All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 20 days/150hrs over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).
Commonwealth supportedPlease note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.
The Bachelor of Social Work is an entry-level, professionally accredited qualification to practise as a social worker. The course prepares students to work in a diverse range of fields including health and mental health, child and family welfare, cross-cultural work and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, youth work, homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability, drug and alcohol, community development, and advocacy.
Underpinned by core principles of social justice and human rights, the course engages students in contemporary anti-oppressive, decolonised and trauma-informed approaches to social work practice. This high job growth area offers a variety of careers in client service roles, service management, research, strategy and policy development.
Core units within the course cover essential theories, methods and skills for social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. These are complemented by foundational studies in Indigenous world views, sociology, politics, human development and social research.
An elective stream provides opportunity for students to pursue their interests and develop knowledge in a range of disciplines, and an optional embedded Honours program is available for those interested in research and pathways to further postgraduate studies and who have maintained a credit average across the first two years of study. Note: Eligible students who are interested in undertaking the Honours stream in 2023 should consult the Bachelor of Social Work Course Coordinator prior to enrolling in elective units.
Please note: All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 20 days/150hrs over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). On-campus enrolled students meet this minimum requirement by participating in four units with compulsory attendance. Online students meet this requirement by attending compulsory residential schools conducted at the Gold Coast campus. Units with compulsory participation and on-campus residential schools are identified in the course structure section below (‘note 2’). Students should also refer to the enrolment information for these units.
The Bachelor of Social Work is an entry-level, professionally accredited qualification to practise as a social worker. The course prepares students to work in a diverse range of fields including health and mental health, child and family welfare, cross-cultural work and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, youth work, homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability, drug and alcohol, community development, and advocacy.
Underpinned by core principles of social justice and human rights, the course engages students in contemporary anti-oppressive, decolonised and trauma-informed approaches to social work practice. This high job growth area offers a variety of careers in client service roles, service management, research, strategy and policy development.
Core units within the course cover essential theories, methods and skills for social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. These are complemented by foundational studies in Indigenous world views, sociology, politics, human development and social research.
An elective stream provides opportunity for students to pursue their interests and develop knowledge in a range of disciplines, and an optional embedded Honours program is available for those interested in research and pathways to further postgraduate studies and who have maintained a credit average across the first two years of study. Note: Eligible students who are interested in undertaking the Honours stream in 2023 should consult the Bachelor of Social Work Course Coordinator prior to enrolling in elective units.
Please note: All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 20 days/150hrs over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). On-campus enrolled students meet this minimum requirement by participating in four units with compulsory attendance. Online students meet this requirement by attending compulsory residential schools conducted at the Gold Coast campus. Units with compulsory participation and on-campus residential schools are identified in the course structure section below (‘note 2’). Students should also refer to the enrolment information for these units.
Current Southern Cross students – to access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook.
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Reading | 7.0 |
| Writing | 7.0 |
| Listening | 7.0 |
| Speaking | 7.0 |
Domestic students
| Location | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Term 1, Term 3 |
| Online | Term 1, Term 3 |
All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 20 days/150hrs over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).
International students
| Location | Teaching period | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Term 1, Term 3 | $29,360 ($3,670 per unit) | 102204F |
Tuition fees are in Australian dollars, and are subject to change, including annual increases over the duration of a course. Annual tuition fee is based on completing 8 units per year. In addition students are required to pay OSHC for the duration of their visa in advance. Non-tuition fee covers textbooks, stationery and excursions. | |||
Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Social Work, students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:
Honours
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:
Students must also maintain a credit average across the degree to be eligible for this award.
Professional Experience Learning / Field Education
This course includes professional experience learning via field education. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health Professional Experience Field Education page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.
Exit awards
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Human Services Studies after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points) as specified in the Diploma of Human Services Studies structure.
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Equity & Inclusion website. If you have a disability or health condition which may impact on your ability to meet these requirements please refer to the Student Equity & Inclusion website for further information and contact details.
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Students can complete: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Students may choose the Honours option if a credit average across the degree has been maintained, or else complete the following units: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| one Shared Minor OR 4 Electives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| the embedded Honours option: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.
Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award | ||||||||||||||||||||||
First Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| POLT1001 | Australian Politics | Term1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SOCI1001 | Introduction to Sociology | Term1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| INDG1001 | Indigenous World-Views | Term2,4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change | Term2,4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| WELF1001 | Introduction to Social Welfare | Term3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SOCI1005 | Social Policy | Term3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| WELF1002 | Community Development | Term4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| WELF1003 | Counselling Theory and Practice | Term4 | Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Second Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WELF2005 | Case Management and Care Planning | Term1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK2001 | Social Work Practice I - Building Relationships | Term1 | Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| SOCI2006 | Doing Social Research | Term2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| INDG2001 | Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Summer Term Term2,4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| WELF2003 | Trauma Informed Practice | Term3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| WELF3002 | Issues of Protection | Term2,3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK2002 | Social Work Practice II - Teams and Groups | Term4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3001 | Social Work Practice III - Mental Health | Term4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Third Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2005 | Social Work Placement I | Tri Term1 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3002 | Social Work Practice IV - Organisational Practice | Term2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| PSYC2004 | Lifespan Psychology | Term3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3003 | Social Work Practice V - Policy and Community Activism | Term3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3004 | Social Work Practice VI - Advanced Practice Methods | Term4 | Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fourth Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3005 | Social Work Practice VII - Social Work in Legal Contexts | Not currently available | Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| WELF3003 | Disability and Community Practice | Term2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elective | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK3010 | Social Work Placement II | Not currently available | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete the following units from your third year onwards to satisfy the requirements of the Honours Award | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Students have the option to complete the Honours pathway if a credit average across the degree has been maintained | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Third Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK2005 | Social Work Placement I | Tri Term1 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3002 | Social Work Practice IV - Organisational Practice | Term2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| PSYC2004 | Lifespan Psychology | Term3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3003 | Social Work Practice V - Policy and Community Activism | Term3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3004 | Social Work Practice VI - Advanced Practice Methods | Term4 | Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK3005 | Social Work Practice VII - Social Work in Legal Contexts | Not currently available | Note 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
Fourth Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMM4006 | Research Methods for Arts and Social Sciences I | Not currently available | ||||||||||||||||||||
| COMM4007 | Research Methods for Arts and Social Sciences II | Not currently available | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK4003 | Social Work Honours Thesis I | Dual Term4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| SWRK4004 | Social Work Honours Thesis II | Not currently available | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK4005 | Social Work Honours Thesis III | Not currently available | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SWRK4006 | Social Work Honours Placement II | Not currently available | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Note 1: | Triple-weighted unit |
| Note 2: | Residential School |
Outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 23 research fields.
Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018
Only 25 years young and ranked in the top 200 universities in the world.
Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020
5-Star Student Support across undergraduate and postgraduate studies
Good Universities Guide 2021
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.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
Apply social work values, knowledge and skills in practice and research processes to address client needs, organisational goals and social policy change. Honours pathway: Be able to create research outputs that demonstrate research design skills, critical thinking, initiative and judgement in developing new understanding. |
Ensure that clients’ needs are addressed holistically and creatively, drawing on relevant theory, research and practice wisdom. |
Promote and implement policies and practices to achieve a fair, equitable and efficient allocation of social resources, and identify inappropriate or inequitable policy goals and outcomes. |
Ensure that client needs, organisational goals and community expectations of social work services are met in the most appropriate manner, using social work knowledge, skills and resources. |
Demonstrate a commitment to continually increase professional knowledge and skills and to continuing education and lifelong learning. |
Effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders , including clients, colleagues and managers including within a multi-disciplinary team environment |
Apply knowledge of organisational and societal systems and processes to identify inequality and ensure appropriate action is taken so that social barriers, inequality and injustice are reduced. |
A diverse range of authentic assessment methods are employed in the course including reports, case analysis, recorded role plays of interviewing skills, presentations, essays and assessment of capabilities on field placement.
This course is taught in the Southern Cross Model, which provides guided and active learning experiences focused on supporting student success.
Teaching and learning involves media-rich and interactive online self-access modules supported by regular on-campus and online classes. These utilise enquiry-based learning approaches that enable students to apply their developing knowledge and skills to real-life practice scenarios, reflecting a diverse range of community welfare practice methods, client groups and organisational settings. The course also provides on-the-job placement experiences through which students refine and consolidate their skills in real-world work environments.
Graduates of this course will be prepared to practise as social workers in government and non-government positions in fields such as health, child protection, disability services, housing services, youth work, aged care, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, community development, mental health services, and domestic violence services.
In line with AASW requirements, students will complete 1,000 hours of supervised placement in a human service organisation as part of the course. Please note, students must obtain a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check and most agencies require students to have a current driver’s licence.
The course is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) for entry into the social work profession.
Call 1800 626 481 during business hours.
Call +61 2 6620 3876 during business hours.
Email: enquiry@scu.edu.au
Call 1800 005 687 during business hours.