Bachelor of Social Work

Overview

Become an agent of positive change in diverse communities with UNE's conditionally-accredited Bachelor of Social Work. With an emphasis on social work in rural and complex community environments, our flexibly delivered course will equip you with the practical skills to work with and empower individuals, groups and communities who experience marginalisation, isolation or discrimination.

In our complex world, skilled social workers are valued and in high demand. You'll be choosing a rewarding profession, with the qualifications to work in a range of professional environments.

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Starting a UNE Health course in 2024? Get up to $12,000 towards your studies. For more information about the range of health scholarships and subsidies available, register your interest now.

Why study the Bachelor of Social Work with UNE?

Social workers address barriers, inequality and injustices faced by many groups, particularly those who are socially excluded. UNE's Bachelor of Social Work is an innovative and flexible social work degree with an emphasis on rural and complex communities. Learn online or on campus with interactive problem-based learning.

Covering the core requirements of an accredited professional social work degree, the course gives you the skills to understand how human behaviour interacts with complex social environments and institutions.

With a shortage of social workers in many countries, your UNE qualification can take you around the world. Our social work degrees are recognised internationally and locally.

What makes our course different?

Our Bachelor of Social Work is delivered flexibly, and we focus on developing both your theoretical and practical skills to fully equip you to work in a broad range of professional contexts. We offer opportunities to:

Study flexibly —either on campus or online (with on campus intensive schools for some units), Choose the option that suits your lifestyle and learning needs by studying with us — we understand that students come to UNE at different stages of their lives and professional careers.

Learn theoretical skills, enabling you to future proof your career in diverse areas of social work, including work with Indigenous peoples, child protection, rights-based practice, mental health and the law.

Learn practical skills by undertaking 1000 hours of professional fieldwork (clinical) placements in diverse social work settings, either locally or internationally.

Our clinical placements are supervised by experienced practitioners who support you in developing the skills needed to work with disadvantaged and marginalised individuals, groups, and communities. Our approach uses a social justice framework in counselling, advocacy, and community development to enhance people's health and wellbeing.

In order to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers, you must complete a minimum of 140 hours (20 days) of face-to-face teaching, even if you are studying online. For most units of the course, this can be achieved by way of the mandatory intensive schools that are held on campus.

Applying for advanced standing for existing professional experience could be an option if you have already completed:

Diploma (AQF Level 5) or advanced diploma (AQF Level 6) from a Vocational Education Training (VET) Community Services Package

Vocational Education Training (VET) Health Training Package in one of the following areas, or

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Care, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice, Nursing.

Our honours stream for the Bachelor of Social Work is worth considering to progress your studies, solve complex problems, and to develop your research and analytical thinking skills. Places are offered on academic merit, based on grade point average. Successful completion of the honours stream will equip you with the skills necessary for further postgraduate research, and allow you to demonstrate enhanced discipline knowledge.

UNE is Australia’s longest continuous provider of distance (now online) education and we're highly rated by our students. Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.