Master of Social Work

2027 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2027 course information
Award granted	Master of Social Work
Deakin course code	H703
Course credit points	16
Course version	1
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Course information	For students who commenced from 2010 onwards
Campus	This course is only offered Online. Attendance at a minimum of 20 days of face-to-face time delivered during the two-year degree.
Duration	2 years of full-time study or 4 years part-time study
Course map - enrolment planning tool	The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
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

Build the knowledge, practical experience and critical reflection skills to support individuals, families and communities through Deakin’s Master of Social Work. Fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), the course prepares you for professional social work practice across health, community and human services settings.

Informed by contemporary social work theory, social justice and community practice, the course explores trauma, violence and abuse, poverty and social exclusion, and collaborative approaches to care. You will also develop interprofessional skills through shared learning alongside students from a range of health disciplines.

Professional experience is embedded throughout the course, with at least 1000 hours of placement preparing you for practice across community and healthcare settings. Recognised by the AASW for its commitment to critically reflective practice, the course prepares you for inclusive and evidence-informed professional practice.

Indicative student workload

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, lectures, 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.

Attendance requirements

As part of the AASW accreditation you must attend 20 days of on-campus face-to-face learning. Intensive dates can be found on the Master of Social Work intensives webpage. If you feel for any reason you cannot attend these intensives you must contact your units chair as soon as possible.

Attendance requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work intensives webpage.

Professional recognition

The Master of Social Work is fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). 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 Master of Social Work prepares you for work in a broad range of areas, from mental health and human rights, to family violence and disability services. Within these areas, you will also have options around the types of roles you explore. You can work one-on-one with clients, building lasting relationships and providing guidance at a very personal level. Or you can help shape policies, services and health systems that impact whole communities and even countries. The health care and social assistance industry is Australia’s fastest-growing*, so you will have no shortage of opportunities once you graduate.

Passionate about helping others but not sure which role is right for you just yet? The 1000 hours of professional placement you undertake throughout the course allows you to sample the many different facets of social work before making your choice.

Some of the roles you will be ready to thrive in include:

social worker
policy officer
community development worker
case manager
counsellor
human rights advocate.

With a Master of Social Work, after further training and supervised practice, you may be eligible to apply for Accredited Mental Health Social Worker status with the AASW and then apply for a Medicare provider number, which allows you to offer mental health counselling services in a private practice setting. The course also sets you up for research opportunities.

*Industry Employment Projections 2019 Report, Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business

Participation requirements

Students must complete 2 practice education units as part of the core units, each involving a minimum of 500 hours (across a minimum 65 days) of practicum (field placement) in a social or community service agency or program. Please note that all students will need to undertake the required field placements in order to qualify for the degree. These field placements are unpaid. It is recommended that students have planned for these periods of unpaid placement time prior to commencing the course.

During the academic and placement components of a social work degree, students are expected to attend seminars and classes, and/or participate in online learning activities. In-person attendance for some activities, including placement, is compulsory for all students including those enrolled as online students.

In accordance with the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) online students are required to attend on campus intensive seminars for a minimum of 20 days throughout their course. Intensive seminars are linked to individual units of study. Refer to the individual unit details in the University Handbook for more information about attendance requirements for specific units.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Any adjustments need to reflect the understanding of social work and requirements for social work education as spelt out in the ASWEAS.

Deakin seeks to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. If you have questions about adjustments that may be possible or applicable in your situation, we encourage you to reach out to Future Students - Domestic students or Disability Resource Centre for a confidential discussion. You will be connected to a staff member who will be able to discuss your circumstances and how the School and University can help to put reasonable accommodations in place. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career, and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.

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.

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 prior to the commencement of professional placement. 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

All students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to the commencement of professional placement. 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 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.

Note

Students will be responsible for all costs associated with completing and maintaining the above mandatory checks which are required prior to commencing professional placement:

Working with Children Check, (approximately $130)
An NDIS worker screen, (approximately $130)
A National Police Record Check (approximately $100)
Immunisation Status

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are those skills, values and behaviours that students must demonstrate in order to complete the Master of Social Work. Learn more about inherent requirements.

