Psychology provides an excellent foundation for work in community and welfare services, especially with roles in the following areas:
- Social work
- Welfare work
- Child protection
- Juvenile justice
- Community corrections
- Disability work
- Drug and alcohol
- Youth work
- Other roles such as administration, management, policy and research.
Further study
While a Bachelor degree in psychology offers a good grounding for work in this area, it does not train you in the treatment - interventions - with people with psychological disorders, for example, case management skills. Further study is required to gain these skills. Options include:
- TAFE courses - Certificates or Diplomas (E.g., Community Services or Welfare Services)
- Graduate entry to undergraduate courses (E.g., Social work)
- Graduate Certificates or Diplomas (E.g., Disability Studies or Rural Social Welfare)
Possible roles without undertaking further study:
- Customer service roles in government and community organisations (Centrelink, TAC, non-government welfare organisations)
- Case management roles where training is provided on-the-job (E.g., Housing Officers with Human Services)
- Residential care work in juvenile justice or youth and disabilities
- Administrative support in government departments and non-government organisations.
For more information on careers in community psychology, contact the APS College of Community Psychologists.
Counselling
Counselling overlaps with community services, but extends beyond just community groups and has diverse applications, such as in workplaces and schools. Counselling is also applied in areas such as:
- Child and family
- Personal
- Grief and loss
- Trauma
- Genetics
- Careers
Counselling requires further specialised training, such as fourth-year psychology (or beyond), a Graduate Diploma in Counselling or training with counselling training organisations.
Graduate courses may require some work and/or voluntary experience.
Find out more about careers in counselling psychology by contacting the APS College of Counselling Psychologists.