Community Worker Program (Accelerated) (C131)

Program Description

Leadership Claims

George Brown College has been preparing Community Workers for more than 40 years.

Program Overview

George Brown College's Community Worker (Accelerated) (C131) is a dynamic, fast-track program designed to prepare you to work with individuals, organizations and communities. You'll lean to work across a range of issues including social justice, poverty, housing, violence, food justice, immigration and settlement in ways that are responsive to their multiple and changing needs. This accelerated program stream is suitable for students with an existing diploma or degree. 

PLEASE NOTE: if you apply to the 2023/24 intake for this program, you will start in May 2024. To begin your studies in May 2023, apply to the 2022/23 academic year.

This is an approved education program by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Graduates of this program may apply to receive the additional designation of RSSW (Registered Social Service Worker). Extra fees may apply.

Full Description

George Brown College's Community Worker (Accelerated) is a dynamic, fast-track program grounded in the principles of and respect for social justice, human rights and anti-oppressive practice.

This fast-track program stream is suitable for students with an existing diploma or degree. 

PLEASE NOTE: if you apply to the 2023/24 intake for this program, you will start in May 2024. To begin your studies in May 2023, apply to the 2022/23 academic year.

Over the course of three semesters, you will learn how to work with urban-centred, diverse communities across a range of issues such as: poverty, housing, food justice, immigration and settlement. You will develop the skills you need to be responsive to their needs as they change and evolve.

If you are passionate about human rights and social justice, committed to working with diverse communities, bring a mature and professional approach to your education and field work and are prepared to take on a full-time course load, this program is for you.

About the Community Worker (Accelerated) Program

This program combines classroom instruction with supervised field placements. Theory, analysis and practice are presented through a variety of innovative instructional tools developed from popular education and learner-centred approaches to teaching and learning. Practical experience gives you the opportunity to apply what you've learned in the classroom in a community setting. 

Highly participatory classes of dialogue, debate, activities, interactive lectures, guest speakers and panels, and group work provide students with program content that that is current, exciting, and critically engaging.

Key Skills Taught in the Community Worker (Accelerated) Program

Throughout the program, students will have the opportunity to develop a variety of important and high-demand skills, including:

  • anti-oppressive practice in working with diverse populations (including immigrant and refugee communities, marginalized populations, and Indigenous peoples)
  • critical analysis, research and writing
  • group facilitation and leadership
  • individual and group counselling
  • conflict mediation and restorative justice
  • community organizing, activism and advocacy
  • community development, project design and proposal writing
  • policy analysis and rights-based advocacy

This Community Worker Program Features:

  • Strong ties with over 350 agencies across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond.
  • Founder and lead organizer of the annual Tommy Douglas Institute, which brings communities, students, educators and activists together to explore higher education and social justice in the twenty-first century.
  • The full-time Community Worker (C101) program has been graduating community workers for more than 40 years.

Community Worker Core Areas of Study:

  • community work theory and practice
  • social and political analysis
  • group skills and counselling
  • field placement and seminar

You will develop relationships with our community partners through field placements, and sector professionals in your classrooms. Community partners play a key role in networking events, guest panels, and teaching many of the program specializations.

Community Worker (Accelerated) Faculty

The experienced educators that make up our faculty bring their passion for education and change to create a highly engaging and dynamic learning environment. Coming from backgrounds in local, national and global activism, they remain connected to social issues and maintain close ties to communities, practitioners, and organizations.

Community Worker (Accelerated) Students

Graduates from other degrees and diploma programs interested in learning more about social justice and community development enroll in this program. The students are a diverse group with broad social and community experiences.

Your Field Education Options

Community Worker students have the opportunity to develop practical skills and gain valuable work experience by completing approximately 400 hours of field placement in the final two semesters of the program.

Through our strong ties to more than 150 field agencies across the GTA and beyond, students can find placements suited to their interests in a variety of settings, from immigration and settlement services to community food centres, multi-service and government agencies.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Attain Additional Designation of Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW)

This is an approved education program by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Graduates of this program can apply and may receive the additional designation of RSSW (Registered Social Service Worker). Extra fees will apply.

This program is proud to continue a long tradition of graduating Community Workers into a range of professions such as:

  • community agencies and neighbourhood hubs
  • government agencies
  • international development agencies
  • shelters and community food centres
  • immigration and settlement services
  • health-care centres and harm reduction agencies
  • rights and advocacy groups (e.g., anti-poverty, settlement services, housing, violence, education, HIV/AIDS community)
  • education and arts organizations

Educational Pathways

Community Worker graduates who successfully complete this program with a high academic standing may qualify for pathways to the following programs:

For further information, see Transfer Guide.

“As someone with previous post-secondary education, enrolling in the Community Worker Fast track program was the best choice I could have made. The programs’ professors are experienced academics and passionate advocates for community work and the diverse professional and educational backgrounds of my classmates created a unique and enhanced educational experience. The title “Community Worker” gives you the freedom and option of tailoring your professional goals at your co-op placement into work that you're passionate about. George Brown has been the best post-secondary experience.”

Taneisha Lawrence
Ontario College Diploma

Visit and discover life in our campus

Book campus tour

Get answers to your questions

Book info session

Sign up to receive tailored resources to make your application, your way.

Sign up and learn more about your options, our programs, and life at George Brown.