A nationally recognised qualification on the National Register of vocational education and training. This page answers the questions that actually decide whether it is worth your time and money: is the work there, what happens to people who finish, who pays, and who you could study it with. Every figure carries its source and date.
It prepares people for work as welfare support workers.
This is the current version of the qualification on the national register. It replaced CHC51712, whose currency ended on 6 December 2015.
The signals behind this qualification are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Specifically: employment in its occupations is projected to grow through 2035, national enrolments are rising and the official shortage list does not rate its occupations in shortage. These are official statistics, not a promise about any individual's result.
Three official signals crossed: live job advertisements, the national training pipeline, and government employment projections.
Employer demand for these roles is holding steady. Across Welfare Support Workers, about 1,247 jobs were advertised online in May 2026 (down 1.8% on a year earlier). Roughly 15,546 openings were advertised over the last 12 months, while 11,050 people enrolled in the qualification nationally in 2024. Enrolment counts people in training, not completions, so the two figures describe the pipeline and the market, not a job guarantee.
Enrolments in this qualification are growing. National enrolments rose from 10,485 in 2023, to 11,050 in 2024 (up 5.4%).
Employment in these occupations is projected to grow. Government projections put them at 96,500 workers in May 2025, 102,300 by May 2030 (up 6%) and 108,000 by May 2035 (up 11.9%).
Outcomes for this specific qualification, each anchored against what is typical at the same qualification level nationally.
Outcomes for this qualification are mixed against others at Diploma level. In the latest national outcomes survey (2025), 86.9% were employed or in further study after training, against a Diploma median of 92% across 34 qualifications. Median income after training was $70,100, compared with $63,250 typical at this level. 85.3% were satisfied with the training, against 89% typical.
The three wallets: a subsidised seat, paying full fee, and the time commitment that decides whether you can keep working.
Subsidy programs change and have eligibility rules. The official listing linked above is the source of truth; no dollar amounts are shown here because they vary by person and provider.
Fees for unsubsidised places are set by each training provider and vary widely. Provider pricing, intakes and payment options live on the individual course pages linked below, never on this page.
The crossing no single dataset can give you: official shortage status, subsidy availability and training demand, read together.
The signals behind this qualification are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Specifically: employment in its occupations is projected to grow through 2035, national enrolments are rising and the official shortage list does not rate its occupations in shortage. These are official statistics, not a promise about any individual's result.
None of the occupations this qualification leads to is rated as in shortage on the official list. In the 2025 Occupation Shortage List assessment, Community Worker, Disabilities Services Officer, Family Support Worker, Parole or Probation Officer, Residential Care Officer and Youth Worker are rated not in shortage.
Approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. Start with who is approved, then compare actual courses.
Recognition of Prior Learning turns experience into the same national qualification through an assessment only pathway, without sitting the course. The unit by unit evidence guide for CHC51015shows exactly what assessors ask for.
See the RPL guide for CHC51015The five questions people actually ring up and ask, answered only where official data backs the answer.