How to become a Youth Worker

Also called: Youth Case Worker, Youth Development Officer, Youth Officer, Youth Support Worker

Assists young people as individuals or groups to solve social, emotional and financial problems in an agency framework.

Main tasks

• Interviews and assesses individuals' needs, advises on entitlements and rights, and refers them to agencies and programs that can provide additional assistance
• Provides support, and responds to young people experiencing immediate issues, stress or crisis, such as lack of housing, mental health crises, and other health emergencies
• Empowers young people to achieve goals and steer their life in a positive direction, and engage in meaningful opportunities to enable independent living
• Assists with youth access education programs and training to increase employability
• Organises and supervises social, recreational and educational activities in local youth groups to assist young people to fulfil their potential as individuals, and be actively involved in their local community
• May monitor and report on the progress of individuals

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015); Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (CHC40321); Certificate IV in Youth Work (CHC40421); Diploma of Youth Work (CHC50421); Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015); Diploma of Youth Justice (CHC50521); Certificate II in Community Services (CHC22015); Certificate IV in Youth Justice (CHC40521)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $95,888 a year
• About 96,500 people work in this job group now, and about 108,000 are projected by 2035. (+11.9%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Youth Justice Worker
• Residential Youth Worker
• Child Protection Practitioner
• Family Violence Practitioner
• Community Development Officer
• Community Support Worker

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Youth Worker?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Community Services; Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention.

How much does a Youth Worker earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $95,888 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Youth Worker a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 96,500 to about 108,000 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Youth Worker?

Not always. 31% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Community Services; Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention.

Will AI change the work of a Youth 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