Master of Social Work

2018 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2018 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2018 course information
Award granted	Master of Social Work
Campus	This course is only offered in Cloud (online) mode. Attendance at a minimum of 20 days of face to face time delivered during the two-year degree.
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	2 years of full-time study or 4 years part-time study
Deakin course code	H703
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 9.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study a progressive social work course with a strong emphasis on practical experience gained through practical placements.

Social work is concerned with enhancing the wellbeing of people in their social environments. Our Master of Social Work focuses on social and community development; race and gender issues; critical social work perspectives; equity, power and diversity issues; and anti-oppressive and empowerment approaches to social work practice and social policy.

This course is accredited by Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), allowing you to enter the social work profession. The AASW recognises Deakin’s social work program’s commitment to ‘critically reflective practice’, which sets it apart from other social work programs in Australia. It also meets the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).

Fieldwork provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and practical experience under the supervision of qualified social work practitioners. You will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of fieldwork placements conducted in a variety of communities and workplaces.

As a Deakin social work graduate, you will be eligible to apply for membership of the AASW and seek employment throughout Australia. The Master of Social Work creates a new pathway for entry into the profession and prepares graduates for a more advanced level of practice.

Indicative student workload

As a student in a Cloud (online) course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.

Attendance requirements

Students are required to attend a minimum of 20 days of face to face time delivered during the two-year degree. Dates for 2018 are listed here

Professional recognition

The professionally qualifying Master of Social Work creates a new pathway for entry into the profession and prepares graduates for a more advanced level of practice. The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has fully accredited the Master of Social Work. The AASW has also singled out Deakin for our ‘critically reflective practice’, setting us apart from other social work programs in 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

The two year Master of Social Work course is designed to provide a graduate level entry to educate students for critical, competent and effective professional social work practice both within the local social and community services industry and the broader national and international context. Graduates may find employment as a social worker, policy officer, researcher, community development worker, case manager, counsellor, human rights advocate, working with individuals, families, groups and communities in the health and human services sectors.

Participation requirements

This course is only offered in Cloud (online) mode. As a student in a Cloud (online) course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.
Attendance at a minimum of 20 days of face to face time delivered during the two-year degree.

Mandatory student checks

Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course.

In accordance with the Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, amended 2017, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of clinical placement will not be able to undertake clinical placement and this will impede progress in the course. Students are also required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities	Critically apply understanding of the histories, aims, values, ethics, theories and practice approaches of social work in contemporary Australian contexts, across all domains including working with individuals, families, groups, communities, management, research education and social policy. Practice social work reflectively in line with 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 service provision and management, information acquisition and dissemination, and research and evaluation.
Critical thinking	Critically analyse, synthesise and apply knowledge of social work theories, methods and skills to promote positive social change. Engage in reflective and responsive practice that considers the social context, and the positioning of self and others. Evaluate and apply knowledge and understanding of a range of research paradigms and methods to the design and conduct of research relevant to the practice and evaluation of social work.
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.
Self-management	Demonstrate a sense of identity, integrity and self-management as a professional social worker in all areas of practice.
Teamwork	Work and learn respectfully and inclusively across diverse social, discipline, cultural and political contexts.
Global Citizenship	Ability to evaluate and apply local and global knowledges social work practice to respond effectively within a human rights and social justice framework.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Social Work students must attain 16 credit points. All units are core (these are compulsory).

Failure of a field education placement in the Master of Social Work will normally lead to exclusion.

Inherent requirements

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

Course structure

Core units

Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2017 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2015 should refer to previous online Handbooks or consult your course enrolment officer.