Master of Social Work

All students commencing in the Master of Social Work from July 2016 are required to attend at least 20 days on campus throughout their full period of study. This is a non-negotiable requirement of all AASW accredited social work programs in Australia. This can be achieved by attending the embedded compulsory intensives held at Gold Coast campus only in set courses throughout the program:

• 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice (10 days)*
• 7002HSV Applied Counselling (5 days)
• 7063HSV Critical Reflective Practice in Social Work (5 days)

* 7060HSV Foundations of Social Work Practice must be completed in the first trimester of study. Students must pass this introductory course to continue in the program and undertake the first field placement course.

This program is offered in full-time and part-time mode. However, if you are intending to study part-time, it must be noted that the two field placements components of the program are to be completed within a full-time study load (at a minimum of three days per week).

On-campus elective courses may be offered at a campus other than a student's home campus. Students may be required to travel between campuses to complete some elective courses.

Duration

Trimester 2 intake

Students commencing in Trimester 2 will complete an accelerated pathway, completing the program in 2 years, full time.

Trimester 3 intake

Students commencing in Trimester 3 will complete an accelerated pathway, completing in 2.5 years, full time.

This program includes compulsory study in Trimester 3. Students who commence in Trimester 3 and are receiving income support should plan their enrolment to ensure they meet study requirements in the standard Trimester 1 and 2.

Student Income Support

To be classed as a full-time student, you are required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points each standard study period. The minimum credit points for full-time enrolment in this program is 30 credit points.

Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 are deemed standard study periods. As Trimester 3 is a non-standard study period, continuing students moving from one year to the next will not be required to study during this trimester to be eligible for student income support.

Domestic students who commence in Trimester 3 may be eligible for student income support from the onset of study provided they are enrolled full-time in this study period.

Please refer to the Australian Government website for more details.

Managing study interruptions

Leave of absence: Students will require approval from the Program Director or nominee to take a leave of absence.

Work-integrated learning activities (professional placements) integrate theoretical learning with its application in the workplace. The inclusion of work-integrated learning activities in the degree program demonstrates Griffith's commitment to preparing its graduates for success in their working life.

There will be two field placement courses. These field placements are of 1000 hour minimum duration in an agency that meets the requirements of Griffith University. Students will be supervised by a qualified social worker for the duration of the field placement. In some situations, it may be possible to negotiate a work-place based field placement.

In accordance with Section 4 of the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) 2020 "Placements will be undertaken over at least two years of the professional social work program of study".

This degree prepares graduates for practice in a range of social work roles including working with individuals, groups and families, community work, advocacy, research, planning and policy development and management and administration. The frameworks for practice incorporated in the program are designed to ensure graduates are effective, ethical, and innovative thinkers, communicators, problem-solvers, change facilitators and leaders.

There are career opportunities for social workers in government, non-government and private sector agencies with jobs in hospital and community health settings, youth work, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, child and family welfare, child protection, youth and adult offending, employment and income support, aged care, community development, family support, disability services, services for women, multicultural services and many other social welfare organisations.

The Master of Social Work is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).

Enrolled students and graduates of this program will be eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) subject to meeting any additional requirements that may be stipulated by the AASW, particularly in relation to English language proficiency. As these requirements may change from time to time, students should contact the AASW to confirm registration requirements.

There are placements associated with this program and before undertaking professional experience placements, all students in this program are required to have completed the following by the end of their first trimester of study:

• Vaccinations and Health Tests
• Licenses and Certificates
• Online Training
• Health Placement Requirements

Students should refer to the checklist of professional practice requirements for their Health discipline on the Health Placement Support Hub for full details of the requirements regarding professional placement to ensure that they meet eligibility for placement.

Students who have successfully completed the Master of Social Work (Dissertation pathway) may be eligible for admission to the MPhil or PhD subject to the specified requirements for candidature in the Higher Degree Research Policy.