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 Homepage

How to Become a Case Manager: An Intellectual Career That Makes a Positive Impact

To become a case manager, you need specific practical skills in social services. Although not formally required, a qualification like a Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015) or Diploma in Community Services (CHC52015) can help you gain entry into the role.

Discover what a job in case management is like and learn what it takes to get a job in this essential, fulfilling role.

case-manager
  • Overview
  • How to Become
  • Pathways
  • Qualifications

Case manager job description

info Where we source our data

Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.

That’s why we anonymously surveyed case managers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.

While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.

Case managers work closely with their clients to coordinate support services, as well as provide safe, timely and efficient care that places the client at the forefront. They are responsible for creating treatment plans and reviewing case progress, and help their clients make informed decisions about their treatment options.

Tasks and responsibilities for a case manager

Case managers care about others and have a passion for the rights of vulnerable people. They work directly with clients to improve their quality of life through individual assessments, client advocacy, education and related community services. 

A case manager’s job description can include:

  • Meeting with client
  • Identifying client needs
  • Conducting risk assessments
  • Creating action and treatment plans with set timelines
  • Coordinating support services for the client
  • Monitoring progress and record management

How to become a case manager

You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to begin work as a case manager, but taking on prior study means you are more likely to get a job and be more confident in the industry when you start.
  1. Study

    To gain the confidence and skills needed to get an entry-level job in case management, take a course like a Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015) or Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015).

  2. Volunteer in community services

    Get in touch with your local community services organisation and offer some of your time on the weekends or outside your regular work hours. Often, volunteers are needed on helplines, at food banks or community events. The work experience builds your confidence and gives you hands-on practical skills in the industry

Pathway options

info
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.

A role as a case manager paves the way to several other work opportunities. Positions within the community services sector are diverse and come in many forms.

Some pathways could be:

Junior

  • Youth case worker

    Most common qualification: Diploma of Youth Work (CHC52015)

  • Residential care worker

    Most common qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015)

     

Mid

  • Outreach worker

    Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315)

  • Family support worker

    Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (CHC40313)

Senior

  • Community development manager

    Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management (CHC62015)

  • Care manager

    Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management (CHC62015)

Explore related qualifications

Certificate III in Community Services

Study method In-class Online

Skills learned in this course can lead to entry-level community jobs in neighbourhood centres, youth support community health or a range of human services organisations.

 

At this level, work takes place under the direction of other senior staff. 

 

The average course duration is one year part-time, can be studied entirely online and can be self-paced.

 

Government subsidies and Victorian Free TAFE may be available to those eligible. Enquire about a course to check your eligibility.

Read More

3 providers offer this course

Open Colleges
Upskilled Pty Ltd
Insight Training Group Australia Pty Ltd

Diploma of Community Services

Study method In-class Online

This course provides the skills and knowledge for a career in community services case management. This course teaches you how to approach client needs holistically, plus practical and emotional support skills.

 

Work at this level involves specialisation in skills and is mainly performed autonomously under the guidance of senior staff in an organisation.

 

The average course duration is 18 months, is taught in a mix of delivery methods and can be completed full-time or part-time.

Eligibility for this course is generally literacy and numeracy skills at Year 11, and government subsidies may be available to those eligible. This course also comes under Free TAFE in Victoria. Enquire about a course to check your eligibility.

Read More

7 providers offer this course

Open Colleges
Upskilled Pty Ltd
Insight Training Group Australia Pty Ltd
Health Courses Australia
Hader Institute of Education Pty Ltd
Industry Skills Training
TrainSmart Australia

Related subjects

You may want to explore other options that exercise your natural ability to care for others. In that case, there are plenty of different roles in community services that are singing out for more workers and might be perfect for you.

 

Some other subjects to discover: 

Community Services
Community Services
Mental Health
Mental Health

Related articles

If you feel like this job might be right for you, check out the catalogue of resources with more information on how to bag your dream job in the community sector.

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Reviews

info How we collect reviews

Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.

Is this your job title?

Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.

Leave a Review

  • All
  • Positive
  • Negative
Vanessa
Sep 02 2021

I love helping people find solutions to the problems making their life difficult, but the job has a much heavier workload than I imagined.

What are the best parts of the job?

