Passionate about human rights and have a strong sense of social justice? Deakin's fully accredited Bachelor of Social Work will equip you to enhance the wellbeing of others through an understanding of policy, socioeconomic factors and social equity issues. Social workers are in high demand with job opportunities expected to grow by 23.2% by 2026^. Graduate career-ready with the skills to work effectively with individuals, families and communities to address key factors causing inequality.

With an emphasis on progressive, student-centred teaching practices, you will learn the latest approaches to enable social change and improve the lives of others. You will gain invaluable hands-on experience with 1000 hours of practice education placements in a variety of communities and workplaces in online, metropolitan, regional or rural settings, ensuring you gain multiple perspectives. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may be able to progress onto the embedded honours year.
 

To complete the Bachelor of Social Work students must attain 32 credit points. Units (think of units as 'subjects') may be worth 1, 2, 3 or 4 credit points - check each unit for its credit point value in the course structure below. Most students choose to study 4 credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year.

The course comprises 32 credit points which must include the following:

Pass stream:

• 29 core units (these are compulsory)
• 3 elective units (you can choose which ones to study)

H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours):

• 30 core units including HSW401, HSW402, HSW404, HSW416 and HSW417 (these are compulsory)
• 2 elective units (you can choose which ones to study)

Students must complete two practice education units as part of the core units, each involving a minimum of 500 hours (across at least 65 days) of practicum (field placement) in a social or community service agency or program.

Failure of a practice education placement will normally lead to exclusion.

Inherent requirements

Students should also be aware of the inherent requirements of the course.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Social work is part of a growing human services field, with graduates working across local, state and federal government departments, in private and non-government human services organisations, and in various advocacy, policy making and tribunal capacities.

After completing this course, you will be a sought-after graduate, ready to pursue a rewarding career in social work. You may work in many general and specialist areas of social work such as:

• activism
• advocacy
• child protection
• child and family support
• community development
• consultancy
• counselling
• drug and alcohol counselling
• education
• facilitation
• family therapy
• health
• housing
• policy development and research
• program management and coordination
• refugee assistance and tribunal capacities
• assisting groups such as the aged, women, youth or multicultural populations.

Examples of specific roles you may pursue include:

• careers counsellor
• case manager
• child and family counsellor
• child protection officer
• community development access officer
• community development and education officer
• disability support coordinator
• diversity officer
• drug and alcohol case manager
• family relationship adviser
• mental health coordinator
• school counsellor
• youth projects officer

If you're currently studying Year 12, or completed Year 12 in the last two years, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree: Year 12 prer

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score of 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 25 in any other English
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
• other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)