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Tafe or Uni? Community services field.
Answered 4 years ago
Have always wanted to be a social worker my predicament is do I go straight to uni or tafe to do a Cert in community services that way I can get an entry level job into the field and work part time to bring an income into the family and then study Uni. Any thoughts? Am I just waiting my time with tafe?
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ANSWER
4 years ago
What you are describing, i did, i have a Diploma of Community Services, Diploma of Youth Work and a Diploma of Counselling, these qualifications give yiu about 12-18 months off a social work degree and it’s cheaper to do them at Tafe then do the same units at Uni.
Only prob is, everyone is doing these quals. Now and the system is flooded, i won awards for the Community Service Diploma and still cant find work! Basically the 3 Diplomas i have arnt worth the paper they are written on, i will probably go to Uni next year, but really im
Just doing it to keep my mind active, dont expect to get work from the degree either! I used to work in the hospitality industry before studying, in retrospect i would have been better off just continuing in that field as i was in management. Now ive been out of the game too long, im in no mans land.
Your experience may be different, but i have been really disappointed by the whole ‘education will set you free thing’ because all its given me is a fee pieces of paper and about $30000 im student debt.. Consider your age and other lifestyle factors before making a decision about what to do.
Only prob is, everyone is doing these quals. Now and the system is flooded, i won awards for the Community Service Diploma and still cant find work! Basically the 3 Diplomas i have arnt worth the paper they are written on, i will probably go to Uni next year, but really im
Just doing it to keep my mind active, dont expect to get work from the degree either! I used to work in the hospitality industry before studying, in retrospect i would have been better off just continuing in that field as i was in management. Now ive been out of the game too long, im in no mans land.
Your experience may be different, but i have been really disappointed by the whole ‘education will set you free thing’ because all its given me is a fee pieces of paper and about $30000 im student debt.. Consider your age and other lifestyle factors before making a decision about what to do.
Replies
REPLY
4 years ago
I'm regional & all I keep hearing is that it's a growing industry in our area. Are you located in the city?
REPLY
4 years ago
Yes, i live in the middle of the CBD in Perth.
REPLY
4 years ago
OP of this reply, sorry for typos! Had two kids climbing over me, while i typed!
REPLY
4 years ago
Can I ask how old you you are? Do you think straight to study social work would be the better option?
REPLY
4 years ago
Im 37, i still think doing at least one Diploma (probably the Comm. Services one) is your best bet, then go to Uni, but make sure you go straight away and dont have a gap year or anything like that. You will save about $5000, maybe more off your degree if you do the Diploma first and it will give you a good base to study the degree. Also you have to do two prac placements with the diploma so you have the opportunity to network and perhaps get a job in the field before you go onto Uni, which can also help with RPL too.
In my opinion its better to work some where in the sector part time while going to uni part time (after doing the diploma) if you are over 20, because taking 3/4 years out of the workforce to study full time now, above that age (especially late 30’s or older) is a disadvantage once you want to get back to work and have finished the degree, especially if that time takes you till your mid 40’s or older.
In my opinion its better to work some where in the sector part time while going to uni part time (after doing the diploma) if you are over 20, because taking 3/4 years out of the workforce to study full time now, above that age (especially late 30’s or older) is a disadvantage once you want to get back to work and have finished the degree, especially if that time takes you till your mid 40’s or older.
REPLY
4 years ago
Oh and the Counselling Diploma is basically a waste of time, if you want to go down the counselling road you need a degree full stop! The counselling diploma is a good base for the degree and also a good compliment to other community service jobs, but its not a stand alone qualification that you can get a job with at the end.
REPLY
4 years ago
And for context, i did get work straight out of my com.serv. Diploma, but became pregnant unexpectedly which took me out of the work force for waaaaaay longer then i expected as my baby was born with a range of health problems. I did the counselling Diploma last year to update my previous Diploma’s (which i gained in 2014/15) with the hope that i would have two prac placements, and get work from them, unfortunately though there was no prac placement for me as i had already completed the units connected to prac in my previous studies.
The baby is 4 now and health is much better so i am keen to get to work again, im actually enrolled to start Uni next year and ive just enrolled in a Cert. 4 in Mental Health at tafe for next semester, as it’s so cheap now for me ($400!) and im initially just planning on enrolling in the units linked to Prac so i can hopefully have a chance at getting a job in the sector before i go to Uni next year.
Anyway there’s my life story bahahha!
The baby is 4 now and health is much better so i am keen to get to work again, im actually enrolled to start Uni next year and ive just enrolled in a Cert. 4 in Mental Health at tafe for next semester, as it’s so cheap now for me ($400!) and im initially just planning on enrolling in the units linked to Prac so i can hopefully have a chance at getting a job in the sector before i go to Uni next year.
Anyway there’s my life story bahahha!
ANSWER
4 years ago
Online Alffie
ANSWER
4 years ago
which state are you in as tafes vary in quality in different states