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Course snapshot
Domestic snapshot
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Start Date
-
Duration
4 years full-time; 8 years part-time
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Location
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Placements
NA
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ATAR
60
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Inherent Requirements
NA
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Entry Requirements
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Course abbreviation
BSW
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Course code
3007316
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Credit points
384
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Equivalent units
32
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Indicative Fee
Overview
The Bachelor of Social Work is an entry-level, professionally-accredited qualification to practise as a social worker. The course provides a foundation in sociology, politics, human development and social research, covering essential theories and methods for social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities.
The course prepares students for practice in the fields of mental health, child protection, cross-cultural work and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There is an embedded Honours program if you are interested in pursuing research.
This high job growth area offers a variety of careers in client service roles, service management, research, strategy and policy development.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
Apply social work values, knowledge and skills in practice and research processes to address client needs, organisational goals and social policy change. Honours pathway: Be able to create research outputs that demonstrate research design skills, critical thinking, initiative and judgement in developing new understanding. |
Ensure that clients’ needs are addressed holistically and creatively, drawing on relevant theory, research and practice wisdom. |
Promote and implement policies and practices to achieve a fair, equitable and efficient allocation of social resources, and identify inappropriate or inequitable policy goals and outcomes. |
Ensure that client needs, organisational goals and community expectations of social work services are met in the most appropriate manner, using social work knowledge, skills and resources. |
Demonstrate a commitment to continually increase professional knowledge and skills and to continuing education and lifelong learning. |
Effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders , including clients, colleagues and managers including within a multi-disciplinary team environment |
Apply knowledge of organisational and societal systems and processes to identify inequality and ensure appropriate action is taken so that social barriers, inequality and injustice are reduced. |
You complete 1,000 hours of supervised placement in a human service organisation as part of your course. Please note you must obtain a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check.
Core units cover sociology, Indigenous world-views, counselling theory and practice, community development introductory, case management and care planning, social research, trauma informed practice, mental health, issues of protection and legal contexts, combined with a significant work placement component.
Students may investigate an area of interest through a choice of four elective units as part of their studies.
| Location | Teaching period | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Session 1, Session 2 | N/A | N/A |
| Online | Session 1, Session 2 | N/A | N/A |
Career Outcomes
This is an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited qualification. It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards. As a new course in 2021, it has provisional accreditation.
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.
Course requirements
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Social Work, students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:
- the equivalent of 26 core units (336 credit points), and
- one shared minor (48 credit points), or
- 4 electives (48 credit points)
Honours
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:
- 23 core units (288 credit points), and
- the equivalent of 8 honours units (96 credit points)
Students must also maintain a credit average across the degree to be eligible for this award.
Exit awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Human Services Studies after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points) comprising a minimum of 12 core units (144 credit points) and 4 minor or elective units (48 credit points).
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Human Services Studies after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising a minimum of 4 core units (48 credit points) and 4 minor or elective units (48 credit points).
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 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 Session 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| POLT1001 | Australian Politics |
Session1,3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI1001 | Introduction to Sociology |
Session1,3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG1001 | Indigenous World-Views |
Session1,2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change |
Session1,2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 1 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1001 | Introduction to Social Welfare |
Session2,3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1003 | Counselling Theory and Practice |
Session2,3
|
Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1002 | Community Development |
Session2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI1005 | Social Policy |
Session2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 2 Session 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSYC2004 | Development across the Lifespan |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2005 | Case Management and Care Planning |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2001 | Social Work Practice I - Building Relationships | Not currently available |
Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI2006 | Doing Social Research |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 2 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2003 | Trauma Informed Practice |
Session2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG2001 | Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples |
Session1,2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2002 | Social Work Practice II - Teams and Groups | Not currently available |
Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3001 | Social Work Practice III - Mental Health | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
Year 2 Session 3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2003 | Social Work Placement Ia | Not currently available |
Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
Year 3 Session 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3002 | Social Work Practice IV - Organisational Practice | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2004 | Social Work Placement Ib | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
Year 3 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3003 | Social Work Practice V - Policy and Community Activism | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3004 | Social Work Practice VI - Advanced Practice Methods | Not currently available |
Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 4 Session 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3002 | Issues of Protection |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3005 | Social Work Practice VII - Social Work in Legal Contexts | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3003 | Disability and Community Practice |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 4 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3006 | Social Work Placement IIa | Not currently available |
Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
Year 4 Session 3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3007 | Social Work Placement IIb | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1001 | Introduction to Social Welfare |
Session2,3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1003 | Counselling Theory and Practice |
Session2,3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF1002 | Community Development |
Session2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI1005 | Social Policy |
Session2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 1 Session 3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| POLT1001 | Australian Politics |
Session1,3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI1001 | Introduction to Sociology |
Session1,3
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 2 Session 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change |
Session1,2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2005 | Case Management and Care Planning |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2001 | Social Work Practice I - Building Relationships | Not currently available |
Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SOCI2006 | Doing Social Research |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 2 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2003 | Trauma Informed Practice |
Session2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG1001 | Indigenous World-Views |
Session1,2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2002 | Social Work Practice II - Teams and Groups | Not currently available |
Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3001 | Social Work Practice III - Mental Health | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
Year 2 Session 3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2003 | Social Work Placement Ia | Not currently available |
Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year 3 Session 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3002 | Social Work Practice IV - Organisational Practice | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2004 | Social Work Placement Ib | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 3 Session 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3003 | Social Work Practice V - Policy and Community Activism | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3004 | Social Work Practice VI - Advanced Practice Methods | Not currently available |
Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 3 Session 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSYC2004 | Development across the Lifespan |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 4 Session 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3005 | Social Work Practice VII - Social Work in Legal Contexts | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3003 | Disability and Community Practice |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3002 | Issues of Protection |
Session1
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 4 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| INDG2001 | Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples |
Session1,2
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year 4 Session 3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3006 | Social Work Placement IIa | Not currently available |
Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year 5 Session 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3007 | Social Work Placement IIb | Not currently available |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Notes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 3 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||
| SWRK3003 | Social Work Practice V - Policy and Community Activism | Not currently available |
||||||||||||
| SWRK3004 | Social Work Practice VI - Advanced Practice Methods | Not currently available |
Note 2 | |||||||||||
| COMM4001 | Research Methods for Arts and Social Sciences |
Session1
|
Note 1 | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Year 4 Session 1 |
||||||||||||||
| SWRK4001 | Social Work Honours Thesis I | Not currently available |
Note 1 | |||||||||||
| WELF3002 | Issues of Protection |
Session1
|
||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| SWRK3005 | Social Work Practice VII - Social Work in Legal Contexts | Not currently available |
||||||||||||
Year 4 Session 2 |
||||||||||||||
| SWRK4002 | Social Work Honours Thesis II | Not currently available |
||||||||||||
| SWRK3008 | Social Work Honours Placement IIa | Not currently available |
Note 1 | |||||||||||
Year 4 Session 3 |
||||||||||||||
| SWRK3009 | Social Work Honours Placement IIb | Not currently available |
||||||||||||
Note 1:
Double-weighted unit
Note 2:
Residential School
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Students can complete: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Students may choose the Honours option if a credit average across the degree has been maintained, or else complete the following units: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AND | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| one Shared Minor OR 4 Electives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| the embedded Honours option: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||