Course Accreditation and Accredited Courses 2024

Youth Workers Australia is committed to ensuring that the best possible Youth Work education and training is available to prospective youth work professionals. As a result of our consultation, we have established a course accreditation process. Formal accreditation of Youth Work courses by the YWA will not only recognise the quality and good standing of courses it will also provide automatic membership eligibility for graduates who had completed YWA accredited courses.

We encourage educational providers to submit their course for accreditation. The YWA considers that accreditation will raise the professional standards of the industry and will be a positive marketing opportunity for education and training providers. We intend to advertise all endorsed Youth Work courses on the YWA web and in our newsletters to our 400 members and supporters. There are four sections to the attached Application for Accreditation package. The first outlines the Course Accreditation process, the second is the Course Application, the third is the Teaching and Learning Document, and the fourth is the Graduate Capability Statement. We hope that it provides education and training providers with a comprehensive overview of the quality assurance and the benchmarks that have been set as education standards by the YWA Board for Youth Work education and training. Setting these benchmarks will ensure that the accreditation process maintains integrity and transparency. The panel that assesses the applications will use the criterion that has been outlined.

Skills Assessment

All of the international graduates from accredited courses looking to work and extend their stay in Australia can apply for a skills assessment to the Skills Assessment body ACWA

The YWA will appoint the panel that will assess the applications. Educational providers will find a summary of the process in the next section. To support this transition to Youth Work Course Accreditation the YWA Board has also decided that 2013 will be considered a transition pilot. Those courses that are included in this pilot will have accreditation for a period of two years and will be acknowledged as our collaborators in establishing what we consider to be an especially important function of a successful Professional Association.

Please note that during this transition the YWA is funding the implementation phase of course accreditation and does not intend to charge our partner providers. This is not about funding the Association but about building the capacity of our industry. Post initial transition phase we will apply a fee to new courses that will reflect the cost of administration to those who wish to submit to the process.

For more information to gain Youth Work Australia’s accreditation for your course, please download the following documents for reading:

Course Accreditation Process

Course Accreditation Information and Application

YWA 2012 Members Consultation Findings

Accredited Courses and information with regards to skills assessment for  graduates from overseas that have completed their course on a student visa

Australian Catholic University Bachelor of Youth Work 2008 -

RMIT Bachelor of Youth Work  2008 - 

Edith Cowen Graduates up 2008 - 2023

University of Western Sydney Graduates 2008 - 2016

Victoria University Bachelor of Youth Work  2008- 

Victoria University Bachelor of Youth Work and Criminal Justice  2008 - 

Victoria University Bachelor of Youth Work and Bachelor of Sport Management 2008 - 

University of Western Sydney 2025 - 

The Graduates of these programs are eligible for a skills assessment by the current skills assessment body ACWA.  You can apply immediately upon completion.  After you have completed your skills assessment then you will be able to apply for a graduate skills visa.  You are not required to complete the 1 year of work experience.