Bachelor of Social Work

Course summary for international students

Student profile

Ms Sharyl Brockett

Sharyl describes the University as having small campuses with a relaxed and non-threatening environment.

Key to campuses

B = Melbourne Burwood Campus
G = Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
S = Geelong Waterfront Campus
W =Warrnambool Campus
X = Off campus

Award granted	Bachelor of Social Work
Campus	Offered at Geelong Waterfront Campus
Off-campus	Yes
Length	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Next available intake	March (Trimester 1)
Indicative annual fee 2014	$20,460* AUD
Level	Undergraduate
CRICOS course code	015207F
IELTS Requirement	Overall IELTS score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0 (or equivalent). More information is available at www.ielts.org
Deakin course code	H330
VTAC Codes	1400415433 - Waterfront (Geelong), International full-fee paying place
Faculty contacts	Deakin International Tel +61 3 9627 4877 Online enquiry

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. An honours stream is available in the fourth year.

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.

Fees and charges

Fee paying place - International (IFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the University does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.

Fees for international students apply to persons living in Australia with Temporary Resident status, provided that there is no limitation on study and persons living abroad who are not Australian citizens and do not have Permanent Resident status in Australia.

Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.

* The 'indicative annual course fee' cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2014, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2014 can be viewed from the Unit Search.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on 'indicative course fees' to calculate the total future cost of their course.

Career opportunities

Social work is part of a growing human services field, with graduates working across local, state and federal government departments; in private and non-government human services organisations; and in various advocacy, policy making and tribunal capacities.

As a Social Work graduate you may be involved in activities as diverse as policy development and research, counselling, family therapy, drug and alcohol counselling, community development, refugee assistance and tribunal capacities. Social workers also work as program managers or coordinators, as advocates, facilitators, activists or consultants. You may work in specialist areas such as health, housing, education, or with groups such as the aged, women, youth or multi-cultural populations.

Course rules

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

To be awarded the Bachelor of Social Work degree with honours a person must complete the honours units HSW456 and HSW457 (refer course structure).

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

Course structure

(For students commencing 2009 onwards).

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

Level 1
Trimester 1

AIP107

Contemporary Australian Politics

ASC101

Introduction to Sociology A

HSW101

Introduction to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice A

HBS107

Understanding Health

Trimester 2

ASC102

Introduction to Sociology B

HSW111

Theories for Social Work Practice: Social Work Theory and Practice B

HSW118

Social Work Methods in Context: Social Work Theory and Practice C

plus

HBS110

Health Behaviour

HPS111

Fundamentals of Human Behaviour

Level 2
Trimester 1

AIP230

Public Policy in Australia

HSW221

Social Work Research in Ethical and Political Contexts

HSW235

Community Development: Social Work Theory and Practice D

plus one (1) elective

Trimester 2

HSW212

Social Work Processes and Interventions: Social Work Theory and Practice E

HSW219

Self and Society

MLS231

Legal and Ethical Contexts of Social Work

plus one (1) elective

Level 3
Trimester 1

HSW314

Social Work Field Education A

Trimester 2

ASC304

Culture and Control: Boundaries and Identities

HSW313

Anti-Oppressive Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice F

HSW316

Critical Social Policy

HSW322

Applied Social Research in Ethical and Political Context

Level 4
Trimester 1

HSW402

Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G

HSW434

Administration and Policy Development: The Organisational Context

HSW452

Working in Uncertainty: Social Work Theory and Practice H

plus one (1) elective

Trimester 2

HSW415

Social Work Field Education B

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 Honours stream

Trimester 1

HSW402

Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G

HSW434

Administration and Policy Development: The Organisational Context

HSW456

Honours Research Project in Social Work A

Trimester 2

HSW415

Social Work Field Education B

HSW457

Honours Research Project in Social Work B

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 a minimum of 980 hours of fieldwork placements 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/facs/bdb/fmu/service-agreement/4.departmental-policies-procedures-and-initiatives/4.6-police-record-check-policy-including-working-with-children-check

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

Entry requirements - general

General admission requirements for entry into undergraduate courses for international students at Deakin are summarised in the undergraduate admission requirements table (194kb).
Some courses may have additional entry requirements.
Students must also meet the undergraduate English language requirements.

Entry requirements - specific

International students must have an overall IELTS score of 7 with no band less than 7.

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for credit for prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your credit for prior learning.
Your credit for prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

How to apply

Applicant Portal: Use our online application system to submit and track your application now OR
Apply through a Deakin International office: Fill out an application form and submit it to a Deakin International office OR
Apply through a Deakin representative: Take your application form to your preferred agent for assistance.

Tracking your application
If you have already applied and wish to enquire about your application please refer to the relevant area through which you originally applied.

If you applied through a Deakin representative please contact your representative.
If you applied through a Deakin International office please contact deakin-int-admissions@deakin.edu.au

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