Additional information

body or mind	both
Field	Social Services
Boss or Team	Team
Communication	Good Communicator
Work With	People
Math & Science	Neither
Study Length	Prepared to Study for Years
Environment	Busy Environment

Community Worker

Becoming a community worker means that you’ll be involved in community development initiatives and solutions within a community to address needs and various issues. This could be with regards to health, housing, employment, recreation and other social services matters.

Community work is multi-faceted and focuses on community upliftment and helping communities. It focuses on work tasks that uplift and support communities, and can also include looking after orphans or vulnerable children, helping sick people, assisting teachers in schools, looking after children of working parents and even working with the local police to improve safety and reduce crime.

How to be a Community Worker in South Africa

Get the Required Qualifications

The qualifications you need to become a community worker in South Africa may vary depending on the specific career path you wish to take; however, you will typically need the following:

Learnership (Learnership in Community Work: NQF Level)
Learnership (Learnership) in Community Work: NQF Level 5)
Certificate (National Certificate in Community Development)
Certificate (National/Higher Certificate in Community Work)
Diploma (Diploma in Community Work )

Demonstrate Competence in the Required Subjects

Entry requirements may differ per institution, but you will generally be expected to show competency in the following subjects:

Accumulate Years of Relevant Study and Experience

Community workers in South Africa typically study for 1-4 years.

Find Relevant Employment Opportunities

Community workers in South Africa often work at government agencies and non-profit organisations.

Please note that you will need to register as a social auxiliary worker with the SA Interim Council for Social Work in order to be employed.

It is important to note that learners studying social auxiliary workers must register conditionally with the Council.

Auxiliary Social Workers can be employed by private institutions as well as government and non-governmental institutions.

Find More Information from Relevant Regulatory Bodies

To find more information about community workers, contact the South African Council for Social Service Professions or the Department of Health.