Pathways

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

Course learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes
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.
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.
Use digital technology in social work practice ethically and appropriately, including service provision and management, information acquisition and dissemination, and research and evaluation.
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.
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.
Demonstrate a sense of identity, integrity and self-management as a professional social worker in all areas of practice. Demonstrate the capacity to engage in professional supervision, be accountable for professional decisions and actions, and recognise the need to engage in on-going professional development, including supervision.
Work and learn respectfully and inclusively in collaborative intra and inter disciplinary settings. Work and learn across diverse social, cultural and political locations.
Enact acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians into social work practice. Evaluate and apply local and global knowledges of the social, political, cultural, legal and economic contexts of social work practice to respond effectively within a human rights and social justice framework.

Course Learning Outcomes

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.

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.

Use digital technology in social work practice ethically and appropriately, including service provision and management, information acquisition and dissemination, and research and evaluation.

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.

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.

Demonstrate a sense of identity, integrity and self-management as a professional social worker in all areas of practice.

Demonstrate the capacity to engage in professional supervision, be accountable for professional decisions and actions, and recognise the need to engage in on-going professional development, including supervision.

Work and learn respectfully and inclusively in collaborative intra and inter disciplinary settings.

Work and learn across diverse social, cultural and political locations.

Enact acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians into social work practice.

Evaluate and apply local and global knowledges of the social, political, cultural, legal and economic contexts of social work practice to respond effectively within a human rights and social justice framework.

Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Social Work you must pass 16 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
12 credit points of core units
4 credit points of course elective units completed through one of the following:
- 4 credit point Research Pathway
- 4 credit point Practice Pathway

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Core units

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

HSW701

Australian Social Work in an International Context

HSW702

Understanding Care and Risk

HSW703

Becoming a Social Worker

HSW705

Challenging Poverty and Social Exclusion

HSW714

Professional Practice in Social Work A (3 credit points)

HSH753

Research Methods in Health and Social Development

HSW707

Addressing Violence and Abuse

HSW709

Practising Social Work with Communities and Groups

HSW711

Responding to Trauma, Grief and Loss

HSW704

Reconstructing Professional Practice

Pathways

Students must complete one of the two course pathways:

Research pathway

HSH731

Minor Research Project A ^{^}

HSH732

Minor Research Project B ^{^}

HSW716

Professional Practice in Social Work Research (2 credit points)

^{^} Students must have a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60 to be eligible to undertake the research pathway

Practice pathway

IND734

Australian Aboriginal Holistic Health and Healing

HSW715

Professional Practice in Social Work B (3 credit points)

Work experience

Practice Education

All students are required to complete two field education placements, each involving a minimum of 500 hours (across at least 65 days) of practicum (field placement) in a health or human service organisation or program.

Students must also attend and participate in the associated pre-placement preparation seminars at the Geelong Waterfront campus in the trimester prior to the placement being undertaken. Dates for 2027 are available here.

Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) is possible for the first placement only (HSW714 Professional Practice in Social Work A) for students who are able to demonstrate that their prior work experience has provided them with the knowledge and experience that would normally be provided in the first placement. Applications for RPL are due 31 March of the year students are due to undertake their first placement. Late applications cannot be accepted.

Further information is available in the RPL Guidelines.

Deakin University does not require any student to have a driver’s licence but encourages students to obtain one if possible. Many placement providers expect students to hold a full driver’s licence and students who do not have this may be limited in the placement opportunities available to them. Organisations which require students to drive as part of their placement work should provide access to an agency vehicle and not expect students to have their own car.

Fees - CSPs

There are limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) in the Master of Social Work. Therefore CSP are not guaranteed and are allocated according to time of receipt of a completed application

Applications for CSP usually closes in mid-late November each year. Applications received after this time are considered for full-fee places only.

Course duration

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.

Eligibility

This course is suitable for students who hold a related undergraduate degree (please refer to the entry requirements). If you do not hold an undergraduate degree or if your undergraduate degree does not meet the entry requirements please see our Bachelor of Social Work.

Please note: Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work Honours will not be admitted to the Master of Social Work. Graduates of that course are already eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and can practice professionally throughout Australia.

Income support

Domestic students enrolled in this postgraduate coursework program may be eligible for student income support through Youth Allowance and Austudy.

Further information can be found at Deakin University's Fees website.

Fees and charges

Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.

Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Estimate your fees

Commonwealth Prac Payment - Domestic students only

If you're eligible, the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) can help with the costs of completing a mandatory placement as part of your course. To find out if you're eligible and learn how to apply, visit Deakin’s Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) website.

Further information

Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page .

Contact Student Central