Course overview

Are you passionate about human rights and have a strong sense of social justice? Deakin's Bachelor of Social Work will equip you with the knowledge and skills to enhance the wellbeing of others through an understanding of policy, socioeconomic factors and social equity issues. With job opportunities expected to grow by 23.3% 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. 1000 hours of practice education placements will give you invaluable hands-on experience as you learn from qualified social work practitioners. You will complete two placements in a variety of communities and workplaces in online, metropolitan, regional or rural settings, ensuring you gain multiple perspectives.

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:

• human behaviour
• public policy
• working with individuals, families, groups and communities to enhance wellbeing and human rights
• social justice.

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.

Course structure

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:

• 29 core units (these are compulsory)
• 3 elective units (you can choose which ones to study

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.

Inherent requirements

Students should also be aware of the inherent requirements of the course.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Additional course information

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Eligibility

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.  However, 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.

Mandatory student checks

Police Record Check

In accordance with the policies of health and human services organisations, all students are required to undertake a Police Record Check prior to undertaking professional placements in each calendar year that they are enrolled in a placement unit. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of a professional placement will not be able to undertake their mandatory placement units and this will impede progress in the course.

Students with a criminal record are not precluded from enrolling in social work degrees at Deakin but may face difficulties in obtaining placements which are required to complete the degree. Many agencies are reluctant to place students whom they perceive may place service users staff or the organisation itself at risk, e.g. when offending has involved crimes of violence against children or adults, or crimes of deception such as fraud and embezzlement.

Working With Children Check (or State/Territory equivalent)

In accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of professional placement will not be able to undertake their mandatory placement units and this will impede progress in the course.

NDIS Worker Screening Check

Students may be required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening Check to comply with any requirements as specified by a particular placement organisation. This is an assessment of whether a person poses risk to NDIS participants. A placement organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if they fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening Check. This may impede progression in the course

Immunisation Status

Students are a potential source of infection for service users and colleagues and may be required to comply with any requirements for immunisation as specified by a particular placement organisation. Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and human service organisations where they will be undertaking their professional learning experience. A placement organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the placement organisation. This may impede progression in the course.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are those skills, values and behaviours that students must demonstrate in order to complete the Bachelor of Social Work. 

Workload

Attendance requirements for Online students

Online students will be required to attend on campus intensive workshops depending upon units of enrolment. Dates for 2023 will be available soon.

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of learning activities each week. This may include a combination of self-paced study, classes, seminars, simulations and online interactions. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.