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Next intake: 
23 July 2018
Duration: 
1 year full time or longer for part time
Location: 
Footscray Park
Delivery mode: 
Blended
Block
Face to Face

Applications for next intake due 15 July 2018

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Overview

Take an important role in community development. Get involved in social change, human rights and sustainable development at a global or local level.

You’ll gain expertise in key community development theories, building your knowledge and skills in these main areas:

  • critical consciousness and ethics of development
  • community development project design and management
  • participatory research and evaluation
  • globalisation and social movements
  • leadership in community development
  • impacts of Trump and Brexit on governance of international organisations
  • conflict resolution and peace-building.

You’ll develop valuable real-world experience. We offer on-site learning and deep engagement with communities and experts in the field. Our agreements with other universities and NGOs, such as the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL), provide benefits that include a study tour to East Timor.

This diploma is the second stage of three courses in our graduate program. Successful completion leads into our Master of International Community Development.

VU offers expertise and guidance in several specialised research areas. Progressing to our masters or higher research degree (doctorate) will bring you into contact with our vibrant and innovative research community.

Related research themes include community resilience, liveable and inclusive cities, cultural diversity and wellbeing, and community, identity and displacement.

The Community, Identity and Displacement Research Network (CIDRN) promotes research into displacement, identity, community and change, focused on Melbourne’s west.

Our Centre for Cultural Diversity & Wellbeing (CCDW) conducts research relating to cultural diversity and resilience, social wellbeing, and approaches to reducing social harms in local and global contexts.

Our partnerships with educational, business and community organisations offer important research opportunities. We have agreements with other universities and NGOs, such as the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL). These give you fantastic options to learn and travel.

Students studying international development at VU have completed placements in the following countries:

  • Timor Leste
  • Fiji
  • Cambodia
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • Mauritius
  • Kenya
  • Botswana.

If you’re aiming for a leadership, management or public-policy role, our Master of International Community Development will give you the qualifications and skills to get there.

VU offers flexible study options, with courses designed to lead into one another. Completing the Graduate Certificate in International Community Development gains you credit towards this diploma.

Once you’ve successfully completed our diploma, you’ll gain entry, and credits, to the Master of International Community Development – and you’ll already be half way to completing the full masters degree.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

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Already a VU student?

To transfer into this course from another apply online at our Admissions centre.

Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

Careers in community development

Graduates of this course work in many related areas, including international humanitarian work and development aid.

Career possibilities include:

  • international and regional consultant in human rights, gender, poverty reduction and project evaluation
  • project manager with international, government and local organisations such as Australian Red Cross, Save the Children, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre
  • leaders and advisers in government
  • community development educator and trainer
  • journalist
  • activist
  • academic and researcher.

Salaries

The average salary for community workers is A$63,800 (JobOutlook).

With further study or experience, you could become a policy or planning manager, earning an average A$122,460 (JobOutlook).

Course structure

To attain the Graduate Diploma in International Community Development students will be required to complete 96 credit points (equivalent to 8 units) consisting of the following:

  • 72 credit points (equivalent to 6 units) of Core studies

  • 24 credit points (equivalent to 2 units) of Elective studies.

Core Units

Plus 24 credit points of an Elective from the list below

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Interpret and debate multidisciplinary theoretical perspectives, analyse and problem solve in international and local community development;  
  2. Justify and review global and regional institutions, structures, challenges and trends and their impacts on development in the developing world as well as industrialised regions;  
  3. Critically review different schools of thought on globalisation and development and their impacts on communities;  
  4. Demonstrate critical analytical skills as well as effective communication in writing and other means to interrogate, interpret and debate key theories and academic concepts;  
  5. Creatively design and develop ethical research project proposals that address social responsibility and sustainability of community development; and  
  6. Apply knowledge, principles and theoretical frameworks to frame and inform practice as a reflective practitioner.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take, and optional \'elective\' units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type: Full-fee

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re a Commonwealth supported student or full-fee paying.

If you enrol in a:

To calculate the total cost of your course:

  1. Select which units you’d like to study.
  2. Look up the individual unit costs in the higher education unit of study fees list.
  3. Add up the relevant amounts.

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course.

Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

  • Bachelor/Honours degree: Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline
    OR
    Completion of an Australian Graduate Certificate (or equivalent) in a similar discipline
    OR
    Applicants with a minimum three (3) years approved work experience will be considered for admission to this course.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course coordinator or academic adviser.

How to apply

Before you apply, consider whether you also wish to apply for:

When you're ready:

You will need to create an account (or use your existing VU one).

Direct applications are due on 15 July 2018 for our next intake which starts on 23 July 2018.

Apply direct to VU

Use our Admissions centre to

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  • Submit applications for one or more courses
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  • Upload any additional information we request

After you apply

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  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

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Contact us

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.