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Are you looking for a career that makes a positive difference to someone else’s life? That gives you the chance to think outside the box, come up with solutions to challenges, and work with a range of young people?

Then, a career as a youth worker might be for you.

With Holmesglen’s Certificate IV in Youth Work CHC40413, you will gain the knowledge and skills to support young people at risk.

Course teacher, trainer and assessor Natalie Blazyn says one of the positives of working as a youth worker is the sense of reward.

“I’ve worked in the field for 20 years, and when you’re able to support a young person to the best of your abilities with great outcomes you get so much job satisfaction,” she says.

Youth workers meet young people to discuss their concerns and provide support and options on social-welfare and wellbeing issues.

These might be anything from finances, health and housing to abuse, family conflict, and drug and alcohol challenges.

Youth workers provide general counselling, link young people with welfare and community services, and refer them to specialists for help with complex issues.

They also work with key adults, such as teachers, local authorities, parents and guardians, to achieve the best possible outcome for a young person’s wellbeing.

This course is taught by qualified teachers with youth work experience.

The course covers the basic skills a youth worker will need, including how to actively listen to young people, how to provide options for them in areas they are struggling with, and how to respond to their needs.

Career opportunities include youth worker, youth support worker, residential youth worker and youth wellbeing worker in schools.

The course includes practical placement, arranged by Holmesglen.

The annual salary of a youth worker is about $60,000 to $80,000.

Natalie says the course suits a range of people, particularly those with “a bit of life experience”, including people seeking a career change and people who may have been supported by youth workers in the past and want to “put back into the community”.

She nominates flexible thinking as an important trait.

“You have to take an individual approach to each young person that you come across, as every person and every situation is different,” she says.

A passion for the job is also important.

“If you’re not happy in your job, the young person is not going to be happy to open up and have conversations with you,” Natalie says. “You need to have an attitude of positivity to go into a job like this.”

She points out some topics in the course might be triggering for some students, but teachers make that clear from the start.

There is a demand for youth workers, says Natalie, and it is set to increase because of the pandemic.

“Students are getting jobs and they haven’t even finished their course,” she says.

“COVID has really put a lot more jobs for youth workers out there, because there are more young people with mental health concerns and other challenges.”

Councils, schools, charities, the government and non-profit organisations are examples of employers.

Find out more about our Certificate IV in Youth Work CHC40413 and how to apply.