Bachelor of Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work program at CQUniversity is available to study by distance education, making it one of the most flexible social work qualifications in Australia. 

Your learning is supported with intensive online resources and a three-day residential school per term on-campus in either Rockhampton or Noosaville. Offering the unique combination of face-to-face with online teaching and small learning groups that resemble workplace scenarios, this program will equip you with high-level skills in reflective and critical practice, self-directed research, problem-solving, and many opportunities to design assessment items around work-integrated learning or the community in which you live.

This program is four years in length, and includes a range of courses focusing on core social work skills and knowledge and cognate disciplines such as psychology, sociology and indigenous studies. The program incorporates two unpaid field education experiences, one undertaken at the beginning of the third year of the program (12 weeks equivalent full-time work) and one in the final term of the fourth year (16 weeks equivalent full-time work). The field education experiences are undertaken in a human service organisation (in accordance with the requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers), and are supervised by a qualified social worker. These experiences will provide you with valuable industry networking opportunities and the chance to apply your knowledge in a real world situation.

What am I studying?

Social work is about helping others cope with personal, family or other social problems individually or by developing and implementing programs to assist the community. Typically, social workers will provide counselling to people dealing with a crisis, provide clients with information about services which can assist them, work with groups to share experiences and provide support, contribute to the development of policy and government assistance programs, and analyse statistics, that contribute to reports and research problems in the community to identify possible solutions. A career in social work is both personally rewarding and challenging and your work can make a real difference to the community.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations identified that between 2001 and 2006 Social Assistance and Welfare sector grew by 26% and this trend is expected to continue.  The services offered by this industry include assistance to members of the community in a range of areas such as disability services, financial hardship, emotional issues, drug and alcohol addiction, family and marriage issues, homelessness and youth welfare and child protection. This sector is a large employer in Australia and encompasses a number of different roles such as social work and human services. Psychology is part of this sector as well but also overlaps with the medical and healthcare industry.

Why Study Psychology and Social Work at CQUniversity

At CQUniversity, our education and training philosophy focuses on learning from actual social work scenarios often authored by colleagues working in the human services sector in collaboration with academic staff. We also have well-established industry relationships, as well as student exchange programs with several overseas universities. This program is accredited and is recognised in every state in Australia and will also qualify you to work in several other countries without seeking additional accreditation.

Career Opportunities

A Bachelor of Social Work will prepare you for numerous career paths including professional practice with individuals, groups, families, organisations, neighbourhoods and communities. The majority of social work qualifications in Australia are generic, meaning they prepare graduates to enter numerous sectors in the human services including child protection, health, parole, probation and corrections, aged care, mental health, high school service, family relationships, or social security.

If you do not wish to enter into direct practice with client groups you may consider a career in indirect practice such as project management, policy analysis and practice, or community development.  

The Honours program in social work is specifically geared toward those who wish to contribute to societal change through a professional career in social work research.

Work Intergrated Learning

You will be required to undertake a total of 28 weeks work placement, as part of your degree.

Program Structure

You are required to complete a total of 28 courses including 25 core courses and three elective courses. Honours graduates are required to complete a total of 28 courses including 24 core courses, two elective courses and two honours courses.

Course Information

For example courses you could study as part of the Bachelor of Social Work program please click here.

As CQUniversity is committed to providing quality, up-to-date and relevant education, please note courses are refreshed regularly and may not be an exact indication of course availability for your study. Please call 13CQUni 13 27 86 if you have specific questions regarding course information regarding your specific application.

Professional Recognition

All discipline plans of this program are accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).