Bachelor of Child and Family Studies

There are two modes of study for this program.

On-campus
As a full-time on-campus student, you will generally attend 10-15 hours of scheduled classes per week throughout the trimester. Classes may be scheduled during the day and evening throughout the week. The program includes three professional placements in Year 2 and 3 (100 days total) for which you must be available five working days each week. Some of the courses in this program are run in trimester 3 or in an intensive block format. It is important to check course profiles and your timetable carefully to ensure that all course requirements are fully understood.

Students enrolling at the Gold Coast campus should note that the following core courses are only offered at Logan campus or online:

• 2024HSV Engagement with Children
• 2026HSV Childhood: Early Years
• 3013HSV Children and Youth

This program includes one core course in trimester 3 and offers some possibilities for elective courses in trimester 2.

Distance Education
Students can enrol in the Distance Education offering of the program and will be able to complete the program off-campus by distance learning via our online learning management system with the exception of three compulsory five-day face-to-face intensive on-campus courses.

As a full-time Distance Education student, you will study online which may include online coursework, readings, research, discussions and other course related study. You should check the minimum computer specifications for studying online before considering applying for the Distance Education offering of this program.

Your compulsory attendance is in the form of one five-day intensive course per year held at the Gold Coast campus as follows:

• Year 1 - 1008HSV Interpersonal Skills (offered in T3 only)
• Year 2 - 2027HSV Group Facilitation (offered in T3 only)
• Year 3 - 3020HSV Counselling Individuals and Families (offered in T1 only)

Domestic students studying off-shore outside Australia will be required to attend the compulsory face-to-face intensives on-campus in Australia as part of designated courses in accordance with professional accreditation requirements.

Advanced Diploma pathway

The 80 credit points of courses in this pathway are available only in off-campus online mode.

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.

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. In this program you will spend 100 days in the work/professional environment.

• In Year 2, you are required to undertake unpaid professional practice which requires part-time attendance at a child care centre on one occasion over 30 days and
• In Year 2, you are required to undertake unpaid professional practice which requires part-time attendance at a workplace with children (6-18 years) on one occasion for 30 days.
• In Year 3, you are required to undertake 40 days unpaid professional practice which requires full time attendance at a human service organisation over this trimester.

On-campus students: Some placements may be outside of the Brisbane metropolitan/Logan/Gold Coast areas.

Distance Education students: Placements will be negotiated accordingly.

You will be qualified to lead child and family programs in the early years' health and community services sector. You will also be qualified for positions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, child and family welfare, child protection and child safety services, community-based organisations, community development, family support services, foster care services, services for women, welfare organisations, and policy and research.

The on-campus offering of the Bachelor of Child and Family Studies is accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA). ACWA accreditation for the distance education offering of this program is currently being sought.

Graduates of the on-campus offering of this program will be eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) subject to meeting any additional requirements that may be stipulated by the ACWA. As these requirements may change from time to time, students should contact the ACWA to confirm registration requirements.

This program is recognised by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets out the minimum qualification requirements for educators working in children's education and care services.

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.

If you are living in a remote or rural area, you may be expected to travel to a professional placement and this may also incur accommodation and living expenses to you. A Griffith University Placement Officer will work with you to find a suitable local placement however, this cannot always be guaranteed. Domestic students studying off-shore outside Australia can complete the placement (by negotiation) interstate or overseas.

Advanced Diploma pathway

Students who complete the first phase of this pathway will be awarded the Bachelor of Child and Family Studies. These students may then be eligible to apply for entry to the Master of Primary Teaching.

Additionally as is the case with all Bachelor of Child and Family Studies students, these students will be eligible for entry into the Master of Human Services and the Master of Social Work.