Bachelor of Social Work

2015 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2015 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year2015 course information
Award granted Bachelor of Social Work
CampusOffered at Waterfront (Geelong)
Cloud CampusYes
Duration4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code015207F
Deakin course codeH330

Course is under review in 2015 and may be subject to change.

Students who meet eligibility requirements will enrol in H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) for their fourth year of study.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Social work is concerned with enhancing the wellbeing of people in their social environments. It is a broad profession with diverse practices that may include working with individuals, families, groups, communities and organisations.

The Bachelor of Social Work provides a progressive and innovative approach to social work with emphasis on personal, community and social development in urban, rural, local and global contexts. The course engages with the interplay between diversity, power and social inequality through anti-oppressive, empowerment and critically-reflective approaches to social work practice and social policy.

Throughout the course, you will develop knowledge and understanding of:

  • the interplay between the broad socio-economic, interpersonal and personal influences on individual peoples’ lives;
  • how the socio-political and policy contexts in which people work influences their day-to-day practice;
  • a range of social research methods and the ability to design and conduct research directly relevant to social work practice;
  • the broad inter-disciplinary nature of social work and an ability to apply knowledge from theories, research and experience in practice
  • principles of non-discrimination, human rights and social justice, and an ability to apply these in relation to traditionally marginalised and disadvantaged groups;
  • working  across social and cultural differences, whilst respecting difference and multiple diversities of identities;
  • personal and professional standards of practice in the context of a capacity for life-long learning.

The Bachelor of Social Work is offered at pass or Honours level. Students who meet eligibility requirements can apply to enrol in Honours at completion of their third year. The key eligibility criterion being a WAM of 70 or above in the Bachelor of Social Work. H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is then completed in the fourth year where BSW students are expected to undertake a suite of research focused units. It is important to plan your pathway through the Bachelor of Social Work carefully to keep the option of Honours open for the final year. Please see Course Structure Level 4 H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) for more information.

Professional recognition

The course is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Students completing the course are eligible to apply for membership of AASW and can practise professionally throughout Australia.

Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the AASW retains discretion as to who they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.


Work-Integrated Learning

Field education placements provide an opportunity for students to learn from experience under the supervision of qualified social work practitioners. During the course you will complete two field education placements of 500 hours each, totalling a minimum of 1000 hours that are conducted in a variety of communities and workplaces in metropolitan and regional settings. As social work at Deakin has a rural focus, one of the two fieldwork placements will have a rural focus.

Department of Human Services policy and Working with Children Check

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy* all students are required to obtain a Police Records Check (PRC) each year prior to undertaking field placements. Students may also be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWC).

* Department of Human Services Policy on Working with Children Check and Police Records Checks can be found at:

http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/our-organisation/careers/applying-for-a-job/application-process/step-4-safety-screening-checks

** Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, Victoria, Australia retrieved April 2012.


Attendance requirements

Cloud (online) students are required to attend a minimum of 20 days of face to face time delivered during the four-year degree.  Dates to be advised. Attendance requirements will also apply to some units in other modes of study, including campus, and community based delivery at the Institute of Koorie Education.  See Handbook entries for details of individual units.

Course rules

Students are required to successfully complete 32 credit points of study.

To be awarded H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) a person must complete the Honours units HSW401, HSW402, HSW404, HSW416 and HSW417 (refer course structure).

Failure of a field education placement will normally lead to exclusion.

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Note: Students who commenced prior to 2009 must follow the course structure applicable to their level of commencement.

Level 1
Trimester 1

AIP107Unit description is currently unavailable

ASC101Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW101Unit description is currently unavailable

HBS107Unit description is currently unavailable

Trimester 2

ASC102Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW111Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW118Unit description is currently unavailable

plus
HBS110Unit description is currently unavailable

Or
HPS111Unit description is currently unavailable


Level 2

Trimester 1
AIP230Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW221Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW235Unit description is currently unavailable

plus one (1) elective

Trimester 2

HSW201Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW212Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW219Unit description is currently unavailable

plus one (1) elective

Level 3
Trimester 1

HSW314Unit description is currently unavailable

Trimester 2

ASC304Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW313Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW316Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW322Unit description is currently unavailable


Level 4 - Pass stream
Trimester 1
HSW402Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW434Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW452Unit description is currently unavailable

plus one (1) elective

Trimester 2

HSW415Unit description is currently unavailable


Elective units
Elective units may be chosen from any faculty in the University provided that prerequisites are met. A maximum of 2 elective units may be studied at level 1.

Level 4 - H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

Trimester 1

HSW401Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW402Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW416Unit description is currently unavailable

Trimester 2

HSW404Unit description is currently unavailable

HSW417Unit description is currently unavailable

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure