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Promote the social welfare of individuals, families, groups and communities through empowering them to access to support programs and services. Examine psychology within social welfare practice, the determinants that lead to deviance and crime, and the socio-cultural elements that can influence welfare and social justice. Learn from experts in the field as you complete 1000 hours of placement and professional experience.

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#1 in Queensland

for full-time employment Good Universities Guide 2023, UG Social Work

1000 Hours of placement

Gain practical experience through placements across the social welfare field

5 Stars

for median graduate salary Good Universities Guide 2023, UG Social Work

Some compulsory on-campus attendance is required for online students.

Online: February, July
Townsville: February, July
Cairns: February, July

$11,830.00⁺

⁺estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

4 years full-time

or part-time equivalent

ATAR 66.5

English (Units 3/4,C)

311099
311091
321091

What to expect

A Bachelor of Social Work from JCU provides you with the practical skills and experience to begin a rewarding career, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, International and tropical communities.

Learn how to promote positive relationships and champion a just and equitable society. You will study core subjects including social work with families and children, cross-cultural practice, eco-social justice, psychology and mental health. Benefit from passionate educators, state-of-the-art social research technology and real-world case studies with an emphasis on sustainability and advocacy.

Apply your theoretical knowledge to extensive field placements in your third and fourth years. Learn from leading social workers and build effective relationships with diverse cultures, including rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. You could also participate in field trips to India and Thailand.

JCU Social Work graduates are confident, high-achieving professionals with the skillset to succeed in a rewarding global workforce.

Graduates of this course are eligible for full membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Additional information

About JCU's Bachelors Degree in Social Work

Be equipped to become a force of change in society and the lives of individuals. Understand how to balance the structures of inequality built into modern societies through your Bachelor of Social Work studies with JCU.

Study Social Work and Prepare to Make a Difference

Partner with JCU to gain the training you need to use your passion for justice. Learn how to promote effective relationships among people from diverse backgrounds. Develop the skills and knowledge to work with individuals, groups, families and whole communities as you study social work at JCU.

Attain a world-class education at JCU and receive hands-on experience in an international context. Work with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds and build the skills necessary to bring people together, while finding equitable solutions to society's most pressing problems.

Broaden Your Perspective

You will work in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to learn about the present while understanding the significance of our past. Gain a unique perspective on how social, historical and political issues have impacted our societies, cultures and the environment.

Your social work degree in Queensland is nationally accredited and allows you to take part in research that matters, promoting the welfare of families and rural communities. Advocate for the welfare of individuals, groups, families and whole communities through your studies at JCU.

Experience Life First-Hand with JCU's Social Work Degree in Queensland

Gain first-hand experience working within cross-cultural situations. Work with issues of mental health and social welfare in the context of families with children. Develop critical insight through over 1,000 hours of hands-on, practical experience and learn how to address inequality head-on with viable solutions.

Work closely with marginalised people under the guidance of experienced lecturers committed to student success. Build active listening skills throughout your social work bachelor’s degree and learn how to develop strategies to address your client’s needs. Learn first-hand how social support programs succeed or fail.

Communicate Effective Change

Be equipped to promote meaningful change with your degree in social work - your ideas can make a difference. Through your studies at JCU, you will learn to consolidate information and present it in to your colleagues in creative and motivational ways.

The experience you gain through your studies will also give you the skill to empower others. You will become an agent of change, helping others take control of their lives and advocate to end social injustice and inequality in various cultural settings.

Learn Innovative Solutions During Your Bachelor of Social Work

Develop sound judgment and effective listening skills to assess client needs and respond appropriately. Build your abilities in decision-making and promoting constructive solutions to problems in a way that benefits everyone involved.

Make a genuine difference in the lives of others where it is needed most with your social work degree from JCU. Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to solve problems effectively while learning will increase your employability. Whether you want to work in aged care, with children, or with people experiencing homelessness, drug addiction, or domestic violence, you will be prepared for a successful and meaningful future.
Hide additional information

View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects, as well as pre-placement requirements.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work.

Honours

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees.

Career Opportunities

JCU Social Work graduates are equipped to advocate for social justice and change in a broad range of environments.

