Bachelor
Passionate about human rights and have a strong sense of social justice? Deakin's fully accredited Bachelor of Social Work will equip you to enhance the wellbeing of others through an understanding of policy, socioeconomic factors and social equity issues. Social workers are in high demand with job opportunities expected to grow by 23.2% by 2026^. Graduate career-ready with the skills to work effectively with individuals, families and communities to address key factors causing inequality.
With an emphasis on progressive, student-centred teaching practices, you will learn the latest approaches to enable social change and improve the lives of others. You will gain invaluable hands-on experience with 1000 hours of practice education placements in a variety of communities and workplaces in online, metropolitan, regional or rural settings, ensuring you gain multiple perspectives. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may be able to progress onto the embedded honours year.
Want to graduate with the skills and professional experience to launch a career in helping others?
This course will empower you to become an enabler of positive social change, helping you to improve the quality of life for those who need it most. You will cover contemporary social topics including:
You will gain an understanding of a range of social research methods and contemporary welfare issues, allowing you to design and conduct research relevant to social work practice.
We focus on equipping our students with valuable hands-on skills and practical workplace experience. Plus, our strong links with industry and partnership organisations gives you access to a range of guest lecturers, exposing you to a broad range of professional experiences and knowledge. The practice education placements included within this course enable you to graduate with confidence, ready to launch your career in this highly rewarding industry.
The Bachelor of Social Work is an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited qualification, so you will graduate with an entry qualification into the social work profession.
Are you a current Year 12 student? If you attend a school in a regional or remote area or within the Greater City of Geelong you may be eligible to apply for this course through our Regional and Remote Entry Scheme using our dedicated VTAC codes. As an eligible applicant you may also receive up to a 10 aggregate point adjustment towards your entry score. Make the most of your ATAR.
This course is suitable for students who hold and undergraduate degree in an unrelated study area or do not have an undergraduate degree. If you hold a related undergraduate degree then you may consider our Master of Social Work to fast-track your studies. Graduates of this course* will not be admitted to the Master of Social Work, please refer to the entry requirements to determine the degree best suited to you.
*Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) are already eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and can practice professionally throughout Australia.
^2021 Employment Projections - for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia.
This course sits as part of a larger group of courses. For more information refer to the Health group.
Social work is part of a growing human services field, with graduates working across local, state and federal government departments, in private and non-government human services organisations, and in various advocacy, policy making and tribunal capacities.
After completing this course, you will be a sought-after graduate, ready to pursue a rewarding career in social work. You may work in many general and specialist areas of social work such as:
Examples of specific roles you may pursue include:
To complete the Bachelor of Social Work students must attain 32 credit points. Units (think of units as 'subjects') may be worth 1, 2, 3 or 4 credit points - check each unit for its credit point value in the course structure below. Most students choose to study 4 credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year.
The course comprises 32 credit points which must include the following:
Pass stream:
H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours):
Students must complete two practice education units as part of the core units, each involving a minimum of 500 hours (across at least 65 days) of practicum (field placement) in a social or community service agency or program.
Failure of a practice education placement will normally lead to exclusion.
Students may be eligible to apply for credit for this course.
You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Applications for RPL on the basis of prior study should be submitted at least one week prior to the commencement of the trimester of offer.
Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) is possible for the first placement only (HSW314-Social Work Field Education A) for students who are able to demonstrate that their prior experience has provided them with the knowledge and experience that would normally be provided in the first placement.
RPL cannot be granted for informal learning for any Bachelor of Social Work units other than HSW314 - Social Work Field Education A.
There is a separate process in applying for this type of RPL and more information is available in the RPL Guidelines.
Applications for RPL are due 30 November of the year prior to students undertaking their first placement. Late applications cannot be accepted and students are encouraged to apply earlier than this if possible.
Guaranteed entry schemes exist for students enrolled in some diploma courses. Details can be found at https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/entry-pathways/tafe-pathways. Guaranteed pathways work in conjunction with the Recognition of prior learning Database.
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University.