Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: September
Fees
$11,680+
$28,009^
+
estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load, based on 24 credit points. Please note this estimate is variable and subject to fluctuation depending on choice of elective subjects.
^
estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load, based on 24 credit points.
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible.
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee. Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Currently displaying fees for 2026, which are subject to change in following years.
Duration
2 years full-time
Entry Requirements
Completion of an AQF Level 7 bachelor's degree in any discipline; or Other qualifications and/or at least five (5) years of relevant professional experience deemed equivalent by the College.
Course Code
113104
Course detail
This degree prepares practitioners for leadership and advanced practice across the human services system, with regional grounding and supervised placements.
Core subjects cover foundations for practice, organisational practice, community development, human diversity, advanced research methods, counselling theory and practice, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
From there, you choose your direction. The mental health and trauma-informed practice major covers advanced mental health practice, health coaching and behaviour change, and trauma-informed approaches. The digital care major upskills you with the latest in digital health and informatics, assistive technology and the ethics and application of AI with subjects from Human Services alongside Science and Engineering and Health Sciences. The generalist pathway gives you the broadest elective choice, with subjects from across JCU tailored to your career goals.
Two supervised placements totalling 400 hours are embedded throughout the degree, giving you real experience in community and human services settings before you graduate. Your work experience may allow you to gain up to 160 hours credit of your first placement, with the final placement completed in full.
Study is delivered across JCU Cairns and Townsville, with online options. The flexible multi-modal mix suits working professionals, including those in regional and remote areas.
The course is seeking accreditation with Community Work Australia (pending).
Note: The digital care major is not available to international student visa holders at the Cairns campus.
Human services is one of Australia's fastest-growing employment sectors, with sustained demand across disability, ageing, mental health and community services.
Graduates go on to work across government, non-government, not-for-profit and private settings. Typical early-career roles include community services worker, case worker or case manager, youth worker, family support worker, disability support officer or advocate, mental health support worker, alcohol and other drugs worker, and intake and assessment officer.
With experience, graduates move into program coordination, team leadership, community development, policy and research, human services management and advocacy.
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $11,680
Estimated annual tuition fee: $28,009
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Learn more about fees and financial support
JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, consider exploring our available Pathways options.
Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
Real stories
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Lecturer
Dr Pascal Agbadi
Social Work and Human Services
At JCU, Human Services is about working at the intersection of people, communities and the systems that support them. We prepare students with the practical skills, critical insight and cultural responsiveness needed to make a meaningful difference across diverse service settings to improve community wellbeing.