Bachelor of Social Work
Program code
1372
Available at
Nathan
Gold Coast
Mount Gravatt
Logan
South Bank
Online
Offshore
Other
Duration
4 years full-time
Credit points
320
Indicative fee
$33,000.00* per year (more)
* 2024 indicative annual fee
About this program
Want to help people? Feel passionate about social justice and human rights - then social work is the right profession for you.
On your way to a satisfying career, you will study specialized social work courses, society and social arrangements, human behaviour and development, human services provision and counselling approaches and techniques to name a few core study areas.
You will complete two 500 hour field placements in your degree. Field placements give you the chance to put your academic knowledge and skills into practice, develop new ones and sample social work practice in the real world.
You will be supervised by a qualified social worker for the duration of your field placements.
In some situations, it may be possible to negotiate a workplace-based field placement.
Placements will be sourced in your area of choice where possible.
Students living in remote or rural areas may have limited choices depending on the availability of organisations within their local area and may have to travel.
You will become highly proficient in all core areas of social work theory and practice, develop critical thinking and reflective skills and be prepared for practice grounded in the values and ethics of the profession - social justice, diversity, equity and a commitment to the rights and needs of the people with whom you work.
Honours
Honours is available for this degree. Students who have completed the first two years of a relevant Bachelor degree with an appropriate Grade Point Average (GPA) and who meet the other requirements for admission to Honours have the opportunity to undertake a research project with supervision provided by an experienced researcher.
| Code | Program title | Campus | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1372 | Bachelor of Social Work (this program) | Gold Coast, Logan, Distance Education | Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 |
| 1416 | Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) | Gold Coast, Logan, Distance Education | Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 |
Note: Progression to the Honours program is dependent upon satisfying eligibility requirements.
Attendance information
The Bachelor of Social Work is offered full-time on-campus at the Gold Coast and Logan campuses.
Students will need to be available full-time to attend 1000 hours of professional practice education placements in Years 3 and 4 as follows:
- 3012HSV Social Work Field Placement 1 (30 credit points)
- 4012HSV Social Work Field Placement 2 (30 credit points)
The field placements must be completed over two calendar years in accordance with Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (AWSEAS). The two compulsory field placements are completed in full-time mode and students must complete a minimum of 1000 hours of placement through the entirety of the program. In the case of extenuating circumstances only, placement days per week may be negotiated but must still fit within AASW accreditation guidelines. This will not change the number of hours in total that are required to be completed overall - therefore, placement may end after the scheduled University trimester end date.
Note the campus offerings for core social work courses in third and fourth year:
- 3005HSV Social Work in Health and Mental Health - offered at Logan campus and Gold Coast blended only
- 3023HSV Working with Family Violence - offered online. An on-campus offering will be available at Gold Coast or Logan campus
- 3036HSV Social Work 1 - offered online only
- 3038HSV Social Work 2 - offered at Gold Coast campus and online only
- 4002HSV Critical Reflective Practice - offered online only.
This program includes compulsory study in Trimester 3 of Year 3.
The Distance Education offering of the Bachelor of Social Work is not available to International students.
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 two practical professional placements which sit in the third and fourth year of the program during which you must be available five working days each week. Some of the courses in this program are run 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.
If you are an International student on a student visa, you must ensure that you enrol in a way that will allow you to complete your enrolment within the expected program duration as stated on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Work-integrated learning
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 time in the work/professional environment undertaking placements at various locations. Placements may be outside of the Brisbane metropolitan/Gold Coast area including northern New South Wales and (by negotiation) interstate or overseas. Total work placements (hours): 1000.
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".
My career opportunities
Graduates of Griffith University's Bachelor of Social Work are ethical and innovative thinkers, effective communicators, problem solvers, change facilitators and leaders. The social work program prepares you for a wide range of social work roles that involve practice with individuals, families and communities.
You may consider careers in child protection, youth work, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, child and family welfare, youth and adult offending, disability, hospital and community health settings, mental health, community development work, employment and income support, counselling, aged care, work with migrants and refugees, policy planning and development, management and administration, research and even private practice.
There are so many flexible career paths in social work. Social workers are employed in government and non-government agencies and found wherever inequality and social problems exist.
Program accreditation
The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Professional recognition
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. As these requirements may change from time to time, students should contact the AASW to confirm registration requirements.
Professional Practice 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.
International students
An International student is one who is not:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen or
- a Pacific Engagement visa holder or
- a person who has Australian permanent resident status.
Indicative annual tuition fee
The indicative annual tuition fee is calculated based on a standard full-time study load which is usually 80 credit points (two full-time trimesters).
The indicative annual tuition fee is based on current conditions and available data and should only be used as a guide. These fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.
Tuition fees
- An International student pays tuition fees.
- Students are liable for tuition fees for the courses they are enrolled in as at the census date.
- The tuition fee for students who commence their program prior to 2014 is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student commenced the program.
- The tuition fee for students who commence their program from 2014 onwards is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student is enrolled.
Program fees for the Bachelor of Social Work (1372)
If the fee rate for your program is not displayed above, please contact Student Connect for assistance.
Changing programs
If an International student changes to a different program they will be subject to the approved program fee for the trimester in which they are enrolled.
Permanent resident status
If an undergraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will be provided with a domestic fee-paying place.
The student may then apply for a Commonwealth supported place at the next admission period provided that the student satisfies the conditions for transfer from a domestic fee-paying place to a Commonwealth supported place as set out in the Undergraduate Programs Admission Policy.
If a postgraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth supported place (subject to availability) or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.
If a research student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.
Further information
- Fees and Charges Procedure
- 3.6 - Fees for International Students
- 3.9 - Administrative and Miscellaneous Charges
- Cost of studying in Australia
Additional fee information
Throughout your program you may be required to pay for the following items:
first aid certificate; immunisations; uniforms; expenses associated with placements such as travel and accommodation. Fit for Professional Practice Placement costs such as Blue Card, Police Check. See Health Placement Support Hub website for more details.