Become an agent of positive change in diverse communities with UNE's conditionally-accredited Bachelor of Social Work. With an emphasis on social work in rural and complex community environments, our flexibly delivered course will equip you with the practical skills to work with and empower individuals, groups and communities who experience marginalisation, isolation or discrimination.

In our complex world, skilled social workers are valued and in high demand. You'll be choosing a rewarding profession, with the qualifications to work in a range of professional environments.

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Why study the Bachelor of Social Work with UNE?

Social workers address barriers, inequality and injustices faced by many groups, particularly those who are socially excluded. UNE's Bachelor of Social Work is an innovative and flexible social work degree with an emphasis on rural and complex communities. Learn online or on campus with interactive problem-based learning.

Covering the core requirements of an accredited professional social work degree, the course gives you the skills to understand how human behaviour interacts with complex social environments and institutions.

With a shortage of social workers in many countries, your UNE qualification can take you around the world. Our social work degrees are recognised internationally and locally.

What makes our course different?

Our Bachelor of Social Work is delivered flexibly, and we focus on developing both your theoretical and practical skills to fully equip you to work in a broad range of professional contexts. We offer opportunities to:

• Study flexibly —either on campus or online (with on campus intensive schools for some units), Choose the option that suits your lifestyle and learning needs by studying with us — we understand that students come to UNE at different stages of their lives and professional careers.
• Learn theoretical skills, enabling you to future proof your career in diverse areas of social work, including work with Indigenous peoples, child protection, rights-based practice, mental health and the law.
• Learn practical skills by undertaking 1000 hours of professional fieldwork (clinical) placements in diverse social work settings, either locally or internationally.

Our clinical placements are supervised by experienced practitioners who support you in developing the skills needed to work with disadvantaged and marginalised individuals, groups, and communities. Our approach uses a social justice framework in counselling, advocacy, and community development to enhance people's health and wellbeing.

In order to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers, you must complete a minimum of 140 hours (20 days) of face-to-face teaching, even if you are studying online. For most units of the course, this can be achieved by way of the mandatory intensive schools that are held on campus.

Applying for advanced standing for existing professional experience could be an option if you have already completed:

• Diploma (AQF Level 5) or advanced diploma (AQF Level 6) from a Vocational Education Training (VET) Community Services Package
• Vocational Education Training (VET) Health Training Package in one of the following areas, or
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Care, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice, Nursing.

Our honours stream for the Bachelor of Social Work is worth considering to progress your studies, solve complex problems, and to develop your research and analytical thinking skills. Places are offered on academic merit, based on grade point average. Successful completion of the honours stream will equip you with the skills necessary for further postgraduate research, and allow you to demonstrate enhanced discipline knowledge.

UNE is Australia’s longest continuous provider of distance (now online) education and we're highly rated by our students. Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

(a) To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 192 credit points which includes 36 credit points of field work.
(b) To qualify for the award of Honours a candidate must pass units to the value of 192 credit points which includes 36 credit points of field work and 18 credit points Honours units.

Rule A

192 credit points

For candidates admitted under Rule (a)

• Advanced Standing
• Core Units
• Coursework Units
• Listed Units
• Honours Students

Rule B

192 credit points

For candidates admitted under Rule (b)

• Core Units
• Coursework Units
• Listed Units
• Honours Students

See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.

Our social work graduates are in demand in Australia and overseas for rewarding and challenging careers. Choose the direction you want to take, with strong projected future growth in the field.

With its emphasis on skill development and continuing lifelong education, a social work degree from UNE can open doorways to careers in counselling, case management, management, research, policy development, politics and community planning.   

Social workers are employed in a diverse range of government, non-government and community agencies such as:  

• hospitals and community health centres 
• early intervention, child protection programs and family support services 
• schools 
• justice systems 
• housing services 
• mental health 
• disability and aged care services. 

A candidate shall: (a) hold an AQF Level 5 Diploma or an AQF Level 6 Advanced Diploma qualification from: a Vocational Education Training (VET) Community Services Package; or from a Vocation

English is the applicant’s first language; or where the applicant is applying for an undergraduate Social Work course, satisfactory completion of all secondary education that was taught and assessed in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America; or where the applicant is applying for a postgraduate Social Work course, satisfactory completion no more than five years prior to the date of application for admission to UNE, of at least three years of full-time tertiary study at Bachelor degree level or higher that was taught and assessed in English, in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America; or A minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 including a minimum score of 7.0 in each sub-band of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.