Social Work

Course overview

Gain the skills to work with individuals, groups and communities to address barriers that impact quality of life; promote positive relationships; and advocate for human rights and social change at the individual, societal, policy and legislative levels.

In this course, you’ll draw on knowledge from various disciplines – including sociology, psychology, politics, philosophy, health and economics – to learn how people engage with each other, their communities and society. You’ll develop the skills and values needed to work with individuals and groups; including children, young people, adults, the elderly, and people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

This course is ideal if you aspire to help people and want to make a career out of making a difference.

Career outcomes

Careers

• Social worker
• Community cultural development officer
• Community liaison officer
• Support/outreach officer
• Mental health worker
• Welfare case worker

Industries

• Healthcare
• Aged care
• Community corrections and juvenile justice
• Disability and rehabilitation
• Refugee services

Professional accreditation and recognition

This course is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Hear from our students

"The community within the Social Work degree makes it special. Spending hours with like-minded people who constantly support each other is really motivating. I have been able to develop an array of skills allowing me to be confident in an area like counselling but also in a project development role. This level of diversity and transferable skills obtained within my degree has made me feel prepared to move into my professional career in either counselling or mental health intervention development."

Jarra Kittow
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

Course structure

Practical experience

You’ll complete two supervised fieldwork placements (totalling 1,050 hours over four years), applying your learning in work environments and developing your professional identity.

This can be a physically and mentally challenging course. Please familiarise yourself with the inherent requirements before applying.

Detailed course structure and unit information

For detailed information and course structure, visit our Handbook.

Entry requirements

To study this course, you must meet the entry criteria:

• course ATAR, or equivalent, demonstrated via an accepted entry pathway
• any course-specific requirements
• English language requirement.

Minimum ATAR entry required
This course requires you to achieve a minimum ATAR/selection rank to be considered for entry, but does not guarantee selection.

Entry pathways

Course-specific requirements

You’ll also need to meet any specific requirements to be eligible to apply for this course.

Study credit and support

You may be able to receive study credit or support based on your previous experience or personal circumstances.

Get credit towards your degree

You may be able to receive credit for recognised learning (CRL) from past study or professional experience, which could reduce the time it takes to finish your course.

Find specific details about CRL for this course on the Handbook.

Special consideration

If your studies were affected by circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for special consideration when applying to Curtin. This process is available to new applicants only and allows your application to be assessed in light of those circumstances.

Check if you’re eligible for special consideration.

Additional information