RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Domestic and Family Violence will prepare you to pursue a rewarding career in the social science sector.
A need for specialist skills in prevention and response within the community services sector is growing.
Designed for practitioners and graduates in the community services sector, RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Domestic and Family Violence is a dual-focus qualification that can be undertaken in as little as six months.
RMIT Associate Professor Dr Anastasia Powell says the course, designed in consultation with industry, is unique because it focuses on primary prevention, or efforts to address the underlying drivers of family violence before the abuse occurs, as well as response.
“The program is among the first nationally to offer a dual-focus of equipping students to respond to those already experiencing family violence, as well as the development of primary prevention approaches,” Powell says.
Practitioners and graduates considering undertaking the certificate can expect to experience a curriculum closely developed with industry, specialise their career and learn flexibly.
Gain a qualification closely developed with industry
The graduate certificate has been developed in consultation with sector professionals, and is overseen by an Industry Advisory Committee that represents family violence, response and prevention sectors, with representation from both government and non-government agencies and direct services. The Industry Advisory Committee provides ongoing feedback to ensure this graduate certificate continues to align with the recruitment needs of the Victorian family violence sector.
One RMIT industry partner consulted in the development of the course is the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV). CEO Emily McGuire says the graduate certificate reflects the changing needs of the workforce.
“Domestic and family violence has unique dynamics and risks, and we know that the needs of victim survivors are very different from those experiencing other forms of violence,” McGuire said.
Specialise or advance your career in community service
A need for specialist skills in prevention and response within the community services sector is growing. This comes partly from the 2015 Royal Commission into Family Violence, in which 227 recommendations were made to help prevent family violence, improve support for victims and survivors, and hold perpetrators to account.
The need for workforce development, particularly in prevention, has also been previously identified by Our Watch and the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
Through the Graduate Certificate in Domestic and Family Violence at RMIT, students undertake three compulsory subjects and one elective. The elective gives students the opportunity to specialise their practice in these areas of demand, including primary prevention, policy advocacy, case management practice, and research and course evaluation.
Upon completion of the course, graduates will be ready for a range of fulfilling careers within domestic and family violence, from case management to prevention, policy and research.
Graduates may also choose to follow a pathway into a postgraduate qualification, including the Master of Justice and Criminology or the Master of Social Science (Global, Urban and Social Studies).
Fit learning around work commitments
The Graduate Certificate in Domestic and Family Violence is designed for flexible delivery. With February and July commencement options available, as well as the opportunity to study 12 months full-time or six months part-time, students and practitioners have the ability to structure study around existing work commitments.
The course is also online enabled through RMIT’s student portal and digital library, facilitating the delivery of classes and lectures, and the submission of written assignments, research projects and presentations.
