AI change the work of a Refuge Worker?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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