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QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Ipswich campus: 936811; External: 906815; Toowoomba campus: 906811

CRICOS code (International applicants): 090789A

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Professional accreditation

This program is applying for accreditation with the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA).

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Program aims

This program aims to provide an enhanced understanding of the basic issues and principles in the community sector together with skills and theoretical frameworks for people interested in becoming human services professionals in the community sector. Particular major and minor studies will focus on competencies required for these roles. The program affords the opportunity to engage in specialised study of marginalised groups and the opportunity to complete a research project to promote the importance of evidence based practice. It prepares graduates for professional and leadership roles equipped with research knowledge and skills.

Health and Social Wellbeing major aims

The Health and Social Wellbeing major aims to meet current and future needs associated with promoting and maintaining a healthy society. It will prepare individuals to be designers of services for older people and people with a disability. This degree prepares graduates for leadership roles as health and wellbeing focused professionals in government and community, and health and social care organisations. Graduates will possess a range of skills to work in aged care, rehabilitation, and disability settings. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to extend research knowledge and skills and will complete a research project to promote the importance of evidence based practice.

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Program objectives

On successful completion of the program students should be able to demonstrate:

• professional skills, autonomy, adapatibility, responsibility as a practitioner and an understanding of the key issues appropriate for working in the community sector

• advanced knowledge of professional and contextual issues in counselling and welfare

• advanced communication skills in a range of forms, including formal and informal, oral and written

• the ability to work in teams

• leadership, management and research skills appropriate for working in human services

• advanced theoretical knowledge of community development and welfare based on social justice/human rights perspective from within Australia, and globally

• competence in the specified aims and objectives of their chosen major

• advanced technical knowledge of the environmental, economic and social context especially including such issues as sustainability, equity, and justice

Health and Social Wellbeing major objectives

1. Identify and examine concepts and theories related to health assessment, professional practice, health practices, and social wellbeing;

2. Develop high level communication and collaboration skills and cultural competencies within individual, group and organisational contexts;

3. Critically analyse and evaluate information to develop knowledge, make decisions and solve problems;

4. Develop reflective skills to identify strengths and limitations and respond proactively to different situations;

5. Identify and apply professional, legal and ethical principles, practices and policies;

6. Develop research skills to ensure application of evidence based practice;

7. Evaluate theories and models of practice, leadership and social entrepreneurship to identify the requirements and optimise the management of older people and those with a disability.

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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 08. Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Admission requirements

Students will normally have completed year 12 or equivalent with a satisfactory achievement in English. Overall Position (or its equivalent) will be used as a general basis for selection.

Students may apply to articulate into 3rd year of the program if they hold a Bachelor Degree in a health related field (e.g. nursing or psychology).

Admission into the 4th year of the program is contingent upon students having completed the first 3 years of the program maintaining a minimum GPA of 5.0 or by permission of the program coordinator.

Student requirements for Placement

Students must be willing to undertake and submit the requirements of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app of Southern Queensland for placement: These include:

1. a current Australian Federal Police Criminal History Check Certificate

2. a current Blue Card from the Queensland Government Commission for Children and Young People and Young Guardian.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, you may be admitted to an award program.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.
Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program completion requirements

Students will be eligible to graduate from the Bachelor of Human Services (Honours) following satisfactory completion of all theoretical and fieldwork components including completion of a minor research project and submission of a thesis. Some courses have compulsory attendance requirements and to satisfy the placement courses students must participate in the required hours of placement offered at off-campus venues and satisfactorily demonstrate the learning objectives of the course.

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Program structure

The Bachelor of Human Services (Honours) consists of 32 units – 24 core courses (28 units) and four (4) electives as listed in the standard progression for commencing students.

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete the program.

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Electives/Approved courses

Although there are recommended electives, students can choose their electives from any USQ course (excluding REN1201) as long as the elective course pre-requisites are met.

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Research

Students are required to complete an advanced research course and a minor research project. All students are required to submit a thesis.

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Practical experience

Students must complete in Year 2, which includes 200 hours of placement in Year 3 and HSW4299 Fieldwork Placement D which includes 200 hours of field placement in Year 4 in the human services, health, disability and aged care sectors. Students will need appropriate police checks, and may require proof of immunisation status according to the sector and geographical jurisdiction of the host organisation.

Students may also complete HSW2299 Fieldwork Placement B which includes 90 hours of placement in Year 2 as an elective.

The Professional Placements Office at USQ will use established protocols and guidelines, approved by both USQ and our partner health services. This program will develop protocols in consultation with other relevant disciplines who manage placements.

Students also need to be aware that placement can sometimes be in metropolitan and/or rural and remote settings away from their home campus and include shift and weekend work.

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IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software. Students will need internet access to retrieve course materials, undertake assessment and participate in course online activities.

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Residential schools

There is an optional residential school in the core course and in two electives and .

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Exit points

BHMS Bachelor of Human Services (Health and Social Wellbeing) after the 3rd year upon successful completion of the requirements of the program.

Students who fail to maintain a minimum GPA of 5.0, or do not have the permission of the program coordinator, will not be permitted to enrol in the fourth year of the program and will be exited from the degree.

Students who have successfully completed the first 16 units of the Bachelor of Human Services (Honours) (Health and Social Wellbeing) in accordance with the recommended enrolment pattern may exit with the .

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Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

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Honours

The level of honours awarded will be determined based on the USQ procedure. Please refer to the .

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

• Recommended enrolment pattern - Health and Social Wellbeing major commencing in Semester 1
• Recommended enrolment pattern - Health and Social Wellbeing major commencing in Semester 2

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Recommended enrolment pattern - Health and Social Wellbeing major commencing in Semester 1

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

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Recommended enrolment pattern - Health and Social Wellbeing major commencing in Semester 2

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.