Bachelor of Social Work
2021 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2021 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Social Work |
| Course Map | These course maps are for new students commencing from: Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Campus | Offered at Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Cloud Campus | Yes |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent. Students who meet eligibility requirements will enrol in H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) for their fourth year of study. Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements. |
| CRICOS course code | 015207F Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Deakin course code | H330 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7. |
This course structure is for students commencing Trimester 1 2019 onwards. Students who commenced their course prior to 2019, please go to the previous university handbooks. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Third party arrangements
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
Course overview
If you are passionate about human rights and have a strong sense of social justice, this is the perfect course to begin your journey towards a rewarding career in social work. Deakin's Bachelor of Social Work equips you with the knowledge and skills to enhance the wellbeing of others through an understanding of policy, socioeconomic factors and social equity issues. Gain 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 metropolitan, regional or rural settings, ensuring you gain multiple perspectives and graduate job-ready.
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’ll cover contemporary social topics including:
- human behaviour
- public policy
- processes and interventions
- social justice.
You’ll gain an understanding of a range of social research methods and contemporary health issues - learning how to design and conduct research relevant to social work practice.
Deakin places an emphasis 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.
Indicative student workload
Attendance requirements for Cloud students
Cloud students will be required to attend on-campus intensive workshops depending upon units of enrolment. Dates for 2021 available here.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Students completing the course are eligible to apply for membership of AASW and can practise professionally throughout Australia.
Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the AASW retains discretion as to who they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.
Career opportunities
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:
- activism
- advocacy
- community development
- consultancy
- counselling
- drug and alcohol counselling
- education
- facilitation
- family therapy
- health
- housing
- policy development and research
- program management and coordination
- refugee assistance and tribunal capacities
- assisting groups such as the aged, women, youth or multicultural populations.
Examples of specific roles you may pursue include:
- careers counsellor
- case manager
- child and family counsellor
- child protection officer
- community development access officer
- community development and education officer
- disability support coordinator
- diversity officer
- drug and alcohol case manager
- family relationship adviser
- mental health coordinator
- school counsellor
- youth projects officer
Participation requirements
Two practice education placements of 500 hours each, totalling a minimum of 1000 hours that are conducted in a variety of communities and workplaces in metropolitan and regional settings.
International students studying through the Cloud Campus may not be granted a visitor visa to complete mandatory onsite components of the course.
Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.
Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Mandatory student checks
Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are those skills, values and behaviours which students must demonstrate in order to complete the Bachelor of Social Work. Learn more about inherent requirements.
Working with Children Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about the Working with Children Check.
Police record check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about the National Police Record Check.
Pathways
H330 is a qualifying degree and does not have a formal pathway to further study. Graduates can however enrol in an HDR masters in social work or another discipline. Graduates of H430 can enrol in an HDR masters in social work or another discipline or an HDR doctoral program.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply a broad and coherent understanding in contemporary Australian and international contexts of the histories, aims, values, ethics, theories and practice approaches of social work. This knowledge is to cover all domains including working with individuals, families, groups, communities, management, research education and social policy. Practise social work reflectively according to the code of ethics and professional practice standards of the Australian Association of Social Workers. |
| Communication | Evaluate and apply appropriate communication and interpersonal skills in a broad range of social work practice contexts and with a diversity of people, communities and organisations. |
| Digital Literacy | Use digital technology in social work practice ethically and appropriately, including in service provision and management, information acquisition and dissemination, and research and evaluation. |
| Critical thinking | Analyse, synthesise and apply knowledge of social work theories, methods and skills, with an emphasis on critical social work with the goal of social change. |
| Problem Solving | Apply social work knowledge and intervention skills to appropriately and creatively respond to the needs of individuals, groups and communities in diverse settings, client groups and geographic locations. Apply research knowledge and skills to evaluate evidence and contribute to the role of research in social work practice. |
| Self-management | Engage in critical reflective, reflexive and responsive practice, demonstrating an awareness of social location and positioning of self and others. Demonstrate a developing sense of identity, integrity and self-management as a professional social worker in all areas of practice. Participate in on-going professional development including engaging in professional supervision. |
| Teamwork | Work and learn respectfully and inclusively in collaborative intra and inter disciplinary settings. |
| Global Citizenship | Engage in decolonising practises in order to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people as Traditional Owners of Australian lands. Evaluate and apply local and global knowledge of the social, political, cultural, legal and economic contexts of social work practice to respond effectively within a human rights and social justice framework. Work and learn across diverse social, cultural and political locations. |
Course rules
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)
H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours):
- 30 core units including HSW401, HSW402, HSW404, HSW416 and HSW417 (these are compulsory)
- 2 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).
