Bachelor of Social Welfare

Majors available are:

Children and Young People provides students with a comprehensive introduction to social welfare practice with children and young people in a range of organisational settings including government and non-government agencies. The latest research is explored to understand the ways in which children and young people are conceptualised and identified for human service practice. 

Health and Disability examines health and wellbeing as they impact on people and their life opportunities, as well as issues for social welfare workers negotiating the health and disability care systems. 

Indigenous Studies assists students to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous world views and history, as well as identifying culturally appropriate ways of working with Indigenous communities. Students gain an appreciation of the origins and effects of trauma across generations and within particular communities. 

Please note that some units in this course are only available to study by distance education.

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.

Assessment items may include essays, research reports, case analysis, assessment of competence on field placement, DVD recording of interviewing skills.

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Our distance education study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Please note: Distance education students are required to attend one three-day residential school to be held at the Gold Coast campus.

Graduates typically find employment as welfare and community workers in various roles within the community services sector. These include government and non-government positions in fields such as child protection, disability services, housing services, youth work, aged care, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, community engagement, mental health services, and domestic violence services.

In line with ACWA requirements, students undertake 400 hours of supervised on-the-job training. This is completed in two separate organisations in different fields of practice so that students gain a diversity of experience.

Placements may include working across a variety of client groups, such as older people, or young people and families at the individual, group, organisational or community level of practice. The social welfare settings such as child protection, drugs and alcohol, criminal justice, community education, housing, emergency relief, family interventions and domestic violence.

The course is accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA). Graduates are eligible to join ACWA.