I love working as a case manager as there is broad scope to work across many sectors, such as AOD, mental health, education, and family violence. Working with people holistically can be very rewarding — there is a lot of trust needed from clients for them to let someone in during a vulnerable time in their life. The culture at my organisation is great and I feel well supported in my work.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

The workload is enormous. I particularly underestimated the toll of the administrative workload, which significantly takes away from the time and energy I have to spend actually working with people. There are never enough hours in the day to complete tasks. The work is also very stressful, with stressed and angry clients a normal part of the day to day. It can be very difficult to work with people's motivations to change when they don't want you in their lives (as I work in a statutory system). I find it challenging also to work within a system that doesn't prioritise caring industries, and with systems which are so incompatible with social work values, such as the policing and legal system; there is a high degree of moral and ethical conflict in the work. I also underestimated the emotional toll of the work that comes from hearing people's stories of trauma — I am getting less sleep and feeling burnt out.

Read More
Qualification Masters degree
Experience 0-1
Organisation size 200+ employees
Shella
Aug 31 2021

The role can be confronting at times but I have a really good, supportive team.

What are the best parts of the job?

I work with a supportive and uplifting team. I’m studying social work and it's great to see that social work theory is really incorporated into practice.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Listening to stories of trauma can take its toll. And how client trauma presents itself can be challenging at times, for instance violence towards workers.

Read More
Qualification Diploma
Experience 5-10
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation AOD and homelessness
Tarnya
Aug 31 2021

Supporting families in need is really rewarding.

What are the best parts of the job?

I love advocating for families and working to help them achieve positive outcomes.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Having to work under Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and not getting answers from them.

Read More
Qualification Diploma
Experience 5-10
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation Advocate
Tayla
Aug 31 2021

Changing the lives of young people and providing them with opportunities, all while building relationships with them.

What are the best parts of the job?

Getting to work alongside highly traumatised young people, and going to great efforts to create change and positive opportunities. Also getting to be privy to stories of hardship and adversity.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Supporting high risk adolescents with complex needs is challenging. Always responding to crisis and never feeling proactive, but rather reactive, can be hard as well.

Read More
Qualification Advanced Diploma
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation High risk adolescents in OOHC
Shauna
Aug 31 2021

Helping people to solve difficult problems in their lives, when they're willing.

What are the best parts of the job?

Working with people, helping them make decisions and solve problems in their lives.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Sometimes people become stagnant and it’s hard to break them out of that. It’s hard to break intergenerational trauma and ingrained views of the world that some people hold.

Read More
Qualification Diploma
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 200+ employees
Stephen
Sep 02 2021

It's a job where I'm helping people make a real difference in their life.

What are the best parts of the job?

Helping people and putting a smile in their faces.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Occassionally language barriers make it hard for me to help people effectively.

Read More
Qualification Diploma
Experience 5-10
Organisation size Self-employed
Memphis
Sep 07 2021

The benefits and pay are good, but working with clients and colleagues can occasionally be challenging.

What are the best parts of the job?

The job has great pay and employee benefits.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

I am challenged by my clients and some other workmates sometimes.

Read More
Qualification Masters degree
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Geena
Sep 07 2021

Rewarding to help people reach their goals.

What are the best parts of the job?

Helping people achieve goals and create a positive difference in their own lives.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Workers not wanting to help themselves is frustrating.

Read More
Qualification Bachelor’s degree
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation Counselling
Joanne
Sep 07 2021

Has lots of challenges, but supporing people is a positive.

What are the best parts of the job?

The people you get to support. I love interacting with them and helping them achieve their goals.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

In complete transparency, the whole job tends to be challenging.

Read More
Qualification Bachelor’s degree
Experience 10+
Organisation size 5-19 employees
Specialisation Homeless teens
Jim
Sep 12 2021

Need organisation and time management skills to be able to help everyone.

What are the best parts of the job?

Helping others and seeing people's lives improve while supporting them.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Managing all my cases. It can be diffuclt juggling everything at once.

Read More
Qualification Bachelor’s degree
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Specialisation Finance
Isabella
Sep 12 2021

Rewarding career where I am helping people.

What are the best parts of the job?

Being able to cover and replace items for the community.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

People not responding to information requests can make the job frustrating.

Read More
Qualification Cert IV
Experience 5-10
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation Insurance
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