Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying)

Your study in arts and social sciences, and interest in human rights and social justice can be taken to the professional level with the Master of Social Work .

This 2-year postgraduate program will prepare and qualify you to enter the Social Work profession in Australia and work with people and communities towards improving their contexts.

You will study child protection, social policy, and law, health issues impacting Indigenous communities and leadership in social work organizations, and undertake practice under the supervision of an experienced social worker.

As a graduate, you will have the values and knowledge to be ethical and reflective practitioners in this rewarding field.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this degree will qualify as social workers in Australia. Graduates may also be eligible to apply to work as social workers overseas.

Graduates will be suited to employment in a wide range of jobs in the health and community services sectors. These include positions that are designated solely for social work-qualified staff (e.g. in hospitals), as well as other human services jobs that are open to other graduates. Graduates may be employed in organizations such as Centrelink, public and private hospitals, child protection agencies, Australian Defence Force, domestic violence services, housing and homelessness agencies, aged care and disability services, mental health agencies, family counseling agencies, rehabilitation services and private practice.

Professional Recognition

This is an Australian Association of Social Workers AASW-accredited qualification. 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).

Professional Placement

In line with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) requirements, students will be required to undertake 1000 hours of supervised practice. All students, studying on campus or online, are required to attend two field education placements. These placements are completed in two separate organizations in different fields of practice so that students gain a diversity of experience.

The Social Work Field Placement I unit involves 400 hours (57 days) across Sessions 2 and 3 of the first year (of full-time study), with a minimum of three days per week spent on placement. In addition, the Social Work Field Placement II unit involves 600 hours (86 days) across Sessions 2 and 3 of the second year (of full-time study), with a minimum of three days per week spent on placement. These time commitments apply to both full-time and part-time students.

Please note: All students must obtain a National Police Check and Working with Children Check. Some agencies also require students undertaking placements to be immunized for a number of conditions and to have up-to-date vaccinations. Most agencies require students to have a driver’s license.

Major Areas of Study

The course includes core content in child protection, cross-cultural practice, mental health work, and work with people from Indigenous communities. It covers essential theories and methods of social work practice including effective practice in working with individuals, groups, and communities. Students are also exposed to key knowledge in using social policy and the law to advance the rights of clients and community members.

Assessment methods

Assessment items may include essays, research reports, case analysis, assessment of competence on their field placements, and recording interviewing skills.

Teaching methods

All students need to have access to high-speed broadband in order to complete the online activities, which are a core part of this course.

On-campus students have unlimited internet and email access and can connect to the University’s library catalogs, online full-text journal databases and book and article request service. Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, workshops, and online discussion forums and problem-based learning material. Some units require compulsory class attendance in line with AASW accreditation standards.

The online study option for this course is interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students have contact with tutors, access to online problem-based learning material and discussion forums, study guides and access to all library services.

On-campus students take three units in online mode. For international students, this complies with international visa requirements.

Residential schools: Online students are required to attend three compulsory seven-day residential schools to be held at the Gold Coast campus, in line with AASW accreditation standards.

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.