Profession: Welfare Officer
Qualification and registration requirements
Welfare Officers qualifications can vary and may include Certificate 4, Diploma or Bachelor level as deemed appropriate by their employer. There are no registration requirements.
What is a Welfare Officer?
Welfare officers assist individuals, family groups, and communities with health, social, emotional or financial difficulties to improve quality of life by educating and supporting them and working towards change in their social environment (Australian Community Workers Association website).
Welfare officers are trained to provide support, information, referral and advocacy and work in a variety of health settings including hospitals, mental health services, referral centres, drug and alcohol services, health promotion, and Aboriginal health.
What does a Welfare Officer do?
The interventions performed by welfare officers vary considerably depending upon the specific work setting. Some examples of interventions performed include:
- Assessments
- Emotional support
- Advocacy
- Case management
- Problem-solving
- Referrals to appropriate services
- Discharge planning
- Information provision
- Health promotion
Related links
For information on how to gain recognition of Allied Health qualifications obtained overseas, please contact the relevant professional association as per web links above.