A psychology qualification opens the door to diverse and exciting career paths. While many graduates become registered psychologists, you may want to focus on creating supportive environments that foster mental wellness and resilience in communities.
Explore career opportunities in the community field, including roles, responsibilities, skills, experience, qualifications and potential employers.
Community development professionals are dedicated to creating vibrant and safe communities that thrive socially, economically and environmentally. They collaborate with local groups to inspire positive change, empowering communities to identify their challenges and collaboratively craft innovative solutions that ignite growth and transformation.
Roles may include assisting with grant applications, developing resources, launching community projects and researching specific community needs. Job opportunities are typically available in government and government-funded non-profit organisations. Funding constraints often results in part-time or project-based positions.
To succeed in community development you'll need strong communication and interpersonal skills to engage diverse individuals and facilitate group interactions.
Volunteering experience with community organisations will provide valuable networking and liaison skills, enabling you to build relationships with service providers and users.
A solid understanding of community challenges, coupled with problem-solving, decision-making and planning abilities, will prepare you for outreach case management services for those with complex needs.
Crucially, you'll require a passion for community support, sound knowledge of social and community service practices, excellent time management and the ability to work independently under pressure.
Community development roles may require an undergraduate degree in psychology, social work, or a related field, along with a certificate IV or diploma in community services work. Additional requirements may include a counselling course, Working with Children Check, Police Check and first aid certificate.
Employers in community development are usually not-for-profit organisations, community agencies or local governments, including issue-specific groups, community health centres, advocacy groups and faith-based organisations. Some examples include Mind Australia, Salvation Army and Reach Out.
Community support workers empower individuals and strengthen networks within our community, focusing on mental health and wellbeing. They deliver high-quality support in homes, boarding houses and the community, enabling people to enhance their personal and social skills and pursue their own interests. Together, they foster resilience and promote a brighter future for all.
Community support workers play a vital role in empowering individuals facing mental health challenges such as depression, schizophrenia and anxiety. They inspire hope by helping their clients to cultivate resilient and fulfilling lifestyles. Their work goes beyond mere support; they are key partners in each client’s journey towards personal growth and healing.
To excel in this role you'll need a background in human services delivery, ideally within mental health, coupled with advanced interpersonal and communication skills, including empathetic listening.
Capacity to maintain personal wellbeing while supporting individuals facing mental health challenges like depression and suicidal ideation is essential for this role.
Proficiency in advocacy, collaboration, facilitation, evaluation, problem-solving of complex issues and effective teamwork are also crucial for success.
This role may require an undergraduate degree in psychology, social work or a related field, as well as a certificate IV in mental health or community services. A counselling course, related undergraduate units, experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, brain injuries and histories of mental illness or substance abuse may also be needed.
Employers in this field are generally not-for-profit or community-based organisations, such as mental health services, health and community groups and local councils. Examples include the Australian Council of Social Service, Cancer Council, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Social Research Centre and the Victorian Government.
Pursuing a career in education as a teacher or psychologist opens doors to impactful roles that shape the future of children and adolescents. If you’re passionate about working with young minds, consider exploring other rewarding avenues like childcare or supporting students with special needs in the classroom.
Additionally, becoming a trainer or facilitator presents an exciting opportunity to inspire others. In this role you have the chance to craft and deliver transformative programs, while assessing learning outcomes across various settings. Whether you’re guiding educators or enhancing skills in organisations, your impact can resonate far and wide.
Working across multiple sectors, these roles often require significant experience in a specialist area. Duties may include managing training activities, developing and evaluating competency-based programs, identifying training needs and building relationships to enhance learning. Trainers and facilitators also contribute to curriculum development and stay up-to-date on best practices in clinical education.
To excel in this role you'll need strong computer skills for presentation and training program development plus strong analytical, problem-solving and time-management skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including networking and relationship-building, are essential, as is experience and understanding of organisational training requirements in government, community and corporate environments.
This role typically requires a certificate IV in workplace training and assessment or related training qualifications, along with proven experience as a trainer or facilitator and in facilitating groups. Sales or business development experience can also be beneficial, as is experience in managing clinical skills training programs and training teams.
There’s a huge range of employers in this area, which include private, government and community organisations. Although some roles are ongoing, many positions are contracted for a set period of time, resulting in many opportunities for self-employment or subcontracting.
Psychology professionals in community-focused fields are crucial to enhancing community wellbeing through roles such as school psychologists, community mental health workers and counsellors.
These invaluable positions not only address individual mental health needs but also contribute to the development of supportive environments and resources that promote mental wellness and resilience within communities.
Find out more about studying psychology and mental health at Deakin.
