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Bachelor of Social Work

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Create a career that improves the quality of life and develops the potential of individuals, groups and communities.

Social workers perform a crucial role in helping people confront social problems and improving the quality of their lives. Your social work degree will open the door to careers in government, non-government, welfare and community-based organisations in many different roles.

You will undertake two industry-based education placements in different human service agency settings under the supervision of experienced social workers.

The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Upon completion social work graduates will also be eligible for membership with the AASW.

Course Essentials

How to apply

We are currently accepting applications for this course. Applications close on 25 January 2013

Methods of applying:

  • You can apply direct to VU

Please note that part-time study may not be available at all campuses.

Already a VU student?

You can transfer into this course through our internal transfer process.

For more info contact the
College of Arts

Social Work Lecturer Doris Testa talks about the course.
Read the transcript

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Careers

  • School Social Worker
  • Hospital Social Worker
  • Homelessness Policy Officer
  • Community Health Centre Counsellor
  • Local Government Youth/ Community Development Worker
  • Drug and Alcohol Worker 
  • Sexual Assault Centre Counsellor/Advocate

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

Stephanie Thompson

Bachelor of Social Work

“Studying social work at Victoria University has given me a sound grounding in the complexities involved in this...

Read more
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Course Objectives

The Bachelor of Social Work course consists of four years of full-time university level study. It aims to prepare students for effective professional practice as social workers in the social and community services sector.

(a) General Objectives

The general objectives of the curriculum are associated with the liberal arts component of the BSW Course, which in time sequence precedes the professional component of the BSW course. The objectives of the liberal arts component of the BSW course at Victoria University are:

  • to obtain knowledge from the humanities and social sciences that informs social work;
  • to gain an understanding of the socioeconomic, political, psychological, and cultural forces that impinge upon people's lives;
  • to become aware of how society has developed and is organised; and
  • to obtain knowledge that enables students to broaden their understanding of themselves and the world.

(b) Professional Objectives The objectives of the professional component of the BSW programs are:

  • to prepare students for professional social work practice;
  • to increase students' knowledge and understanding of social welfare in the Australian context, emphasising origins, ideological bases, development, functions, contradictions, administrative forms, and impacts on oppressed groups including Indigenous people, poor people, women, people of colour and people with disabilities;
  • to expand students' understanding of the historical development of social work and of social work practice, including its scope and limitations, its internal debates, and its interrelationship with other bodies of knowledge;
  • to introduce students to the origins, manifestations, dynamics, causes and consequences of social inequality and oppression;
  • to facilitate students' development of purposeful use of skills within a wide range of social work roles and methods of intervention necessary for the elimination of social inequality and obstacles to social functioning;
  • to enhance students' development, intellectual inquisitiveness, creative problem-solving skills, reflective practices, and proper use of a range of research methods; a facility for critical questioning, and a goal of life-long learning; and
  • to strengthen students' understanding of, and commitment to, social work purposes, values, ideals, beliefs, and identity; particularly to understand it from an anti-oppressive framework.
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Units and electives

To be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Social Work students must have successfully completed a total of 384 credit points.

Plus Arts Elective 1 (12 credit points)

Plus Arts Elective 2 (12 credit points)

Plus TWO electives selected from a recommended list which may include:

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take, and optional 'elective' units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

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Admission Information

  • TAFE: VET applicants will be considered and pathways are available from a range of VET courses.
  • Year 12: VCE with minimum study score of 20 in English units 3 and 4 (any) or equivalent.
  • International: Completion of a secondary school qualification equivalent to Australia's year 12 or VCE qualification. IELTS minimum 6.0 (no band less than 6) or equivalent.
  • Mature: Applicants with relevant work, education and/or community experience may be considered on the basis of equivalence.
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How to apply for this course

We are currently accepting applications for this course.

You can apply direct to VU. Applications close on 25 January 2013.

When you're ready to apply:

  1. Read the Advice to applicants (contains details about how to apply for your course, extra requirements, what happens when you submit your application and other important information).
  2. Complete the Higher education direct entry application form.
  3. As part of the application you may need to complete extra requirements such as:
    • submit supplementary forms
    • attend an interview, audition, information session or workshop
    • submit a folio
    • sit a test

Details about extra requirements are available from the College of Arts.

You need to complete all extra requirements by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered.

Transferring between VU courses

Want to transfer into this course from another VU course? Complete the Victoria University internal course application form and check whether you need to complete any extra requirements, listed above.

You can also contact us directly:

  • Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development Student Centre
    Phone: +61 3 9919 4409
    Email: aehdcourses@vu.edu.au
  • Course Coordinator
    Rob Townsend
    Phone: +61 3 9919 9258
    Email: Rob.Townsend@vu.edu.au
  • Ring us on +61 3 9919 6100
  • Find answers and ask questions at GOTOVU

Get in touch

Contact us to discuss your course options:

Ring us on +61 3 9919 6100

Find answers and ask questions at GOTOVU

At Victoria University, we make every reasonable effort to make sure the information displayed online about our courses is accurate and complete. We continually look to provide innovative courses. Those courses are shaped by a number of things including your feedback and changes in Government funding arrangements. As a result there may be changes to the courses we deliver and fees charged. We will update the website regularly to reflect any changes.

Information about course fees, articulation and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations, and services available to students can be accessed on the University’s website or by contacting the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100.

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