How is community development different from case work?

Case work supports individuals and families one at a time. Community development works with groups and whole communities on shared issues, aiming to build local capacity and collective solutions rather than deliver a service to a client.

What ANZSCO code applies?

411711 Community Worker, within unit group 4117 Welfare Support Workers. The ABS lists Community Development Officer as an alternative title for this code.

Do I need a working with children check for a community development role?

If any part of your work involves contact with children — youth programs, school partnerships, family events at a neighbourhood centre — then yes, and it must be the check issued in your own state or territory. In the ACT and Tasmania the scheme also covers work with vulnerable adults, so it captures more roles.

Which award covers community development work?

The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100). Community development officers employed by a council are usually covered by a local government enterprise agreement instead.

Is grant writing really part of the job?

Almost always. Most community development roles in the non-government sector are funded through short-term grants, so writing submissions and acquitting funding is a core, recurring part of the work rather than an occasional extra.

Can I move into this field from another sector?

Yes — event management, local government, teaching, marketing and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community roles all transfer well. A CHC42021 or CHC52021 qualification usually formalises the move, and lived experience of the community you serve is highly valued.

Do these roles require a car?

Usually. Community development involves outreach, site visits and evening or weekend events, and many positions specify a current driver licence and willingness to use a pool or own vehicle.

Community Development jobs in Australia

Community development workers help communities identify their own priorities and build collective solutions to issues such as health, housing, recreation, employment and social isolation. Rather than casework with individuals, the focus is on facilitation, partnership building, funding submissions and place-based programs run with local government, neighbourhood centres and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

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Vacancies

Current vacancies

No community development roles are listed on Valont right now. Licensing and local context below still apply — this page updates when a matching role is published.

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Locations

Where we cover community development

AdelaideSA AlbanyWA Albury-WodongaNSW/VIC Alice SpringsNT ArmidaleNSW BairnsdaleVIC BallaratVIC Batemans BayNSW BathurstNSW BendigoVIC Blue MountainsNSW BrisbaneQLD Broken HillNSW BroomeWA BunburyWA BundabergQLD BurnieTAS BusseltonWA CairnsQLD CanberraACT Central CoastNSW Charters TowersQLD Coffs HarbourNSW DarwinNT DevonportTAS DubboNSW EchucaVIC EmeraldQLD GeelongVIC GeraldtonWA GladstoneQLD Gold CoastQLD GoulburnNSW GriffithNSW GympieQLD Hervey BayQLD HobartTAS HorshamVIC IpswichQLD KalgoorlieWA KarrathaWA LauncestonTAS LismoreNSW LoganQLD MackayQLD MandurahWA MaryboroughQLD MelbourneVIC MeltonVIC MilduraVIC Mount GambierSA Mount IsaQLD Murray BridgeSA NewcastleNSW NowraNSW OrangeNSW PerthWA Port HedlandWA Port LincolnSA Port MacquarieNSW QueanbeyanNSW RedlandsQLD RockhamptonQLD RomaQLD SaleVIC SheppartonVIC Sunshine CoastQLD SydneyNSW TamworthNSW TareeNSW ToowoombaQLD TownsvilleQLD TraralgonVIC Wagga WaggaNSW WangarattaVIC WarrnamboolVIC WarwickQLD WhyallaSA WollongongNSW

Licensing

Licensing by state

Community development is not a licensed or registered occupation, and there is no national registration body. The main compliance requirement is the child-related clearance for your state or territory whenever your work brings you into contact with children — which is common in neighbourhood centres, youth programs and school-linked initiatives. Some roles in disability-inclusive community programs also require an NDIS Worker Screening Check. A National Police Check and a driver licence are near-universal employer requirements, and local government roles often add their own probity checks.

the Australian Capital Territory: Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration from Access Canberra. Because the ACT scheme covers vulnerable adults as well as children, it captures more community development work than the child-only schemes in other jurisdictions.
New South Wales: Working With Children Check (WWCC) clearance from the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian for child-related roles, verified online by the employer. Community programs delivering NDIS supports also need an NDIS Worker Check from the same body.
the Northern Territory: Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card) through SAFE NT, valid two years. Many NT community development roles are in remote Aboriginal communities and additionally require a permit to enter Aboriginal land and cultural induction.
Queensland: Blue Card from Blue Card Services (Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety) is required for any regulated child-related activity, including many youth and family programs run by neighbourhood centres. NDIS-funded community access programs also require an NDIS Worker Screening Check through the Queensland Worker Screening Unit.
South Australia: Working with Children Check from the DHS Screening Unit, valid five years with continuous monitoring; South Australia also requires Child Safe Environments training for many community-facing roles. NDIS work needs an NDIS Worker Check from the same unit.
Tasmania: Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) through Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS), Department of Justice, under the category matching the work — child-related, NDIS, or both.
Victoria: Working with Children Clearance from Working with Children Check Victoria (Department of Justice and Community Safety) under the Worker Screening Act 2020, plus compliance with Victoria's Child Safe Standards at the organisational level. NDIS-funded programs need a Victorian NDIS Worker Screening Check.
Western Australia: Working with Children (WWC) Check from the WWC Screening Unit, Department of Communities, for child-related work. NDIS-funded community programs require an NDIS Worker Screening Check, also administered by the Department of Communities.

Role

What the job involves

Consult community members and groups to identify local needs, assets and priorities
Design, deliver and evaluate community programs, events and place-based initiatives
Facilitate meetings, reference groups and community forums, including with people who disagree
Prepare grant applications, funding acquittals and reports to funders and boards
Build partnerships across local government, schools, health services, business and community organisations
Recruit, train and support volunteers and community leaders
Collect and report data on participation, reach and program outcomes
Advocate on community issues to government and represent the community in planning processes

Training

Qualifications and training

CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services — a common entry qualification for community and neighbourhood centre roles
CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services — the usual qualification for coordinator and program roles
A bachelor degree in community development, social science, human services, social work or public health is common for local government and larger program roles
Short courses in grant writing, project management and community engagement are widely valued and often employer-funded

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Community engagement and consultation facilitation · Grant writing and funding acquittal · Project and event management on a small budget · Partnership building and stakeholder negotiation · Volunteer recruitment, training and retention · Program evaluation and outcomes reporting · Cultural competence, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and multicultural communities · Plain-English communication, including public speaking and written submissions

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about community development work in Australia.

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Sources

Community Development — occupation data · verified 2026-08-04. ABS ANZSCO 2022, Unit Group 4117 Welfare Support Workers (https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/anzsco-australian-and-new-zealand-standard-classification-occupations/2022/browse-classification/4/41/411/4117); training.gov.au (https://training.gov.au/training/details/CHC42021 and https://training.gov.au/training/details/CHC52021); Fair Work Ombudsman (https://awards.fairwork.gov.au/MA000100.html); Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections May 2024 – May 2034 (https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections); Queensland Blue Card Services (https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/regulated-industries-and-licensing/blue-card); NSW Office of the Children's Guardian (https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/working-children-check); Working with Children Check Victoria (https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check); WA Department of Communities (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/working-children-check); SA DHS Screening Unit (https://dhs.sa.gov.au/how-we-help/screening-and-background-checks); Tasmania CBOS (https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/licensing-and-registration/work-with-vulnerable-people); ACT Access Canberra WWVP (https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/business-and-work/working-with-vulnerable-people); SAFE NT (https://pfes.nt.gov.au/police/community-safety/safe-nt)

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