Raw, real, and life-changing learning

That’s what sets TAFE Queensland’s Community Services Intensive Skills Workshops (ISW) apart. This transformative three-day experience immerses students in the heart of the sector, bringing them face-to-face with the realities of mental health support, youth work, child protection, disability services, family & domestic violence support and housing and homelessness assistance.

Sharon Munn, TAFE Queensland Educational Team Leader, sees the ISW as more than just a learning opportunity—it’s a turning point.

“The Intensive Skills Workshops are designed to give students more than knowledge; they offer understanding. They connect students to real experiences, real professionals, and real people in need. That’s what makes them so powerful,” said Ms Munn.

“Students consistently tell us these workshops change them. They walk in with uncertainty and walk out with confidence, connections, and a deepened sense of purpose. That’s what makes ISW so unique," she said. 

Held twice a year at the Southport campus on the Gold Coast, the ISW is a chance for students—many of whom study online—to step out from behind a screen and into the real world of community services. They don’t just learn about trauma; they hear firsthand from those who’ve survived it.

Ms Munn said the program is a bridge between knowledge and practise, offering the kind of learning that sticks with you long after the textbooks are closed.

“Unlike other training providers, TAFE Queensland goes beyond standard coursework. There are no assessments—just raw, hands-on learning designed to prepare students for the tough but rewarding work ahead,” she said.

Workshops tackle urgent social issues, including homelessness, domestic violence, trauma, and family law. Students gain insight into working with diverse communities, from LGBTQIA+ individuals to Indigenous Australians, and learn practical skills such as supporting people with disabilities and navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Ms Munn said one of the most impactful moments of the ISW is the Placement Service Provider sessions.

“In these sessions, students don’t just hear about vocational placement opportunities—they shake hands with future employers, explore placement options, and take their first real steps toward their careers,” she said.

“Many leave the workshops not only inspired but with direct connections to professionals who can help shape their futures.”

For many, Intensive Skills Workshop sessions are the first time they truly see themselves as community service professionals. It’s the moment they realise the work they’ve dreamed of isn’t just possible—it’s happening, right now, all around them.