Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) has changed its name to Community Work Australia
Community Work Australia

Welfare Centre Manager

A welfare centre manager is the senior manager of an autonomous social welfare support service accountable to a governing body which may be a board, government authority, or large provider with multiple services. A welfare centre manager is responsible for the control, direction and management of a service, facility, organisation, or centre.

ABS definition – Welfare Centre Manager ANZSCO-134214

A welfare centre manager ‘Plans, organises, directs, controls and coordinates a centre, program or project concerned with social welfare support’.

 

Common occupational titles

Executive Director, Manager, Director, Chief Executive Officer, Program Manager

PLEASE NOTE: having your occupational title listed does not necessarily mean your work experience is relevant. Please refer to all relevant information.

Assessment criteria

A relevant qualification comparable to an Australian bachelor’s degree or higher: A relevant qualification should be in community services, human services, welfare, social work, social services management, social policy or similar. It should adequately equip an applicant with necessary knowledge in community services and welfare practice, social policy and organisational management.

Qualifications with less focus on welfare and community services supported by significant amount of relevant work experience will be assessed on an individual basis.

Examples of qualifications which, supported by industry experience, have been found appropriate in the past include:
  • Master and bachelor's degrees in community services, welfare, human services or social work
  • Bachelor of Community Mental Health
  • Master of Health Services Management
  • Master’s degree in Community Development
  • Master’s degree in Sociology
  • Master of Public Health
  • Master’s in Business Administration plus Diploma in Development Studies
  • Master of Science (Knowledge Management) plus Diploma in Social Development and Administration
Please note:
  • In instances where an applicant has used recognition of prior learning (RPL) to gain credit towards their qualification, Community Work Australia will accept a maximum of 40% RPL otherwise the qualification will not be recognised.
  • Some courses do not contain the breadth of core content required to prepare graduates for practice e.g., graduate certificates and graduate diplomas. These qualifications must follow a relevant undergraduate or additional related qualification, otherwise they will not be considered sufficient.
  • Community Work Australia will not accept qualifications which are unduly short. Unduly short qualifications do not provide students with sufficient time to gain the required skills and knowledge.
Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the following ways:

  1. English language test results. Results must be from within 3 years of application. For IELTS only, you can submit multiples tests so long as they are from within a period of 12 months. This includes IELTS One Skill Retake test results (please refer to the IELTS website for eligibility requirements for IELTS One Skill Retake).
    The acceptable tests and required scores are:
    IELTS (general or academic) = 7 in each band
    PTE Academic = 65 in each band
    Advanced (CAE) = 185 in each band
    TOEFL IBT PTE = Listening 24, Speaking 23, Reading 24, Writing 27.

  2. Study conducted in English from a country with English as its main language. Completed study either:
    • at the level of bachelor’s degree, masters or Ph.D. or
    • completed all secondary education and diploma
    The study must have been delivered and assessed in English in a country with English as the main or official language. These are Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, Canada, and New Zealand.

  3. Two years of relevant industry experience in an English-speaking country. Completed at least 2 years full time (or part time equivalent) employment at the required skill level with English as the primary means of communication in a country with English as the main or official language. These are Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, Canada, and New Zealand.

  4. A suitable skills assessment that expired within the last 6 months. Applicants who received a suitable skills assessment and are applying for the same occupation can submit a copy of their original outcome to establish English proficiency.

Employment in the industry is defined as paid employment which involves the provision of senior management with a focus on overseeing welfare services or projects. It is post-qualification, and must be at an appropriate skill level.

Applicants need a minimum of 3 years of full time (or part time equivalent) industry experience which includes at least 1 year of experience in a welfare centre management role within the last 5 years. The minimum 1-year experience in a welfare centre manager must be within the last 2 years.

A welfare centre manager is responsible for the control, direction and management of a service, facility, organisation, or centre. Welfare centre managers typically:
  • Develop, implement, and monitor procedures, policies and standards for administration and practice
  • Coordinate and administer welfare and community services programs
  • Monitor and evaluate resources devoted to welfare, recreation, housing, employment, training and other community facilities and centres
  • Control administrative operations such as budget planning, report preparation, expenditure on supplies, equipment, and services
  • Liaise with other welfare and community service providers, boards and funding bodies to discuss areas of welfare service cooperation and coordination
  • Advise government bodies about measures to improve welfare and community services and facilities
  • Represent the organisation in negotiations, and at conventions, seminars, public hearings and forums
  • Control selection, training, and supervision of staff

Glossary of terms

Industry experience

Paid employment which involves the provision of senior management with a focus on overseeing welfare services or projects. It is post-qualification and must be at an appropriate skill level.

Full time work

Paid employment of 30 hours or more per week.

Skill level

Skill level indicates that the range and complexity of the tasks performed in the occupation require a qualification equivalent to AQF Level 7 bachelor’s degree or higher.

Supporting documents

All the documents you will need to organise before applying.

Application process

Everything you need to know about applying including fees and timeframes.