Program Overview
Social workers are committed to equality, human rights and social change. They work with individuals, groups and communities to address barriers that impact people’s quality of life, promote positive relationships, and advocate for human rights and social change at the societal, individual, policy and legislative levels.
This course gives you the skills you need to work in these areas. You will study in-depth human behaviour and complex social processes; and draw on knowledge from a range of disciplines including sociology, psychology, politics, philosophy, health and economics, to learn how people engage with one another, their communities and society.
You will develop the skills and values necessary to counsel individuals and groups, and to work competently with children, young people, adults, the elderly and people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Two supervised fieldwork placements (totalling 1,050 hours over four years) allow you to apply your learning in work environments and develop your professional identity.
What jobs can the Bachelor of Social Work lead to?
Careers
Community cultural development officer
Community liaison officer
Community support worker
Mental health worker
Outreach worker
Social worker
Welfare case worker.
Industries
Advocacy and legal support
Community corrections and juvenile justice
Disability and rehabilitation
International development and assistance
Services for the ageing
Services for migrants and refugees
Working with Indigenous communities.
What you'll learn
develop, integrate and apply social work values, knowledge, principles of social work; provide assessment and intervention appropriate to practice context
to critically and reflectively analyse issues; generate creative and sustainable solutions across a diversity of contexts
locate, evaluate and synthesise information from a range of sources, in enacting in social work practice
communicate effectively using a variety of media relevant to the audience and in keeping with ethical principles
use appropriate technologies to locate and evaluate information, undertake research, and communicate within and beyond the discipline of Social Work
sustain intellectual curiosity by using a range of learning strategies, including professional supervision
demonstrate knowledge of the interrelationship between local and global issues, considering multiple perspectives; apply national and international professional standards
value and respect the knowledge of Indigenous Australians; demonstrate cultural competencies and inclusive practices; demonstrate commitment to social justice including human rights
work effectively and creatively within a variety of practice settings; provide accountable and responsive leadership; demonstrate professional behaviour consistent with social work values, principles, ethics and practice standards