Occupation description
A Welfare Centre Manager is the senior manager of an autonomous social welfare support service accountable to a governing body, which may be a board, government authority, or large provider with multiple services. A Welfare Centre Manager is responsible for the control, direction and management of a service, facility, organisation, or centre.
Common occupation titles
Executive Director, Manager, Director, Chief Executive Officer, Program Manager
Assessment criteria
A relevant qualification comparable to an Australian bachelor's degree or higher: A relevant qualification should be in community services, human services, welfare, social work, social services management, social policy or similar. It should adequately equip an applicant with necessary knowledge in community services and welfare practice, social policy and organisational management.
Qualifications with less focus on welfare and community services supported by significant amount of relevant work experience will beassessed on an individual basis.
Examples of qualifications which, supported by industry experience, have been found appropriate in the past include:
- Master and bachelor's degrees in community services, welfare, human services or social work
- Bachelor of Community Mental Health
- Master of Health Services Management
- Master's degree in Community Development
- Master's degree in Sociology
- Master of Public Health
- Master's in Business Administration plus Diploma in Development Studies
- Master of Science (Knowledge Management) plus Diploma in Social Development and Administration
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:
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
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.
A suitable skills assessment outcome
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 in the industry is defined as paid employment which involves the provision of senior management with a focus on overseeing welfare services or projects. It is post-qualification, and must be at an appropriate skill level.
Applicants need a minimum of 3 years of full time (or part time equivalent) industry experience which includes at least 1 year of experience in a welfare centre management role within the last 5 years. The minimum 1-year experience in a welfare centre manager must be within the last 2 years.
A welfare centre manager is responsible for the control, direction and management of a service, facility, organisation, or centre. Welfare centre managers typically:
- Develop, implement, and monitor procedures, policies and standards for administration and practice
- Coordinate and administer welfare and community services programs
- Monitor and evaluate resources devoted to welfare, recreation, housing, employment, training and other community facilities and centres
- Control administrative operations such as budget planning, report preparation, expenditure on supplies, equipment, and services
- Liaise with other welfare and community service providers, boards and funding bodies to discuss areas of welfare service cooperation and coordination
- Advise government bodies about measures to improve welfare and community services and facilities
- Represent the organisation in negotiations, and at conventions, seminars, public hearings and forums
- Control selection, training, and supervision of staff
Glossary of terms
Industry experience
Paid employment which involves the provision of senior management with a focus on overseeing welfare services or projects. It is post-qualification and must be at an appropriate skill level.
Full time work
Paid employment of 30 hours or more per week.
Skill level
Skill level indicates that the range and complexity of the tasks performed in the occupation require a qualification equivalent to AQF Level 7 bachelor’s degree or higher.
Understand the application process
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Before you apply
Before you apply for your skills assessment, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria, have the necessary documents ready, and understand the assessment process. Preparing in advance will help make your application experience simpler and more straightforward.
