Community development courses

Work with communities and help make the world a better place

Help me choose a course

Introduction to Community development

If you have a strong social justice streak and are passionate about helping others, you could build a great career in community development.

In a community development course, you’ll gain the skills needed to help shape stronger communities, whether that’s across Australia or around the globe.

You’ll be ready to make a genuine and lasting impact through your work, by facilitating community projects, advising on public policy, working with young people, or perhaps even landing a role at a leading non-government organisation (NGO).

Start browsing online community development courses available from leading Australian universities right here.

Explore community development courses
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Debbie studied community development with Murdoch University, through Open Universities Australia

Discover community development courses

Online community development subjects and short courses

Murdoch University

Introduction to Community Development

UndergraduateMUR-COD125

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 28 Jul 2025

Next enrolment closes 20 Jul

Murdoch University

Social Policy and Community Action

UndergraduateMUR-COD214

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 28 Jul 2025

Next enrolment closes 20 Jul

La Trobe University

Making Development Matter

UndergraduateLTU-DST2CTD

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
University of Tasmania

Community Health and Wellbeing

UndergraduateTAS-ZAC201

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
View all subjects

Online community development degrees

University of New England

Bachelor of Community Services

UndergraduateUNE-CSV-DEG

Empower lives, shape futures and transform communities

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Murdoch University

Bachelor of Arts

UndergraduateMUR-BAR-DEG

A practical arts degree for a better world

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Available majors

  • Community Development
  • International Aid and Development
  • Sustainable Development
Griffith University

Help people from different backgrounds and communities

Study method
100% online
Duration
6 months full time or part time equivalent
Torrens University Australia

Bachelor of Community Services

UndergraduateTUA-COS-DEG

Help people in communities connect and thrive

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
View all bachelor degrees

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Community development study FAQs

What is community development, and why is it important?

Community development professionals work with communities to run projects and programs that make them stronger and healthier.

Working in this field, you could find yourself based in an Indigenous community in Australia’s top end, delivering projects for better education outcomes; or working with a local council to help young people feel safer in their community; or even overseas, helping a village run environmentally sustainable projects.

It’s crucial that community members are involved in the development process and your key job will be to support them.

What will I learn in a community development course?

Working with different, sometimes vulnerable, communities can be complex. In your community development course, you’ll learn how to interact with people in constructive, respectful, and culturally safe ways.

Depending on your course, you may study topics such as:

  • Counselling

  • Social justice

  • Advocacy

  • Policy

  • Welfare

  • Foreign aid

  • Human rights

  • Sustainability

  • Working with Indigenous communities

If you’re not yet sure if community development is quite right for you, browse other study options:

What are the entry requirements for studying community development?

The entry requirements for online community development courses will vary depending on the study level you choose. Check individual course pages to find out more.

Luckily, even if you don’t think you meet the entry requirements, Open Universities Australia may be able to help you find a pathway into your chosen field of study. Chat with us to find out how.

How long is a community development course?

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide: 

Course

Duration

Single subject

10-18 weeks

Short course

10-18 weeks

Undergraduate certificate

6 months (if full time)

Diploma

1 year (if full time) 

Associate degree

2 years (if full time) 

Bachelor degree

3 years (if full time)

Graduate certificate

6 months (if full time)

Graduate diploma

1 year (if full time)

Masters degree

2 years (if full time)

If you study a degree in community development through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

Can I study community development online while working full or part-time?

Absolutely. Studying online through Open Universities Australia will give you the flexibility you need to balance your studies and life commitments.

Opting for an online community development course means you can build your skills at a pace that suits you. You’ll be able to study where and when you want, and fit your study around existing work commitments, while accessing all the study support you need.

Will I have the chance to work on practical projects or go on work placements?

This will depend on the specific online community development course that you choose. Check the course page of the course you are interested in to find out more.

What career opportunities can I explore after studying community development?

After graduating your community development course, you could land a role as a:

  • Community service officer

  • Project coordinator

  • Community health worker

  • Youth engagement officer

  • Policy officer

  • Support worker

  • International aid worker

  • Researcher

Which sectors hire community development graduates?

As a community development graduate, you could find work in the:

  • Not-for-profit sector, working for an NGO

  • Public sector, for a government agency or local council

  • Private sector, as a consultant for a private company

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

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