Bachelor of Social Welfare

A challenging and rewarding career that actively focuses on social change and community well-being await those whose skills in empathy and communication lead them to the human services sector.

Our Bachelor of Social Welfare will enable you to develop your skills in social welfare practice with children and young people, in the health and disability sectors and with Indigenous communities. You will gain on the job experience in placements working with individuals, groups, and organizations – helping people resolve problems and improving their outlook.

Graduates of this course will have opportunities to use their transferable skills for a variety of career outcomes in human services – from working directly with people in their homes or facilities to creating policies to improve society.

Career Opportunities

As welfare and community workers in various roles within the community services sector. These include government and non-government positions in fields such as child protection, disability services, housing services, youth work, aged care, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, community engagement, mental health services, and domestic violence services.

Professional Recognition

The course is accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA). Graduates are eligible to join ACWA.

Professional Placement

In line with ACWA requirements, students undertake 400 hours of supervised on-the-job training. This is completed in two separate organizations in different fields of practice so that students gain a diversity of experience.

Placements may include working across a variety of client groups, such as older people, or young people and families at the individual, group, organizational or community level of practice. Students may undertake placements in social welfare settings such as child protection, drugs and alcohol, criminal justice, community education, housing, emergency relief, family interventions and domestic violence.

All students must obtain a National Police Check and Work with Children Chec k and most agencies require students to have a driver's license.

Major Areas of Study

Children and Young People provides students with a comprehensive introduction to social welfare practice with children and young people in a range of organizational settings including government and non-government agencies. The latest research is explored to understand the ways in which children and young people are conceptualized and identified for human service practice.

Health and Disability examines health and disability as they impact on people and their life opportunities, as well as issues for social welfare workers negotiating the health and disability care systems.

Indigenous Studies assists students to develop a deeper understanding of Indigenous worldviews and history, as well as identifying culturally appropriate ways of working with Indigenous communities. Students gain an appreciation of the origins and effects of trauma across generations and within particular communities.

Please note that some units in this course are exclusively online.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods may include essays, research reports, case analysis, assessment of capabilities on field placement, recording of interviewing skills.

Teaching methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Our online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of a podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Please note: Students who undertake the course online are required to attend one three-day residential school on campus.

Facts, figures, rankings and awards

Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and connected regional research university, with vibrant campuses in northern New South Wales and the southern Gold Coast. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and many are available in a dynamic online form. Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

Why SCU?

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 20Bold, progressive and just 23 years of age – Southern Cross University is one of the Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Universities and one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities .

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. All are unique regions renowned for their natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia. We also deliver degrees with collaborators in China, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

We have a large and diverse range of courses available online, offering interactive and immersive learning experiences wherever our students are.

Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

We aim to produce graduates who are career ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach.

The University has a strong focus on industry and community collaboration to produce engaged teaching and research outcomes.

This connectivity is seeing Southern Cross University lead the $13.8m national Farming Together Pilot Program, partnering with the Northern Rivers Co-operatives Alliance and the Australian Government. The University has also introduced an important new Centre for Organics Research with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia report, Southern Cross achieved outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 24 research fields. In nine research fields, the University was evaluated at the highest possible classification of 'well above world standard'. This was achieved in the fields of Geochemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Science and Management, Zoology, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Crop and Pasture Production, Forestry Sciences, Nursing, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Campuses

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses on the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses (International students)

Southern Cross University's branch campuses at Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are conveniently located in the central business districts.

Studying at SCU Sydney, Melbourne or Perth gives international students the opportunity to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in three of the world's most liveable cities. Southern Cross University collaborates with EduCo Sydney Branch Pty Ltd for the operation of the SCU Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses.