Please note: any employment projections outlined below were calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics prior to COVID-19.
Community Services
Overview
This page provides high-level information on the Community Services industry.
The Community Services industry is one of the largest industry areas in Australia. Much of it sits within the Health Care and Social Assistance industry. The industry can be broken down into a number of sectors:
- Children’s Education and Care
- Client Services
- Community Sector and Development
- Direct Client Care and Support.
More information on these sectors, their Industry Reference Committees and Skills Forecasts can be found on their respective sector pages. The relevant Service Skills Organisation for this industry is SkillsIQ.
Nationally recognised training for Community Services is delivered under the CHC – Community Services Training Package and the HLT – Health Training Package.
Industry cluster snapshot
Industry cluster snapshot
Employment and training snapshot
The Health Care and Social Assistance industry is the largest employing industry in Australia. In 2020 there were approximately 1.7 million people employed in this industry, which is projected to increase to more than 1.9 million by 2024. Community Services related industry sectors and occupations form one part of the overall Health Care and Social Assistance industry.
Child Care Services (one of the industry sectors within the broader Health Care and Social Assistance industry) and Preschool Education are both industry areas where employment has increased substantially since 2000 and is projected to increase further up until 2024. Child Care Services is projected to increase from 124,300 employees in 2020 to 165,900 by 2024. Preschool Education is projected to increase from 65,800 employees in 2020 to 75,000 by 2024.
Program enrolments in Community Services-related qualifications increased from 332,930 in 2018 to approximately 357,650 in 2019. Program completions have increased each year between 2017 and 2019 and there were around 102,780 completions in 2019.
Between 2015 and 2019 the majority of Community Services-related subjects were delivered as part of a nationally recognised program. In 2019, less than 2% of Community Services-related subjects were not delivered as part of a nationally recognised program.
Industry insights on skills needs
The Community Services industry is experiencing a range of opportunities and challenges. Demand for services will continue to increase and the workforce is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades.
For an analysis of skills needs for specific Community Services sectors, please see the relevant sector pages.
Links and resources
Links and resources
Government bodies
Australian Capital Territory Government Community Services Directorate
Australian Capital Territory Government Education Directorate
Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment
Australian Government Department of Social Services
Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Australian Government Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services)
Government of South Australia Department for Education
Government of South Australia Department of Human Services
Government of Western Australia Department of Communities, Child Protection and Family Support
Government of Western Australia Department of Education
New South Wales Government Department of Communities and Justice
New South Wales Government Department of Education
Northern Territory Government Department of Education
Northern Territory Government Territory Families
Queensland Government Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
Queensland Government Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors
Queensland Government Department of Education
Tasmanian Government Department of Education
Tasmanian Government Department of Health
Victorian Government Department of Education and Training
Victoria Government Department of Health and Human Services
Industry associations and advisory bodies
Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA)
Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA)
Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA)
Australian Childhood Foundation
Australian Community Children's Services (ACCS)
Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA)
Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
Australian Tutoring Association (ATA)
Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA)
Case Management Society of Australia & New Zealand & Affiliates (CMSA)
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Coalition of Celebrant Associations (CoCA)
Community Early Learning Australia (CELA)
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA)
Council to Homeless Persons (CHP)
Diversional and Recreation Therapy Australia (DRTA)
Early Childhood Australia (ECA)
Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA)
Environmental Health Australia (EHA)
Family & Relationship Services Australia (FRSA)
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA)
Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic)
Leading Age Services Australia (LASA)
National Disability Services (NDS)
National Employment Services Association (NESA)
National Outside School Hours Services Alliance (NOSHSA)
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)
Spiritual Care Australia (SCA)
Employee Associations
Australasian Youth Justice Administrators (AYJA)
Australian Education Union (AEU)
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)
Australian Services Union (ASU)
Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)
Youth Workers’ Association (YWA)
Regulators
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia
Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department
Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)
Alcohol and other drugs State and Territory peak associations
Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA)
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Council Tasmania (ATDC)
Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT)
Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NSW) (NADA)
Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (QNADA)
South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS)
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA)
Western Australian Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (WANADA)
Data sources and notes
Data sources and notes
Department of Employment 2020, Employment Projections, available from the Labour Market Information Portal
- by ANZSIC 1 digit industry, Health Care and Social Assistance, employment projections to May 2024
- by ANZSIC 3 digit industry, employment projections to May 2024
- 871 Child Care Services
- 801 Preschool Education.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020, Employed persons by Industry group of main job (ANZSIC), Sex, State and Territory, November 1984 onwards, 6291.0.55.003 - EQ06, viewed 1 August 2020 https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003May%202020?OpenDocument
- Employed total by ANZSIC 1 digit industry, Health Care and Social Assistance, 2000 to 2020, May Quarter
- Employed total by ANZSIC 3 digit industry, 2000 to 2020, May quarter
- 871 Child Care Services
- 801 Preschool Education.
Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses, 2019 Program Enrolments by Community Services and Health.
Updated: 11 Dec 2020