Graduate Diploma in Social Services (Career Practice), (Disability Support and Coordination) or (Mental Health Support)

Broaden your Bachelor of Social Services degree with a second specialty or add a focused specialty to a generic degree.

This one-year programme will enable you to gain a vocational specialty by working with clients and studying professional practice and theory.

The demand for qualified individuals in the community services will remain strong as the world faces a growing and ageing population, and a general increase in social problems, and this qualification will broaden your opportunities to work across social services fields.

Gain current and industry-relevant training during this programme so you know exactly what to expect when you enter the workforce. You will have placement opportunities during your progression through the programme which are an exciting opportunity for you to work with people in supervised settings.

The nature of this programme is such that you will benefit from the chance to network in a specialist area and forge important industry contacts and relationships. As such, you will graduate as an effective and recognised professional practitioner who is able to meet professional association competency standards and access employment opportunities within relevant fields both nationally and internationally.

Upon successful completion, you will graduate with either a Graduate Diploma in Social Services (Career Practice), Graduate Diploma in Social Services (Disability), or a Graduate Diploma in Social Services (Mental Health).

Entry requirements

Applicants must have:

• the Bachelor of Social Services or the Bachelor of Social Services (endorsed in Counselling, Disability Support and Coordination, Mental Health Support, or Career Practice), OR
• an equivalent qualification, OR
• be able to demonstrate equivalent practical, professional or educational experience of an appropriate kind. 
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes. 

Completing your application

You can enter information and upload documents directly into the application form. You may wish to prepare some of the required documentation beforehand.

To begin your application, click the Apply button at the top of this page.

You will need to provide:

1. academic records
2. written statements (approx. 300-500 words each) about:
   • your life experiences and motivations for wanting to study this programme
   • your relevant professional experiences
   • how the te Tiriti o Waitangi might underpin your work in the social sector
   • issues facing New Zealanders.
3. your Curriculum Vitae
4. a mental health and substance history status.
5. police vetting and declaration of any criminal convictions. (Applicants who have lived in countries other than New Zealand need to provide a Police Clearance from each country.)
6. contact details for two referees
7. certified copies of proof of identity
8. proof of residency (where appropriate).

You will also be required to attend an interview. We will contact you to arrange this.

Selection procedure

Eligible applicants will be selected based on academic entry criteria and evidence of personal suitability demonstrated in written work and an interview. Numbers in this programme are limited. Should the number of applicants exceed the places available, a waitlist will be compiled in date order of application.

In addition, the number of students accepted into each specialty will be determined by the number of placements available. Please note that we unfortunately cannot guarantee your choice of specialty.

Additional costs

You will undertake work placements during this qualification and will need to budget for these accordingly. You will be expected to pay for your travel expenses to and from your placement and any meals/accommodation. 

Your workload

This full-time programme consists of 120 credits. Courses are either 15 or 30 credits. A 15-credit course equates to 150 hours of work, and a 30-credit course equates to 300 hours of work. This is spread across 32 weeks which works out at an average of 37.5 hours per week.

Programme structure 

To be awarded this qualification,you must successfully complete 120 credits, all compulsory courses, and the specific specialty courses.

Pathway for Graduate Diploma in Social Services (Career Practice) 

Pathway for Graduate Diploma in Social Services (Disability)

*Students who have previously completed the Addictions, Substance Use and Co-Existing Problems course or an equivalent will complete the Level 6, 15-credit Negotiated Study course instead.

Pathway for Graduate Diploma in Social Services (Mental Health) 

*Students who have previously completed the Addictions, Substance Use and Co-Existing Problems course or an equivalent will complete the Level 6, 15-credit Negotiated Study course instead.

You will study and placements

You will focus on gaining knowledge in one area of specialisation. Your chosen area of specialisation is designed to build on the concepts and knowledge developed from your entry qualification e.g. the Bachelor of Social Services (Speciality) to re-focus your learning into a second area of specialisation.

You will develop a sound knowledge base, and have opportunities for applying and integrating that knowledge in the workplace though workplace practice settings. 

You will undertake a placement during which you will work within the scope of an agency from your selected specialist field and gain valuable experience that will increase your employment potential. We appreciate all of the support from the community that enables us to provide quality placements to our students.

This overall programme structure allows you to progressively enhance and deepen your understanding which in turn enables you to gain mastery in professional practice and theory. This ensures that, by the completion of the graduate diploma programme, you are able to incorporate the knowledge and skills gained into an integrated and intentional model of practice in the area of your specialty.

Student loans and allowances

Full-time domestic students of this programme are eligible for student loans and allowances (dependent on age and financial circumstances.) Please contact Studylink for additional information. Phone 0800 88 99 00 or visit: www.studylink.govt.nz

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you already have extensive knowledge and skills gained from practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification in the course of your life. www.capablenz.ac.nz