Program Overview

Overview of the Bachelor of Community Welfare

The Bachelor of Community Welfare provides students with the theoretical and practical foundations for work in the community welfare and human services sectors. This course focuses on social justice, human rights, and collaboration as the basis for contemporary community welfare practice. Students will gain skills in case management, community development, counselling, social research, advocacy, and organisational practice.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of this course will have opportunities to use their transferable skills in community welfare and human services careers, including government and non-government positions in fields such as:

• Child protection
• Disability
• Homelessness and housing
• Youth work
• Aged care
• Alcohol and other drugs
• Community work
• Mental health
• Domestic violence

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)
• 4 university-wide elective units (48 credit points)

Course Structure

The course includes work-integrated learning, with pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements. All work-integrated learning hours must be completed, and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

Core Units

The core units focus on the contemporary context of social welfare, counselling, case management, community development, mental health, trauma-informed practice, Indigenous worldviews, child protection, and out-of-home care, youth work, disability, and research.

Elective Units

Elective units provide opportunities for students to pursue other areas of interest.

Placements, Work Experience, and Study Hours

In line with Community Work Australia requirements, students will complete 400 hours of supervised Work Integrated Learning (WIL). This is completed in two separate organisations in different fields of practice, providing students with diverse experiences. Placements may include working across various client groups, such as older people or young people and families, at the individual, group, organisational, or community level of practice.

Availability and Fees

• Location: Gold Coast, Online
• Teaching period: Term 1, Term 3
• Annual Fees: $26,000 ($3,250 per unit)
• Tuition fees are in Australian dollars and are subject to change, including annual increases over the duration of the course.

Career Outcomes and Professional Accreditation

The course is accredited by Community Work Australia, and graduates are eligible to join Community Work Australia. Graduates will be able to pursue a wide range of careers in the human services and community welfare sectors throughout Australia.

Entry Requirements

Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds who have less than 2 years of high school education in Australia or another English-speaking country must demonstrate proficiency in 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.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points) and meet the inherent requirements as defined on the Student Equity and Inclusion website. If a student has a disability or health condition that may impact their ability to meet these requirements, they should refer to the Student Equity and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.

Why Study Community Welfare at Southern Cross University?

• Graduate job-ready with a substantial professional placement that builds invaluable on-the-job experience.
• Southern Cross University is ranked in the global top 400 universities for Social Sciences (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025).
• Guaranteed entry with a Diploma of Health, with successful completion of the diploma guaranteeing entry and eight units of credit towards a linked Bachelor degree.