Family Support Worker

Qualifications can be one of the following:

1. A relevant diploma or higher with a specialisation in family services or children and families

or

2. A Community Work Australia accredited diploma or higher with a specialisation in family services or children and families

or

3. A relevant qualification (non-specialised): A relevant qualification related to community services and comparable to AQF Level 5 or higher

A relevant qualification is one which adequately prepares graduates to perform community work in Australia. It has a focus on providing community and human services and will typically cover:

• sociology; social, political, economic structures and function
• social policy, human development and function including psychological, physical and social aspects
• general and specialised welfare services and systems
• work with individuals, families, groups and communities
• communication, basic counselling and interpersonal skills
• additional subjects which could include family services, children and families, child development, social justice, child protection, mental health, case management, group theory, drug and alcohol issues, crisis intervention, psychology, youth work, working with children and families, community development, juvenile justice, family violence.

Please note:

• In instances where an applicant has used recognition of prior learning (RPL) to gain credit towards their qualification, Community Work Australia will accept a maximum of 40% RPL otherwise the qualification will not be recognised. For all VET qualifications, RPL is clearly detailed in a USI VET transcript, which may be requested for assessment. Additionally, if an applicant has received RPL towards their qualification, Community Work Australia will require supporting documents issued by the education provider which clearly evidence how RPL was assessed and approved. If RPL was awarded on the basis of unsuitable work experience or study, Community Work Australia reserves the right not to accept the qualification for skills assessment purposes.
• Some courses do not contain the breadth of core content required to prepare graduates for practice e.g., graduate certificates and graduate diplomas. These qualifications must follow a relevant undergraduate or additional related qualification, otherwise they will not be considered sufficient.
• Community Work Australia will not accept qualifications which are unduly short. Unduly short qualifications do not provide students with sufficient time to gain the required skills and knowledge.

Please note that on 7 August 2025, the English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes changed. For more information, refer to the Department of Home Affairs’ website. Community Work Australia has updated all skills assessment criteria to align with these changes. Please see the new requirements below. Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the following ways:

1. English language test results

Results must be from within 3 years of application.

For IELTS and MET only, you can submit multiples tests so long as they are from within a period of 12 months. This includes IELTS One Skill Retake test results and MET Single Section Retake.

The acceptable tests and required scores on or after 7 August 2025 :
IELTS (general or academic) = 7 in each band
PTE Academic = Listening 58, Speaking 76, Reading 59, Writing 69
C1 Advanced = Listening 175, Speaking 194, Reading 179, Writing 193
TOEFL IBT PTE = Listening 22, Speaking 24, Reading 22, Writing 26
CELPIP General = Listening 9, Speaking 8, Reading 8, Writing 10
LANGUAGECERT Academic = Listening 67, Speaking 82, Reading 71, Writing 78
MET = Listening 61, Speaking 59, Reading 63, Writing 74

The acceptable tests and required scores on or before 6 August 2025 :
IELTS (general or academic) = 7 in each band
PTE Academic = 65 in each band
C1 Advanced = 185 in each band
TOEFL IBT PTE = Listening 24, Speaking 23, Reading 24, Writing 27

Please note: If you completed a test on or before 6 August 2025, your results will be valid for up to 3 years from the test date.
 

Online Test Restrictions

We do not accept the following online tests for skills assessment:

• CELPIP Online
• IELTS Online
• LANGUAGECERT Academic Online
• MET Digital (taken at-home)
• TOEFL iBT – Home Edition

2. Study in English

To demonstrate English language proficiency through study, applicants must have completed one of the following qualification(s) in an English-speaking country*:

• Bachelor, Master or Doctorate degree or
• all of secondary schooling as well as a post-secondary/vocational Diploma (or equivalent) or higher

*The study must have been delivered and assessed in English from one of the following countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• Republic of Ireland
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

If these requirements are not met or insufficient evidence is provided, applicants will be asked to submit one of the acceptable English test results.

3. A suitable skills assessment outcome

1. Returning applicants who previously received a suitable skills assessment outcome for general skilled migration from Community Work Australia can submit a copy of their original outcome to demonstrate English proficiency. The original skills assessment must either be valid or must not have expired more than 6 months prior to submitting a new application.

Please note, from 7 August 2025, we no longer accept employment as evidence of English language proficiency.

Employment

Employment in the industry is defined as paid employment which involves the provision of direct service to families and children in a family support service setting. It is employment within the past 4 years, post-qualification, and must be at an appropriate skill level.

1. Relevant diploma or higher with a specialisation in family services or children and families: Applicants must have at least 1 year of full time (or part time equivalent) employment in a family support service setting; and performed at the required skill level (see glossary).
2. Community Work Australia accredited diploma or higher with a specialisation in family services or children and families: Applicants who have completed a Community Work Australia accredited diploma or higher are deemed to have sufficient industry experience through their practicum requirements. Where shortcomings are identified in a practicum component Community Work Australia may ask an applicant to reapply after completing 3 months full time or part-time equivalent industry experience.
3. Relevant qualification (non-specialised): Applicants must have 2 years full time (or part time equivalent) employment in a family support setting and performed at the required skill level (see glossary).

Currency

Applicants must also demonstrate their knowledge and skills are up to date in one of the following ways:

• holding a qualification that is less than 4 years old
• a minimum of least 3 months full time (or part-time equivalent) employment in a relevant current role at the required skill level
• at least 6 months relevant employment at the required skill level within the last 18 months

Community Work Australia accredited course

An applicant is deemed to have graduated from a Community Work Australia accredited course if the course and campus was accredited by Community Work Australia for the entire duration of the applicant’s study. If the course gained Community Work Australia accreditation during the applicant’s study period, applications will be assessed on a case by case basis under this category. Community Work Australia accredited courses are listed here.

Industry experience

Employment which involves the provision of direct service to families and children in a family support service setting. It is paid work, post-qualification, and must be at the skill level appropriate to the qualification.

Full time work

Paid employment of 30 hours or more per week.

Skill level

The range and complexity of the tasks performed in the occupation require a qualification equivalent to AQF Level 5. Please note: some support worker roles take place in the same setting as this occupation but only require a certificate level qualification (AQF Level 3/4). Employment at this skill level will not be considered.