How to Become a Welfare Worker

Welfare Workers focus on improving the financial, mental and social well-being of their clients. Working with groups, families or individuals, they can help provide a different view on a problem and assist people in accessing resources and developing skills to cope with the challenges of society.

A Welfare Worker helps people recognise, improve and resolve issues and situations that come from the trials of everyday life. They can aid their clients in overcoming problems such as homelessness, unemployment, addiction, abuse and domestic violence, and also offer assistance to those who have suffered trauma or bereavement.

Welfare Workers offer counselling, practical and emotional support, and information on applicable resources such as job search programs, refuges, clinics, and legal aid. They also help clients obtain affordable housing and facilitate access to Centrelink and other government entitlements.

• Interviewing families, groups and individuals to determine the nature and degree of each client’s problems.
• Giving advice and assistance with developing coping techniques and strategies.
• Providing information to clients and organising access to applicable programs and resources.
• Liaising with agencies and local organisations to help develop and improve welfare services.
• Following up with clients to assess their progress and improvement.
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of local services programs and resources.
• Recommending specialists and other professionals to clients where applicable.
• Compiling reports and managing case records.