Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) aims to produce social work graduates who will be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) having attained all of the practice standards associated with the values, knowledge, and skills of the profession.

Within the social work profession, you will be committed to the actualisation of human rights globally;

achieved through the acquisition of specific values, knowledge and skills.

You will pursue social justice or work to redistribute social and economic resources equitably so that client groups vulnerable to the intersection of complex inequalities can enjoy social inclusion and wellbeing in the communities and societies in which they live.

As a social worker, you will achieve the pursuit of human rights, social justice, and social inclusion using seven methods of change:

case management;

social group work;

family work;

community and social development;

policy practice;

organisational change;

and research.

Within those methods of change social workers can occupy many diverse roles such as mediator, advocate, support worker, counsellor, group worker, family practitioner, social activist, officer, lobbyist, project manager or research scholar, to name a few.

This Honours level qualification involves the study of social research methods preparing you to undertake a significant research project in your final year of study where advanced knowledge of a specific social issue is acquired, the methodologies of the literature review are used, with outcomes presented to peers and academic staff.

Core Structure

Course Structure

--> In order to complete this course, you must:

1. Complete the core structure

Core Structure

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Field placements are compulsory in Years 3 and 4 of the course, available only during specified terms. Field Education 1 (SOWK13009) is offered in Term 1, beginning generally, first week of March and is 13-14 weeks duration (440 hrs). Field Education 2 (SOWK14009) is 16 weeks duration (560 hrs) starting generally in 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 all units in accordance with pre-requisites,and undertake a successful interview with the Professional Education Manager to determine placement readiness. You must meet 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.

Year 1 Term 1

Add elective unit (6 credit points) from across the University. NB selection of this elective unit may determine which advanced level electives can be undertaken in the final year of the course due to prerequisite requirements.

Year 1 Term 2

Year 2 Term 1

Year 2 Term 2

Year 3 Term 1

Year 3 Term 2

Year 4 Term 1

Add two advanced level elective units (6 credit points each) offered by CQUniversity.

Year 4 Term 2

What do I need to start?

Entry Scores

Entry Requirements

• P – English (4, SA) or equivalent
• R - Applicants be eligible for a Blue Card (Working with Children Check) and satisfactory national police clearance check in order to undertake SOWK13009 and SOWK14009 Field Education placements in years 3 and 4 of the course.

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:

· a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or

· tertiary diploma level qualification, or

· bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

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 as below.

· An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or

· Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or

· Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or

· An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.

You must maintain recency of professional knowledge and skills throughout the course. In order to meet this criterion you must complete your course of study within 9 years from the date of first enrollment in the course.

If you cannot complete the course within 9 years you must apply in writing to the Head of Course for additional time. Only exceptional circumstances will be considered. Relevant documentary evidence will be required to approve the extension of enrollment beyond eight years. All students irrespective of special circumstances must complete the qualification within 10 years as per University policy.

Security Requirements

All field education contexts will require relevant State based working with children clearances, State based criminal background checks, and Federal police checks. In light of results, enrolment into and applications to commence Field education 1 or 2 will be determined on a case by case basis through a formal process of internal and/or external ethical consultation.

Health Requirements

Some field education contexts require evidence of Hepatitis B immunity.

Assumed Knowledge

Studies of Society

Information technology literacy

Fees and Charges

• Domestic Fees -->

Core Learning Outcomes

• 1.
• Describe the cultural origins, assumptions and theoretical underpinnings of the profession that result in the creation of new approaches
• 2.
• Develop and utilise the knowledge, values and skills required for lifelong learning
• 3.
• Evaluate the relationships between social work knowledge, values, and skills that justify professional interventions with people most vulnerable to social exclusion and inequalities
• 4.
• Apply professional values to the inter-disciplinary practice of social work
• 5.
• Appraise the ethical issues associated with traditional methods of change utilised in the practice of social work
• 6.
• Analyse, formulate and apply strategies for change in the pursuit of self-determination, empowerment, social inclusion, human rights, and social justice
• 7.
• Use critical thinking and advanced professional communication skills to communicate ethically, professionally and sensitively in diverse contexts
• 8.
• Evaluate evidence based practice using contemporary information and communication technologies and information literacy skills
• 9.
• Demonstrate advanced cognitive skills and social work methods to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge through research methods and practice.