If you’re interested in working to support and advocate with young people, then we say,  good on you!

Youth work is a career that involves working for and with young people in a variety of ways. The key thing that differentiates a youth worker from other community service workers is that young people are their primary focus.

You can start your career as a youth worker in a range of settings:

  • Offices
  • Schools
  • Residential care facilities
  • Youth centers
  • Health clinics
  • Community centers.

Some youth work is undertaken in a central location where young people are required to visit in order to access services, but youth workers also undertake outreach work, which involves engaging with young people in the places theyoccupy.

Youth workers are employed across several sectors and, as a result, they are not all covered by the same pay award. Salaries also vary within sectors based on the level of responsibilities, skills and experience.

While this makes it difficult to pin down the overall expected income for a youth worker, typical, entry-level, contracted rates are around $25 per hour, rising to $30 per hour with qualifications and experience.

  • Casual employees are paid at higher rates, but don’t accrue leave or time-in-lieu (TIL).
  • You can progress your career and salary by taking on more responsibility, such as managing teams or projects.

Industry Awards to be aware of

Browse current employment vacancies

Taking a look at what jobs are out there can be a really useful way of getting a sense of the salary ranges to expect in the areas of youth work that interest you.

It’s also a great way to see what kinds of qualifications, training and experience employers are looking for, which should give you an idea of where you might be headed.

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The level of qualification among youth workers varies.

Qualifications include:

  • Certificate III, Certificate IV or Diploma of youth work, all of which can all be studied at TAFE.
  • At a university level, there are tertiary diplomas and bachelor’s degrees in youth work on offer
  • Master’s level qualifications are also available.

See the full list of youth work related courses offered in Victoria.

Free TAFE

TAFE Victoria offers free qualifications in Youth Work.

Course options include things like

It may be possible to gain employment in the field of youth work without formal qualifications, particularly if you already have relevant experience such as volunteering.

However, your ability, confidence and understanding of youth work will be strongly improved if you have qualifications. You’ll also be better equipped to provide young people with meaningful, appropriate support.

Tip: volunteer first to find out if youth work is for you

Youth work can look and feel really different depending on the kinds of settings and organisations you work in.

As a way of testing it out, we encourage you to get involved through volunteering.

Find opportunities through Volunteering Victoria’s Volunteer Now search, or contact your local council’s youth service team.

As the peak body for young people and the youth sector, YACVic will always keep you updated about youth work issues.

Become a YACVic member

When you support YACVic as a member, you become part of a statewide network of individuals, key organisations and agencies within the youth sector. Membership is free for people under the age of 25. Join us now!

Sign up to our newsletters

Announce is YACVic’s fortnightly newsletter for keeping young people and the youth sector in Victoria up to speed on the latest news, events, training, jobs and other opportunities. With over 2,700 subscribers, Announce is among the best go-to's for youth sector professionals.

Signposts is the newsletter of YACVic Rural. It’s a great way to get updates on what’s going on in rural and regional Victoria – from our two rural offices in Great South Coast and Southern Mallee, and beyond.

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