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.
Course structure
Core units
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| HAI010 | Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
| IND101 | Introduction to Aboriginal Studies |
| ASC101 | Introduction to Sociology A |
| HSW101 | Introduction to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice A |
| HBS107 | Understanding Health |
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| ASC102 | Introduction to Sociology B |
| HSW111 | Theories for Social Work Practice: Social Work Theory and Practice B |
| HSW118 | Social Work Methods in Context: Social Work Theory and Practice C |
plus
| HBS110 | Health Behaviour |
Or
| HPS111 | Introduction to Psychology: Fundamentals of Human Behaviour |
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| HSW216 | Public Policy and Politics for Critical Social Workers |
| HSW221 | Social Work Research in Ethical and Political Contexts |
| HSW235 | Community Development: Social Work Theory and Practice D |
plus one elective
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| HSW201 | Human Rights and Social Justice: Values, Ethics and the Legal Context of Social Work |
| HSW212 | Practice Skills: Social Work Theory and Practice E |
| HSW219 | Self and Society |
| HSW202 | Placement Readiness: Preparing for Supervised Social Work Practice |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HSW314 | Social Work Field Education A |
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| HSW313 | Doing Critical Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice F |
| HSW316 | Critical Social Policy |
| HSW322 | Applied Social Research in Ethical and Political Context |
Plus one elective
Level 4 - Pass stream
Trimester 1
| HSW402 | Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G |
| HSW434 | Administration and Policy Development: The Organisational Context |
| HSW452 | Working in Uncertainty: Social Work Theory and Practice H |
plus one elective
Trimester 2
| HSW415 | Social Work Field Education B |
Level 4 - H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
Trimester 1
| HSW401 | Social Work Research Methods |
| HSW402 | Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G |
| HSW416 | Social Work Honours Research Project A |
Trimester 2
| HSW404 | Social Work Field Education B Research Focused |
| HSW417 | Social Work Honours Research Project B |
Elective units
Elective units may be chosen from any faculty in the University provided that prerequisites are met. A maximum of 2 elective units may be studied at level 1.
Work experience
Practice Education
Students must complete two practice education 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. Students must also attend and participate in the associated pre-placement preparation seminars at Waterfront (Geelong) in the Trimester prior to the placement being undertaken - dates to be advised.
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. Applications for RPL are due 30 November of the year prior to students undertaking their first placement. Late applications cannot be accepted.
Further information is available in the RPL Guidelines
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Third party arrangements
Social work has a range of agreements with agencies to deliver practicum experiences, including field educators. These are signed by the HoS.
Other learning experiences
There is an opportunity for students to take part in exchange programs or study tours.
Research and research-related study
For H430, there are 4 credit points that focus explicitly on research or research training. This is achieved in HSW416 Social Work Honours Research Project A (2 credit points), HSW417 Social Work Honours Research Project B (1 credit point) and the research course work unit HSW401 Social Work Research Methods (1 credit point). In addition the social work field education placement unit HSW404 Social Work Field Education B: Research Focused (3 credit points) not only meets the requirement for applied professional training but also contributes to the research and research training.