Graduates pursue careers in Australia and overseas in aged care, public housing, child welfare, government agencies, drug and alcohol support, domestic violence, Indigenous health, not-for-profit groups, education, private and public hospitals, and more.

You could find employment as a child protection officer, mental health counsellor, health policy officer, health services manager, social worker, youth worker, or school counsellor.

Social workers can be involved in supporting individuals, groups and communities to respond and adapt to a changing climate.

Entry requirements

Entry score threshold

These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2022. Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in June each year. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee admission.

ATAR/Selection Rank: 66.50

Entry score range

This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the Bachelor of Social Work for Semester 1, 2022. The table includes offers deferred to Semester 1, 2022 which may have been assessed using the entry score threshold of an earlier year.

JCU Townsville

	Without adjustments	With adjustments*
Highest	89.7	89.7
Median	73.7	74.7
Lowest	64.7	66.7

JCU Cairns

	Without adjustments	With adjustments*
Highest	84.1	84.1
Median	68.85	70.85
Lowest	64.8	66.7

^{Notes:
<5 – indicates less than 5 OP/ATAR-based offers made.}
^{* Refer to Adjustment Factors}

Find out more about who you might study with by viewing this course’s student profile.

Adjustment factors

James Cook University applies bonus ranks under the Regional Preference Scheme and QTAC’s Educational Access Scheme (EAS). Learn more about JCU’s adjustment factors.

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2023
Course code	112510
Course type	Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7)
Professional accreditation status	This course is conditionally accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Graduates are eligible for full membership of AASW. Student preliminary membership is available.
Owner	Academy
College	Arts, Society and Education

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	English (Units 3/4,C)
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 3c – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	Clinical placement/professional practice: This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense (Note: health professional courses generally involve extensive professional or clinical placements). Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure.
Post admission requirements	On-campus attendance requirement: The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) requires all students to demonstrate that they have attended 20 days on campus face-to-face throughout their entire course. Students need to be aware that meeting the AASW attendance requirements does not mitigate the attendance requirements for specific subjects within this course. Throughout this course more than 20 days attendance face-to-face on campus may be required. Honours: The embedded honours degree is available only to students admitted to the Bachelor of Social Work at this university. A student may be invited by the College Dean to undertake the embedded honours degree if the student has satisfied the College requirements relating to the selection of subjects and the standard of academic achievement necessary to undertake the honours degree. Under approved circumstances students may enrol in Honours part-time. Suitability to Work with Children Card (blue card): This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course. For more information, refer to: Blue Card Services

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

96 credit points as per course structure

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Social Work, graduates will demonstrate an understanding of a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth:

The underlying values, ethics, theories, professional practice and workplace contexts in the social work discipline
The unique, complex and contemporary relationships between social work and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their diverse histories and cultures
The impact of social, political and historical issues on environmental and social sustainability in Australia and internationally, with a focus on the tropics

Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work will be able to:

Review critically and analyse social systems, institutions, structures, processes, practices and inequities
Consolidate, synthesise and evaluate social policy and evidence to devise practical and knowledge solutions that reduce social barriers, inequalities and injustice
Communicate social work knowledge processes, practice and ethics clearly and coherently through well-developed literacy, numeracy and technological skills to a range of audiences
Manage service provision and professional practice to engage with and enable individuals, groups and communities to achieve social and environmental justice
Apply and adapt well-developed professional practice knowledge and skills, autonomously and in collaboration with others, to address social barriers, inequity and injustice across diverse contexts
Demonstrate initiative and well-developed judgement in engagement, planning, decision-making, problem-solving and provision and evaluation of specialist advice and functions, to achieve practice, organisational and/or policy outcomes
Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and professional development

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Bachelor of Social Work.
Reasonable adjustments	All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

Level 1

PL1001:03 The Political World: An Introduction to Political Science

SY1001:03 Australian Society: An Introduction to Sociology

WS1005:03 Human Rights, Social Justice, and the Law

WS1006:03 Foundations of Social Work

WS1007:03 Lifespan Development and Psychology for Social Welfare Practice

WS1008:03 Social Policy and Social Work

CY1001:03 Deviance, Crime and Society

SS1010:03 Australian People: Indigeneity and Multiculturalism

Level 2

WS2009:03 Foundations of Social Work Research

WS2010:03 Women, Power and Society

SY2100:03 Migration, Ethnicity and Belonging

WS2121:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Skills and Frameworks for Practice

