Explore Online Youth Work Courses: Empower Generations

Young people face plenty of challenges, from social pressures to personal struggles, all while trying to plan for an uncertain future.

Many don’t know where to turn or who to trust. That’s where youth workers come in.

Youth workers play a vital role in supporting, guiding and advocating for young people. They help ensure young people are heard, their needs are met, and that they’re given the tools and opportunities to shape their own futures.

But what kind of impact do youth workers actually have, and how can you start a career in this field?

In this article, we’ll detail what you need to know from career pathways, youth work courses and more.

For more information on youth work education and courses, contact our team at the Hader Institute of Education today.

Why youth work matters

Youth work isn’t just about advice.

It focuses on providing valuable resources, training, and support for a wide variety of issues ranging from financial concerns to emotional and social difficulties.

Often, young people don’t know where to turn. A youth worker provides the information they need, assesses their concerns, develops plans to help, and recommends other valuable services.

The support a youth worker provides can help young people begin promising careers and manage mental health concerns and social issues as they develop into young adults. This, in turn, can help reduce unemployment in youth, social issues and even risky behaviours such as alcoholism.

Learning pathways

Starting a career in youth work is never cut and dry. There are several pathways and youth work courses you can take to begin a promising career supporting young people.

A short online course

Short courses are available to act as a starting point. They provide foundational information and build basic skills and knowledge so that you can begin to support young people from a variety of backgrounds.

At the Hader Institute of Education, our short course runs for 12 weeks and touches on several important topics, all of which are conducted online. From advocacy to ethics and communication, you’ll gain a solid understanding of what is expected in youth work.

The only entry requirements for a short course are to be at least 18 years of age, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and have a Year 12 Diploma. If you do not have a Diploma, you simply need to pass an online LLN test to ensure you have the necessary skills for the course.

Many people who complete this course begin careers as youth support and outreach workers.

Certificate IV Youth Work Online

A Cert IV in Youth Work is the next level up from a short course. It provides more detailed information and training, so that you can build reliable plans and support programs for young people facing a wide range of issues. However, this more in-depth online course is also more intensive.

Most Certificates run for 12 months. On top of the requirements for a short course, Certificates also require 80 hours of placement work, valid police and working with children’s checks and the necessary immunisations.

While more intensive, a Cert IV ensures you have the practical, hands-on experience needed to support young people from different backgrounds who are facing complicated issues. Likewise, it also supports a wider range of careers.

Many people who complete a Cert IV in Youth Work can choose to become youth workers or branch out into other areas, such as community development, counselling, mental health work, case work, child protection work and more.

Diploma in Youth Work Online

Finally, a Diploma offers more comprehensive training targeted at developing unique plans to support youth and how to implement and administer them. It broadens further into case management, how to identify youth at risk and tailored techniques to support them.

Entry requirements for a Diploma are the same as those for a Certificate IV. However, while most of the courses are conducted online, a diploma also requires 100 hours of placement work. Furthermore, it is a longer course running for 18 months as opposed to 12.

A Diploma of Youth Work offers many of the same opportunities as a Certificate IV. However, it gives your career more chances to grow and reach higher positions. Many people find work as program managers, youth services coordinators, housing support and juvenile justice managers and more.

Choosing your preferred pathway

As long as you have a Year 12 Diploma, or a similar AQF Certificate IV qualification, you can start your youth work career with any of these courses. Ultimately, your choice depends on your goals. How long are you willing to study for, and what type of career are you hoping to start?

If you’re interested, explore our online youth work course options at the Hader Institute. With our support, you can complete your studies and confidently start your career helping young people find their way in the world.