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A career change for community good

A career change for community good

Nov 20 2025
A male student wearing a light blue shirt, cream jumper and a blue lanyard sitting in a meeting room with their hands clasped on the table in front of them.
After a long career in engineering, Quang is shifting his career to focus on work that reflects his values and gives back to the community.

After over 20 years working as an engineer, including more than two decades with the Department of Defence, Quang felt it was time to take his career in a new direction. He wanted to do work that aligned more closely with his personal values and gave back to the community that had supported him. 

That decision led him to enrol in the Diploma of Community Services CHC52021 at Melbourne Polytechnic, a Free TAFE course designed to equip students with practical skills and experience to support individuals and communities. 

It was during his daily walk to work through the Melbourne CBD that Quang began to notice just how many people were sleeping rough. The experience stayed with him. 

“I thought to myself, there must be something we can do about it. There must be something I can do about it,” he said. 

When researching where to study, he explored a few different training providers before choosing Melbourne Polytechnic. He was drawn to the depth of the course and its strong industry connection. 

“I looked at a few providers, RMIT, Holmesglen, Swinburne and then Melbourne Polytechnic. I chose Melbourne Polytechnic because of the number of hours required for placement – 400 hours. It's important because a textbook can't give you everything. The more you’re exposed to the industry, the better,” he said. 

The course has challenged Quang to think differently. With a background in technical problem-solving, he found that working with people required a whole new approach. 

“With engineering, there's always a defined solution. A human problem is not like that. The challenge is harder, more integrated and more complex. The teachers introduced me to ideas about different cohorts and the diversity of problems in the community. They helped me think about how to solve them.” 

During his placement with the Salvation Army, Quang was offered a job after just two weeks. He’s now working on a local community initiative and has been invited to contribute to a statewide project focused on improving collaboration between service providers. 

The Diploma of Community Services CHC52021 is part of the Victorian Government’s Free TAFE Priority Pathways, which means eligible students can complete the course tuition-free. With more than 400 hours of placement and strong industry connections, students graduate job-ready and confident. 

Quang’s story shows that it’s never too late to change direction and find purpose through work. With a mix of practical learning, passionate teaching and the support of a connected student community, he has made a meaningful shift from technical expertise to social impact. 

If you’re ready to build a meaningful, community-focused career, Melbourne Polytechnic can help you take the next step. Find out more about studying Community Services and apply today.