WS2510:03 Interpersonal Skills

WS2511:03 Professional Ethics

WS2512:03 Organisational Practice

WS2513:03 Community Work

Level 3

WS3025:03 Group Work

WS3027:03 Working with Children and Families

WS3214:03 Eco Social Justice

WS3503:09 Field Education 1

WS3515:03 Professional Skills for Social Work Practice

WS3513:03 Developing Research Proposals

Level 4

WS4005:03 Conducting Research and Program Evaluation

WS4504:09 Field Education 2

WS4514:03 Advanced Social Work Theory

WS4503:03 Social Work and Mental Health

WS4511:03 Professional Identity and Social Work Practice

WS4812:03 Social Work Practice in Contemporary Contexts

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Cairns	Internal or mixed-mode attendance
JCU Townsville	Internal or mixed-mode attendance

Candidature

Expected time to complete	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Maximum time to complete	11 years
Maximum leave of absence	3 years

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	Yes Further information about placements can be found at: Coursework Enrolment Procedure. Students may be required to undertake placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled at their own expense.
Special assessment requirements	Refer to Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement policy.
Professional accreditation requirements	Graduates are eligible for full membership of AASW. Student preliminary membership is available.
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure.
Maximum allowed	63 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 21 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the candidate has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	Diploma: Maximum 24 credit points (unspecified credit) at various year levels Advanced Diploma: Maximum 27 credit points. 24 credit points (unspecified credit – at various year levels) PLUS 3 credit points (specified - WS1006:03 Self in Professional Helping). Credit will not be granted for Field Education 2 (WS4504).

Award Details

Award title	BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK
Approved abbreviation	BSW
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies.
Course articulation	Students who successfully complete the entry requirements for the embedded honours program will be eligible to apply for entry to the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) [Embedded] after three years.
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Honours

Honours availability	Available as an Embedded honours program
Eligibility	By invitation of the College Dean Normally at least a credit grade in four level 2 or level 3 social work subjects; and at least a distinction grade in at least two level 2 or level 3 social work subjects (including WS3513 Research Proposal Seminar) is required in the bachelor degree.

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD11,830.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

An ATAR is the score required for entry into most undergraduate courses. If you are not a Year 12 school leaver or do not have an ATAR, you can be assigned an equivalent score. Scores are calculated from previous study that you might have completed, either secondary, tertiary or vocational, or previous paid employment experience.

JCU offers pathway courses to help you move into a degree. Pathway courses provide you with an individualised study plan and specialised support as you transition to university.

How to apply

Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.

Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.

ATAR score is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.

Student

Leah Nicholls

Bachelor of Social Work

With JCU Social Work, I had the opportunity to travel to Kerala, India, for a student exchange program in 2018. It was a life-changing experience, which created new world views and opinions about working with communities, families and individuals. I made lifelong friends who I still keep in contact with today.
Alumni

Wesley Bennet

Bachelor of Social Work

I work at ACT for Kids as a social worker and therapist. I come from an Aboriginal family – I’m the first person in my family to go to university. Studying Social Work was great because it gave me the opportunity to work with other Indigenous families. This career is so rewarding and interesting. You won’t regret it.
Lecturer

Dr Vinnitta Mosby

College of Arts, Society and Education

One of the unique features of JCU Social Work is the incorporation of a lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content into our degree. Our students will have clients and colleagues who are Indigenous, so it’s very important that they work in an effective, appropriate and respectful manner with communities.
Employer

Ross Murray

North Queensland President, Australian Association of Social Workers

Employing and working alongside JCU Social Work graduates has been a seamless process of securing well trained and supported graduates. The standout attributes we have observed with graduates in our workplace is the level of preparedness and readiness to provide productive clinical services on start of employment.

Rural impacts Making a difference In the areas that need it most Learn More

Bachelor of Social Work

#1 in Queensland

1000 Hours of placement

5 Stars

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Commencing

Fees

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Entry Requirements