Community Development

Working with community is often complex, and demands sophisticated skills and ‘artfulness’. Success comes to those who develop a combination of wisdom, high-end knowledge of relationships, considerable diplomacy and tenderness. Often we need to balance a clear head, soft heart, kindness, emotional and social maturity and ethical strength. Although many think that working with community comes naturally there is much to learn, and good practitioners are in great demand.

This major will take you to current examples of community development, introduce you to other people’s ideas about what works, and invite you to grapple with the opportunities and complexities inherent to working with communities. The Community Development major will give you the chance to undertake an internship in a community-based setting, encouraging you to extend your professional repertoire, and build your imagination for how things could be different for communities locally around the globe.

This major is for people seeking to work with community in a range of settings including local government, not-for-profit organisations, Aboriginal Community controlled groups, community arts centres, social service organisations, and the resources sector.

3 reasons to study Community Development at Murdoch

1. During your degree you will have the opportunity to intern with community groups, private organisations, non-government agencies (NGOs), or government departments through our Work Integrated Learning program.
2. Study two majors in three years to graduate with two specialisations, to further expand your expertise and career prospects.
3. #1 in Western Australia for full-time employment, median salary and student support for Humanities, Culture and Social Sciences by the Good Universities Guide 2026.*

What you’ll learn

Build the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career or study goals. In this major you will: 

• Discover creative ways to work with communities, both in Australia and internationally.
• Explore and develop practices central for working with others in community-led projects. 
• Explore topics such as Indigenous community development, overseas aid and international development, action for social policy, and sustainable approaches to urban communities. 

Your future career

With a major in Community Development, you could work in local communities in a range of roles in Australia or overseas. Careers could include:

• Community Project Manager
• Youth Engagement Officer
• Regional Development Coordinator
• International Aid/Development Worker
• Community Development Officer

Previous admission information is available at Murdoch Admission Information - Arts.