Diploma of Justice

Study at Swinburne > Courses > Find a course > Diploma of Justice

National code: 22594VIC Diploma (TAFE) Hawthorn Send me a link to this course

Are you looking for a role in the justice environment? The Diploma of Justice invites students to take the first step in their criminal justice careers in a supported, hands-on environment. This course is designed to support entry level employment into the criminal justice sector. You will learn the theory and practice behind operational functions within the Victorian justice system, including foundation legal principles, law enforcement, management of adult offenders, corrections and court services and how to work within family violence and culturally diverse circumstances. At the end of the course, students will have the confidence to begin their careers in the justice sector.

This course is also offered in an Online mode please view here.

Duration

1 year full-time

Intakes

Hawthorn (February, July) - View application and start dates

Study mode

Full-time

VTAC course code

3400211324 (on-campus delivery only)
Diploma of Justice

This course allows you to pathway to another qualification.

This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.

Course information in detail

- Course detail, course structure and units of study.

Course description

The Diploma of Justice invites students to take the first step in their criminal justice careers in a supported, hands-on environment.

You’ll learn the theory and practice behind operational functions within the Victorian criminal justice system – covering areas such as foundation legal principles, management of adult offenders, how to work within family violence and culturally diverse circumstances, and more.

At the end of the course, students will have the confidence to begin their careers in the justice system.

The course will be taught at the Hawthorn campus. Students are required to attend timetabled classes.

Course structure

The full time course consists of 12 units; 10 core and two electives.

The full time course is taught on campus over 12 months with 4 terms of eight weeks.

Full time students typically have 16 hours of timetabled classes a week over three days for one year.

Classes are timetabled from 8.30am. Students need to undertake an average of 6 hours further study a week outside of timetabled classes.

The electives have been chosen in consultation with local industry to meet the work outcomes of justice workplaces.

Units of study

Core units

Apply foundation legal principles (VU23166)

Apply writing and presentation skills within a justice environment (VU23168)

Support the ethics and values of working within a justice environment (VU23169)

Apply self-management and workplace health and safety (WHS) strategies in the justice environment (VU23174)

Work with conflict resolution and mediation processes within justice environments (VU23173)

Support cultural diversity in justice environments (VU23172)

Prepare to work within the criminal justice system (VU23167)

Support cultural safety for First Nations people within a justice environment (VU23175)

Prepare to work with family violence contexts within justice environments (VU23171)

Apply criminal law within justice environments (VU23170)

Elective units

Support the management of adult offenders within the Victorian correctional framework (VU23176)

Identify and support children and young people at risk (VU23177)

Careers and graduate outcomes

- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.

Career opportunities

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may find employment in areas that include:

Case management
Claims
Client support work
Community-based corrections case-management
Compliance
Courts registrar
Governance
Investigation
Local government traffic and local law implementation
Local government work
Loss prevention work
Parole work
Police and law enforcement
Police Custody
Prison officer and custodial positions
Youth Justice

Aims and objectives

This course will guide students to develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary for a successful career in the Victorian criminal justice system starting at or above an entry level position.

Graduate skills

Graduates of the Diploma of Justice are trained to meet current and future industry requirements and will be able to effectively apply the operational functions, principles, and practices of the Victorian criminal justice system across a variety of justice environments.

At this level, students will have gained technical and theoretical knowledge in both specific areas and broad fields – allowing them to feel confident in applying the knowledge of justice principles, practices, processes, and strategies.

Pathways and scholarships

- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.

Scholarships

At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. Find out more about scholarships.

Pathways

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides advanced standing to the second.

Successful completion of Diploma of Justice allows you to progress to these courses	Maximum amount of credit available
Bachelor of Arts	8 units
Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology	8 units
Bachelor of Psychological Sciences	8 units

This information should be used as a guide for those who have completed a course and are seeking credit into another course. For those yet to commence their course, during the time taken to complete, this information may change. Credit available may vary depending on the major selected within any given degree. Progression to professional degrees may be subject to additional criteria or academic performance.

Learn more about pathways.

Credit

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about credit.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about RPL.

Course fees and requirements

- Entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.

Course fees

A VET Student Loan is available for this course – allowing you to defer part of your fees if you're eligible.

The maximum VET Student Loan amount for this course is $11,191. You must start repaying this loan once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold.

Diploma of Justice Estimated course fees for 2023*
*You will need to pay this amount if you do not* receive a VET Student Loan**	$10,210	$4,200	Yes
You will need to pay this amount if you do receive a VET Student Loan	Fully Covered	Fully Covered	Yes

Estimated course fees for 2023*

For students who are not granted a Skills First government-subsidised place

For students who are granted a Skills First government-subsidised place

Is this a Free TAFE course?

You will need to pay this amount if you do not receive a VET Student Loan

$10,210

$4,200

Yes

You will need to pay this amount if you do receive a VET Student Loan

Fully Covered

Yes

Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. There may be additional costs related to learning material and equipment.

Free TAFE Government-subsidised place
You could have your tuition fees covered thanks to the Victorian Government's Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

Skills First Government-subsidised place
You could be granted a Skills First government-subsidised place when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.

Concession rates for vocational students
Concession rates for Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs are also available if you self-identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and qualify for a government-subsidised training place under the Indigenous Completions Initiative.

The eligibility criteria are set by the Victorian Government and assessed by Swinburne in accordance with government directives, which are subject to change at any time.

Find out if you’re eligible for a fee concession here.

Full course fee
If you are not granted a government subsidised place, the full course fee will apply. Check your eligibility now.

Indicative nominal course hours: 660.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Applicants for the Diploma of Justice (22594VIC) are expected to:

have a demonstrated capacity in learning, reading, writing, oracy to Level 4 and numeracy to Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) as they are required to work independently and use support from a range of unfamiliar and/or unpredictable resources; read complex text with specialised vocabulary; embed information in a justice context; and conduct complex analysis, which includes extracting, extrapolating and reflecting on information.

Applicants will be required to complete literacy and numeracy testing (BKSB) as part of the application process.

Applicants must be able to use a personal computer, including basic word processing, spreadsheet, and electronic communication platforms and internet search engines.

Technical requirements

Students need a headphone/microphone and camera through a computer connected to the internet to use 'Collaborate Ultra ' within the CANVAS learning management platform if classes are temporarily delivered online because of COVID-19. Applicants must be over 18 years old when the course commences.

How to apply

Applications for Semester 1 for courses listed on the VTAC Guide are generally made through VTAC. Under certain circumstances, some students (e.g. Non-Year 12) may apply directly to Swinburne. Find out more about how to apply.

Applications for all other intakes should be made directly to Swinburne.

Find out more

Submit an online enquiry
Tel: 1300 SWINBURNE
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au

Training Organisation Identifier (TOID): 3059