Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (R7O)

• 1 Initiate improvements to services, policies and professional accountability in social work through the innovative application of critical analysis, research and culturally relevant knowledge.
• 2 Maximise ways of decolonising social work knowledge, frameworks and practices to address inequality and injustice in ways that promote social sustainability policies and goals.
• 3 Construct communication strategies that can respond to the needs and capacities of diverse social work client groups, communities, and organisations.
• 4 Propose leadership approaches for social work that are collaborative, cooperative and useful in micro, meso and macro contexts.
• 5 Develop ethical social work research and practice-based responses to local, national and global social justice and human rights challenges.
• 6 Design practical solutions that can contribute to the decolonising agenda in social work in a sustainable way by using creative, entrepreneurial, and relational approaches.

You will need to complete a minimum of 1000 hours of professional experience placement, equivalent to 2 x 14 weeks full-time. Placements are undertaken on a full-time basis. In some circumstances part-time placements may be negotiated, subject to availability.

The University will organise your placement. Before you begin placement, you will need to complete preparation activities and tasks. You will be allocated a field educator/social worker, with a minimum of 2 years full time equivalent post-graduation experience in the field. Your professional placement experience provides you with the opportunity to learn how to apply social work knowledge and skills into practice.

It is possible in some circumstances for students to complete a placement in their place of work.

Recognition of Prior Learning is possible for the first placement. Students who are given RPL for the first placement are unable to complete the final placement in their place of employment.

See more information and resources at Field Education Placements.

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is an externally accredited degree.

This course is accredited by Australian Association of Social Workers.

For further accreditation/membership requirements, please visit the Australian Association of Social Workers website.

If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.

Students with a Bachelor degree in a related field: 

The equivalent of an Australian Bachelor Degree in a related field. Relevant study areas include (but are not limited to):  

• Psychology  

• Sociology  

• Criminology  

• Geography  

• Education  

• History  

• Law  

• Health  

• Nursing  

• Disability studies  

• Philosophy  

• Political sciences 

• Indigenous studies  

• Gender studies 

The study must include at least one-year of full-time study (or equivalent) combining the social and behavioural sciences and have been completed within the last 10 years. Students with qualifications older than 10 years may complete a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) by completing 4 units (50 credit points) from the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours.

Students with a Bachelor degree in a non-related field: 

Students with the equivalent of an Australian Bachelor Degree in a non-related field, may complete a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) by completing either: 

• 8 units (100 credit points) from the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours; or

• at least one-year of full-time study combining the social and behavioural sciences, in another course, such as Diploma of Arts.

Safety in Practice Compliance

Students need to complete a Safety in Practice Agreement to meet pre-practicum requirements. This includes a National Police Record Check and relevant Working with Vulnerable People Check. See more information and resources at Social Work Field Education Placements.

Students with a Bachelor degree in a related field: 

The equivalent of an Australian Bachelor Degree in a related field. Relevant study areas include (but are not limited to):  

• Psychology  

• Sociology  

• Criminology  

• Geography  

• Education  

• History  

• Law  

• Health  

• Nursing  

• Disability studies  

• Philosophy  

• Political sciences 

• Indigenous studies  

• Gender studies 

The study must include at least one-year of full-time study in the social and behavioural sciences and have been completed within the last 10 years. Students with qualifications older than 10 years may complete a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) by completing 4 units (50 credit points) from the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours.

Students with a Bachelor degree in a non-related field: 

Students with the equivalent of an Australian Bachelor Degree in a non-related field, may complete a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) by completing either: 

• 8 units (100 credit points) from the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours. 

• In addition to holding a completed Bachelor Degree, the Diploma of Arts is accepted.

English Language Requirements

This degree requires an IELTS (Academic) of 7.0, with no individual band less than 7.0. Equivalent tests are accepted for this course. 
Applicants will be required to meet this requirement prior to commencing a pathway into their Social Work program.

Applicants who have successfully completed a minimum of 24 months of full time (or equivalent) studies undertaken in English at institutions in Australia, UK, US, Singapore, Canada or NZ within the previous 24 months will meet the English language requirements for entry.

For students who do not meet the English Language Requirement through citizenship or prior studies in English in an approved country, evidence of an approved English language test completed within the last 2 years must be provided.

See the English Language Requirements page for more information. Also see the AASW English language requirements for more details.

Safety in Practice Compliance

Students need to complete a Safety in Practice Agreement to meet pre-practicum requirements. This includes a National Police Record Check and relevant Working with Vulnerable People Check. See more information and resources at Social Work Field Education Placements.