The Bachelor of Social Work aims to produce social work graduates who will be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). In your pursuit of social justice, you will acquire values, knowledge and skills relevant to diverse social environments where you will be able to advocate for and support people who are vulnerable. You will utilise approaches such as case management, social group work and family work, community and social development. You will learn strategies focused on change for the individual, family, organisation and community. With knowledge of these approaches and strategies, social workers can occupy many diverse roles aimed at enhancing the well-being of people in society.
A social work qualification provides a wide range of employment opportunities across diverse fields of practice. Many of these will involve social workers assisting client groups to achieve social inclusion, supporting people to achieve a better quality of life and facilitate individual and community well-being. Graduates have the opportunity to practice in a large number of human services across every state and territory as well as in many overseas countries. The most prominent sectors in which social workers are found are in health, government administration, child protection, youth justice, prisons, disability, aged care, mental health, and working with people from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. Social workers are employed at federal, state and local levels of government. Non-government agencies in the community sector are also large employers of social work graduates where the work can include counselling, case-management, early intervention strategies with families at risk, advocacy, mediation and community development. Agencies include Relationships Australia, Anglicare, Baptist Care, Red Cross, Women's Health and many others. A growing trend for social workers with several years experience is moving into private practice focusing on the mental health issues experienced by their clients.
Duration | 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 192 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BSocWk |
AQF Level | Level 7: Bachelor Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
The COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory to be eligible to attend a WIL placement for this course. Students will be required to provide evidence of having completed a COVID-19 vaccination schedule by the closing date prior to a WIL placement. The vaccine received must be a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.
Rank Threshold | SR 62 | ATAR 62 |
English (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent
English Language Proficiency Requirements
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:
English test results remain valid for no ore than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
All field education contexts will require relevant state based working with children clearances. State based criminal background checks and Federal police checks are required. Where issues emerge with these checks the Head of Course will implement a formal process of internal and/or external ethical consideration.
Some field education contexts require evidence of Hepatitis B immunity.
Studies of Society
Community work
Information Technology literacy/
Interim Awards | CG83 - Bachelor of Human Services CG82 - Associate Degree of Human Services |
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Exit Awards | CG83 - Bachelor of Human Services CG82 - Associate Degree of Human Services |
Professional Accreditation |
This course will be accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers. CQU received full accreditation of the BSW(Hons) in 2018. In discussion with the Education Manager of the Australian Association of Social Workers there will be no need for a further accreditation process of this course until 2022 as the development of this course is a recommendation of the AASW Accreditation Panel in their 2018 report. |
Learned Society Accreditation | Not applicable |
Compulsory Residential School | Students are required to attend a minimum of 20 days residential school attendance throughout the course. There are compulsory three and five day residential schools attached to the following units in line with AASW accreditation requirements: 1st year residential program: SOWK11014 Contemporary Human Services (3 days) SOWK11015 Professional Communication in Human Services (3 days) 2nd year residential program: SOWK12009 Casework & Case Management (3 days) SOWK12011 Social Group Work & Family Work (3 days) 3rd year residential program: SOWK13010 Integrating Theory & Practice 1 (5 days) SOWK13011 Community Practice ( 3 days) 4th year residential program: SOWK14005 Advanced Professional Communication Skills (3 days) SOWK14010 Integrating Theory and Practice 2 (3 days) |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
SOWK13009 - This is the first work integrated learning placement. It is a 13 week placement (440 hours) . The placement occurs in an agency approved by the University Field Education Coordinators and with the supervision by a qualified social worker. Field education may be organised in international, metropolitan, urban, regional, rural and remote areas. Students must complete all units in accordance with pre-requisites, and undertake a successful interview with the Field Education Coordinator to determine placement readiness. Students must meet the inherent requirements for the course and successfully complete all necessary administrative/screening and legal obligations to undertake placement in organisational settings. |
SOWK14009 - Field Education 2 (SOWK 14009) is 16 weeks duration (560 hours). The placement occurs in an agency approved by the University Field Education Coordinators and with the supervision by a qualified social worker. Field education may be organised in international, metropolitan, urban, regional, rural and remote areas. Students must complete all units in accordance with pre-requisites, and undertake a successful interview with the Field Education Coordinator to determine placement readiness. Students must meet the inherent requirements for the course and successfully complete all necessary administrative/screening and legal obligations to undertake placement in organisational settings. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2022 | 223 |
2021 | 181 |
2020 | 93 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | ||||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | ||||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | ||||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | ||||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | ||||||||
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||||||
KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology | ||||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | ||||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 28 | Total credit points: 192 |
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Field Education placements are compulsory in Year 3 and 4 of the course and are available in fixed terms. Field Education 1 (SOWK 13009), a third year unit is offered in Term 1 of third year and normally begins in the first week of March and is 13 to 14 weeks duration (440 hours). Field Education 2 (SOWK 14009), a fourth year unit is offered in Term 2 and normally begins in July and is 16 weeks duration (560 hours) starting generally in the first week of July.
