Bachelor of Social Work

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Course aims

The Bachelor of Social Work aims to:

Prepare students for professional work as a social worker and social planner in a range of settings (ie local government, state and national government, not for profit, community based environment groups, and private organisations)
Graduate students that have a core body of knowledge, skills, values and methods in social work and social planning in preparation for a range of career opportunities and in their role as global citizens
Graduate students with a sound understanding of the multiple cultural and institutional contexts and challenges of practice
Develop in graduates of this degree, the values and skills for effective relations between people, organisations and professions in public service
Graduate students with knowledge of the colonial history of Australia and its long term effects on Indigenous Australians, especially in relation to social work.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes which the Bachelor of Social Work aims to produce and develop in graduates are:

an understanding of Australian social, political and welfare systems and institutions in a global context
an understanding of Australian social issues, change and challenges in their global and historical context
an understanding of identity, agency and self in culturally diverse contexts
an understanding of dominant and alternative paradigms of international social work and social planning
skills in the ability to analyse complexity and understand the implications for practice
leading edge abilities in a range of methods, techniques and applications of social work and social planning
skills in community participation and engagement in a variety of settings
collaborative skills and abilities to lead integrative social planning practices
high order communication skills (written and oral)
critical independent thinking skills and abilities to apply research to a study of social dilemmas
a sound values and human rights base to practice
a commitment to life learning and reflexive practice
qualities to enable graduates to be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Program of study

To qualify for the degrees of Bachelor of Social Work, a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Except with permission of the Dean (Education) the course must be completed within 10 consecutive years.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University''s policy on Student Progress.

Core - Year 1 topics

Semester 1

POLI1003 An Introduction to Democracy and Government (4.5 units)
SOAD1008 Reasons for Social Work (4.5 units)
SOAD1010 Mental Health and Public Participation (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

SOCI1001 Issues in Sociology (4.5 units)
SOCI1010 Sociology of Everyday Life (4.5 units)

Semester 2

AUST1004 Introduction to Aboriginal Studies (4.5 units)
SOAD1006 Social Planning Theory (4.5 units)
SOAD1009 Critical Thinking and Communication (4.5 units)
SOAD1013 Practice with Individuals (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

Semester 1

SOAD2002  Human Social Development (4.5 units)
SOAD2006  Community Development (4.5 units)
SOAD2007  Social Policy Practice (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

POLI2020 Australian Indigenous Politics (4.5 units)
WMST2016 Indigenous Women''s Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism (4.5 units)

Semester 2

GEOG1002 Human Geography: Geographies of Oppression (4.5 units)
SOAD2003 Social Work with Groups (4.5 units)
SOAD2010 Social Work with Diverse Populations (4.5 units)
SOAD2011 Social Work and Reflective Practice (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

Semester 1

SOAD3102 Field Education 1 (13.5 units)
SOAD3013 Children & Families: Well-being and Protection (4.5 units)

Semester 2

SOAD3006 Practice Research (4.5 units)
SOAD3016 Understanding Addictions (4.5 units)
SOAD3017 Identity, Self and Agency (4.5 units)

Option - Year 3 topics

Plus 4.5 units of topics from the following:

SOAD3008 Loss and Grief in Social Work Practice (4.5 units)
SOAD7031 Research Principles and Practices (4.5 units)*

*Students interested in taking honours in the future must select SOAD7031 Research Principles and Practices noting enrolment in the honours program may only be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the College being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.

Core - Year 4 topics

Semester 1

SOAD4001 Human Rights Based Social Work Practice (4.5 units)
SOAD4008 Ethical Issues and Critical Reflexivity (4.5 units)
SOAD4011 Mental Health Across the Lifecourse (4.5 units)

Plus one option topic

Semester 2

SOAD4002 Complexities of Contemporary Social Work Practice (4.5 units)
SOAD4007 Field Education 2 (13.5 units)

Option - Year 4 topics

Select one of the following topics:

AUST2612 Reconciliation and Indigenous Knowledges (4.5 units)
POLI2020 Australian Indigenous Politics (4.5 units)
POLI2025 The Politics of the Australian Welfare State (4.5 units)
SOAD4223 Global Child Welfare (4.5 units)
SOAD4224 Interventions with Children and Young People (4.5 units)
WMST2016 Indigenous Women''s Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism (4.5 units)
WMST3009 Sexualities: Perspectives, Pleasures, Politics (4.5 units)

Honours Fourth Year Program

Honours - Year 4 topics

Students undertake 13.5 units of thesis topics:

SOAD7012A Social Work Honours Thesis (4.5 units) AND
SOAD7012B Social Work Honours Thesis (4.5 units) AND
SOAD7012C Social Work Honours Thesis (4.5 units)

and 22.5 units of core topics:

SOAD4001 Human Rights Based Social Work Practice (4.5 units)
SOAD4007 Field Education 2 (13.5 units)
SOAD4008 Ethical Issues and Critical Reflexivity (4.5 units)