Undergraduate Certificate in Social Care

Certificate

Social care workers play a vital role in supporting people through issues of discrimination, inequality, violence, and other forms of oppression. Recent systemic failures of care, particularly in aged care and disability support, have come to the forefront in Australia.

Key details

Degree Type

Certificate

Duration

0.5 - 1 years full-time

Course Code

A0F

About this course

Social care workers play a vital role in supporting people through issues of discrimination, inequality, violence, and other forms of oppression.

Recent systemic failures of care, particularly in aged care and disability support, have come to the forefront in Australia. The Undergraduate Certificate in Social Care will provide you with a critical perspective of responsible care: you'll develop a greater understanding of the vulnerability of people who access support services and how you can help them to overcome social and personal issues.

Your studies will focus on practical skills that can improve the quality of care provided to people by emphasising their strengths, promoting their sense of dignity and self-worth, and enabling their autonomy. This course is relevant for anyone working with people in sensitive situations as well as those wanting to progress their studies to obtain a professional qualification in Social Work.

Please visit our Certificates page for answers to frequently asked questions about the Job Ready Certificates.

HECS Fee waiver semester 2 2022

If you choose to study the Undergraduate Certificate in Social Care in Semester 2 2022 and meet the eligibility criteria for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), you will receive a 50% HECS fee discount. For more information including eligibility details please visit Fee Waivers.

Entry requirements

Domestic Applicants who have recently completed secondary education

This course uses ATAR and equivalent ranks as part of the admission process.
Applicants are ranked by ATAR and offers made based on the number of places available. Applicants who have recently completed senior secondary studies but have not received an ATAR may still be eligible for admission.

Domestic Applicants with higher education study

Completed a course at Associate Degree level or higher at any Australian higher education provider (or an equivalent overseas qualification); or
Completed at least two units of study (equivalent to 25 UTAS credit points) of a course at Associate Degree level (or an equivalent overseas qualification). If you have failed any units your application may be subject to further review before an offer is made; or
Completed the UTAS Diploma of University Studies; or
Completed the UTAS University Preparation Program, or an equivalent enabling program offered by another Australian university.

Domestic applicants with VET / TAFE study To be eligible for an offer, you must have completed:

A completed VET Certificate III or higher.

Domestic Applications on the basis of work or life experience

If you have not successfully completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have relevant work and life experience you can complete a personal competency statement. You may be eligible for an offer if you have work and life experiences that demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this course.

Special consideration

If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.

We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course. Special consideration is not available for international applicants.

International applicants

This course is currently not offered to international students.

What you will learn

1 Explain how systems of social care can create, perpetuate and respond to social, cultural, economic, health and political inequalities.

2 Identify practical and collaborative strategies that can address the needs and barriers experienced by people in social care settings.

3 Use communication skills that are sensitive to the needs of people who access social care services.

4 Suggest ethical and strengths-focused practices to promote client-direct outcomes in social care.

Career pathways

A career in the social care sector is rewarding and challenging. Your job opportunities range from aged care and disability support to education and community development. Our graduates are equipped to shape and respond to social care opportunities and challenges through their understanding of professional practice in the community care sector, and by being culturally competent citizens in a local, national, and global society.

This is an excellent opportunity to further your career in aged care and disability support roles. You could be the support someone needs to change their path and give them the strength to address life-changing concerns.

In addition to developing job-ready skills, you'll also have the option to pursue further study in the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours, receiving full credit towards Year 1 of the bachelors course for the four units of study completed towards the certificate.

Course structure

The Undergraduate Certificate in Social Care requires the completion of 50 credit points comprising:

25 credit points of Core units;
12.5 credit points from Core Option Pair A and;
12.5 credit points from Core Option Pair B

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Health Services & Support courses at University of Tasmania.

82.8%

Overall satisfaction

84.3%

Skill scale

66.7%

Teaching scale

83.8%

Employed full-time

$86.5k

Average salary

Data source