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Course snapshot
Domestic snapshot
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Start Date
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Duration
3 years full-time; 6 years part-time
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Location
View in availability
Online students attend one compulsory three-day residential school on campus (face-to-face). -
Placements
Yes
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ATAR
60
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Inherent Requirements
Yes
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Language Requirements
IELTS Overall Score 6.5
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Entry Requirements
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Course abbreviation
BComWelf
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Course code
3007268
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Credit points
288
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Equivalent units
24
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Indicative Fee
Overview
The Bachelor of Community Welfare provides you with the theoretical and practical foundations for work in the community welfare and human services sectors. You will gain skills in case management, community development, counselling, social research, advocacy and organisational practice.
Throughout the course, particular emphasis is placed on social justice, human rights and collaboration as the basis for contemporary community welfare practice. We'll harness your empathy and enhance your communication skills with a view to delivering great outcomes across diverse areas of community welfare practice.
Core units focus on the contemporary context of social welfare, counselling, case management, community development, mental health, trauma-informed practice, Indigenous world-views, child protection and out of home care, youth work, disability and research. Elective units also provide opportunity for you to pursue other areas of interest. You will also gain on-the-job experience through extensive placements, working with individuals and organisations that share your commitment and are working to improve people's lives.
The course articulates with a range of VET awards and is a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) which will enable you to qualify as a social worker.
Please note: All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 3 days/21 hours over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA). On-campus enrolled students meet this minimum requirement by participating in one unit with compulsory attendance. Online students meet this requirement by attending a compulsory residential school conducted at the Gold Coast campus.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
GA1: Intellectual rigour Understand the social, cultural, economic and political contexts of social welfare practice and the implications of these for working with clients, workers and community services. |
GA2: Creativity Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programs, projects and other activities with clients, which may include individuals, families, groups or communities. |
GA3: Ethical practice Practise social welfare in an ethical manner, in accordance with the values and ethics of the profession. |
GA4: Knowledge of a discipline Use one's own skills and knowledge appropriately and reflectively with clients, colleagues, employers and the wider community. |
GA5: Lifelong learning Become reflective practitioners and lifelong learners. |
GA6: Communication and social skills Communicate with a broad spectrum of people and organisations using appropriate techniques and media organisations. Plan, organise and carry out work autonomously and as part of a team. |
GA7: Cultural competence Communicate constructively in a manner that is respectful of the diverse cultures in which we work and live. |
In line with ACWA requirements, you will complete 400 hours of supervised on-the-job training. This is completed in two separate organisations in different fields of practice so that you gain a diversity of experience.
Placements may include working across a variety of client groups, such as older people, or young people and families at the individual, group, organisational or community level of practice. You may undertake placements in social welfare settings such as child protection, drugs and alcohol, criminal justice, community education, housing, emergency relief, family interventions and domestic violence.
All students must obtain a National Police Check and Working with Children Check and most agencies require students to have a driver's licence.
| Location | Teaching period | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Term 1 , Term 3 | N/A | N/A |
| Online | Term 1 , Term 3 | N/A | N/A |
Career Outcomes
The course is accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA). Graduates are eligible to join ACWA.
Requirements
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.
Entry requirements
Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds who have less than 2 years of high school education in Australia or other English speaking country must be able to demonstrate proficiency of English with an IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 across each of the bands of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Language requirements
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 6.5 |
| Reading | 6.0 |
| Writing | 6.0 |
| Listening | 6.0 |
| Speaking | 6.0 |
Course requirements
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Community Welfare, students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising:
- 20 core units (240 credit points), and
- 4 university wide elective units (48 credit points)
Professional Experience Learning / Field Education
This course includes professional experience learning via field education. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health Professional Experience Field Education page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Community Welfare after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points) as specified in the Associate Degree of Community Welfare structure.
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Human Services Studies after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points) as specified in the Diploma of Human Services Studies.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Equity and Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Equity and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.
Course structure
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
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First Year |
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| SOCI1001 | Introduction to Sociology |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| POLT1001 | Australian Politics |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change |
Term2,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG1001 | Indigenous World-Views |
Term2,4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1001 | Introduction to Social Welfare |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI1005 | Social Policy |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1002 | Community Development |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1003 | Counselling Theory and Practice |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Second Year |
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| WELF2005 | Case Management and Care Planning |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2001 | Field Education I |
Dual Term2,3
|
24 | Note 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI2006 | Doing Social Research |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2003 | Trauma Informed Practice |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2002 | Youth Work |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||
Third Year |
||||||||||||||||||||
| It is possible to accelerate your studies if you intend to complete the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) after successful completion of the Bachelor of Community Welfare. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3005 | Planning and Delivering Human Services |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3004 | Mental Health |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3003 | Disability and Community Practice |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective
|
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| WELF3002 | Issues of Protection |
Term2,3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3001 | Field Education II |
Dual Term2,3
|
24 | Note 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Note 1:
# double weighted unit
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Core Units |
|||||
| POLT1001 | Australian Politics | ||||
| SOCI1001 | Introduction to Sociology | ||||
| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change | ||||
| INDG1001 | Indigenous World-Views | ||||
| WELF1001 | Introduction to Social Welfare | ||||
| WELF1002 | Community Development | ||||
| WELF1003 | Counselling Theory and Practice | ||||
| SOCI1005 | Social Policy | ||||
| WELF2001 | Field Education I | Note 1 | |||
| SOCI2006 | Doing Social Research | ||||
| WELF2005 | Case Management and Care Planning | ||||
| WELF2003 | Trauma Informed Practice | ||||
| WELF2002 | Youth Work | ||||
| WELF3002 | Issues of Protection | ||||
| WELF3003 | Disability and Community Practice | ||||
| WELF3005 | Planning and Delivering Human Services | ||||
| WELF3004 | Mental Health | ||||
| WELF3001 | Field Education II | Note 1 | |||
| And four (4) University Wide Electives. | |||||