Both placements occur in an agency approved by the University. All field education experiences must be supervised either on site or externally by a qualified social worker with at least two years' graduate experience who is eligible for membership with the AASW. Field Education may be organised in international, metropolitan, urban, regional, rural and remote areas. You must complete the inherent requirements for the course and successfully complete all necessary administrative, screening and legal obligations to undertake placement in organisational settings. Once enrolled in any social work unit you will have direct access to detailed information about all of these requirements at Social Work Central, a Moodle on-line space.
COMPONENT Year 1 Term 1 Add elective unit (6 credit points) from across the University. Level 1 elective units students can choose from include:
ENVH11001 Health and Environment
HRMT11010 Organisational Behaviour
HRMT11011 Human Resource Management
MGMT11019 Introduction to Business
SCIE11018 Introduction to Forensic Science
SOCL11059 Introduction to Social Change
NB selection of this unit will determine which advanced level electives can be undertaken in the final year of the course as it will form the pre-requisite for that field of study.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
SOWK11015 | Professional Communication in Human Services | |
SOCL11055 | Sociology of Australian Society | |
SOWK11017 | Scope of Social Work Practice in Australia |
Year 1 Term 2
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PSYC11009 | Fundamentals of Psychology 2: Psychological Literacy | |
SOWK11014 | Contemporary Human Services | |
SOWK11016 | Human Services and the Law | |
INDG11013 | First Nation and Non-Indigenous History: The Interface |
Year 2 Term 1
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
SOWK12008 | Theories of Change for Professional Practice I | |
SOWK12009 | Casework and Case Management | |
SOWK12012 | Organisational Practice | |
SOWK12015 | Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Professional Practice |
Year 2 Term 2
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
SOCL19069 | Social Research Methods | |
SOWK12010 | Theories of Change for Professional Practice II | |
SOWK12011 | Social Group Work and Family Work | |
SOWK12014 | Ethical Professional Practice |
Year 3 Term 1
Year 3 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
SOWK13009 | Fieldwork Education 1 | |
SOWK13010 | Integrating Theory and Practice 1 |
Year 3 Term 2
Year 3 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
SOWK13011 | Community Practice | |
SOWK13012 | Professional Practice and Mental Health | |
SOWK13013 | Professional Practice with Children, Youth and Families | |
SOWK13014 | Contemporary Social Policy |
Year 4 Term 1
In Year 4 Term 1 students have two advanced electives to choose as part of the BSW course. The advanced elective, SOWK14004 Reconciliation in the Workplace and Community, is recommended to fourth year students as one of the electives to do. Other advanced electives students can choose from include:
NUTR12001 Human Nutrition
SOCL19065 Rural Social and Social Services (pre-requisite 24 credit points)
HLTH12032 Community Assets and Needs Assessment
INDG19015 Aboriginal Cultures and Country
INDG19016 Contemporary Indigenous Issues
Year 4 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
SOWK14005 | Advanced Direct Practice | |
SOWK14006 | Professional Leadership in Human Services |
Year 4 Term 2
Year 4 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
SOWK14009 | Fieldwork Education 2 | |
SOWK14010 | Integrating Theory and Practice 2 |
This course is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) that stipulates all 3rd and 4th year students must attend compulsory face-to-face residential schools in Queensland. Therefore, all students, no matter their primary place of residence, must travel to attend face-to-face residential schools.