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QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): External: 909135

You are currently viewing the 2023 Handbook. For study in 2024, please refer to the .

Notes

In 2023 the programs follows the Semester calendar. The Academic Calendar and Important Dates webpage will allow you to view and download a copy of the important dates for the Semester calendar.

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Professional accreditation

UniSQ Bachelor of Social Work program is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) under the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). UniSQ graduate BSWK students will be eligible to apply for membership of the AASW.

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Program aims

Our Social Work graduates will focus on strengthening of human relationships, promotion of wellbeing, and validation of the importance of human rights and social justice. Drawing upon critical inquiry, our graduates will embrace and celebrate diversity and differences, social inclusion, democracy, and professional integrity. Our graduates will actively work with and alongside individuals, families, and communities; co-developing and advocating for systemic changes in search of a socially just society. Their contributions will be influential in Australia, disrupting the status quo through use of evidence-informed strategic changes at local and national levels, as well as within the global community. Specifically, UniSQ Social Work graduates will be ethical and moral practitioners; creative and curious; focused on eco-social wellbeing; contribute to cultural safety; inclusive; and embrace regional, rural and remote practice. Our social work degrees are underpinned by a pervasive practice orientation that means our Social Work graduates will be placement-ready and work-ready.

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Program objectives

On completion of this program students should be able to:

• Apply a synthesis of relevant evidence-informed knowledge, theory and skills in order to authentically practice as a Social Worker who privileges the voice, agency and human worth of all global citizens. 

• Articulate, embrace and draw on advanced communication skills when building relationships with individuals, groups and communities, inclusive of oral and written skills but also information technologies. 

• Co-develop, work collaboratively and actively contribute to respectful and just relationships with individuals, families and communities, ensuring cultural safety, environmental justice and well-being. 

• Assemble engagement and intervention strategies at micro, meso and macro levels that critically respond to social need using socio-political analysis and anti-oppressive practice; driving activism for social justice and human rights utilising critical theories, critical analysis and contextual knowledge. 

• Celebrate and promote diversity and difference in society as evidenced by authentic Social Work practice that disrupts, actively challenges, and redresses violence, discrimination, stigma, social exclusion and othering. 

• Design, integrate, implement, and evaluate research that informs and shapes critical Social Work practice, community development and societal engagement in search of a just society that demonstrates genuine respect for human rights and well-being. 

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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 07. Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.

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

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Program Information Set

View UniSQ’s admission criteria, student profiles and a summary of all offers made under via the QTAC website.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Have achieved a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 65.6, or equivalent qualification.^

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 4.

Applicants are advised to also address the following:

• expectations: English.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

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

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Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements for this program that must be met in order to complete the program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the for this program online.

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Requirements for professional experience placements

Applicants must be willing to undertake and submit the requirements of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app of Southern Queensland and Queensland Health for practical placement. Please refer to the applicable for Social Work Students.

Mandatory Documents required prior to commencing both field education placement courses:

• Blue Card or Working with Children Check

• Yellow Card (if working with people with disabilities)

• Australian Police Certificate

All students must also provide the following immunisation evidence prior to commencing placements:

• Hepatitis B immunisation evidence

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunisation evidence

• Varicella immunisation evidence

• Pertussis immunisation evidence

• Influenza immunisation evidence

• Tuberculosis Risk Assessment

• Other immunisations as required by health services e.g., COVID-19

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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 a students' higher education and students pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students 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. Students 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 .

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Program structure

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSWK) is comprised of 32 units that are completed over four years. There are 28 core courses (1 unit each), inclusive of 4 selectives chosen from a list of Approved Courses (1 unit each). Two field placement courses are included comprised of 500 hours per course (3 units each).Please refer to the Recommended Enrolment Patterns below for your type of enrolment (full-time/part-time) to assist you with your enrolment choices.

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Required time limits

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

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Core courses

Selectives

Selective Courses are to be chosen from the list of Approved Courses below:

• CDS1002 Counselling Skills (S2 External)

• CDS3002 Counselling Theory and Practice (S1 External)

• EDU3325 Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect for Helping Professionals^£ (S1 Online)

• EDU3335 Managing Emotional and Behavioural Problems of Young People in the Helping Professions^£ (S1 Online)

• HSW1300 Introduction to Child Protection Practice (S2 Ipswich On-campus, S2 Online)

• HSW2211 Youth Work Practice (S2 Online)

• HSW3220 Integrative Community Based Approaches (S1 Online)

• FNA1001 First Nations Philosophy and Perspectives (S1, S2 Online; S1 Springfield On-campus, S1 Toowoomba On-campus)

• FNA1002 A First Nation Perspective of Australian History (S2 Online, S2 Toowoomba On-campus)

• FNA2000 First Nations Identity, Diversity and Contemporary Culture

• FNA2001 First Nation Identity, Diversity and Protocols (S1 Online, S1 Toowoomba On-campus)

• FNA2002 First Nations Expression and Representation in Arts and Media (S1 Online, S1 Toowoomba On-campus)

• FNA3000 Decolonisation & Indigenous Standpoint Theory

• FNA3001 Decolonisation and Indigenous Standpoint Theory (Compulsory placement) (S1 Online, S1 Toowoomba On-campus)

• NUR1204 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (S1, S2 Online)

• SOC1003 Identity, Inequality and Social Justice (S1 Online, S1 Toowoomba On-campus)

• SOC1002 Building Social Capital: Love and Social Justice (S2 Online)

• SOC2022 Theories of Power (S2 Online)

• SOC3000 Collaborative Community Problem Solving (S2 Online)

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IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to the .

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Residential schools

The attendance requirement of residential schools within this degree is indicated by the following letters: R = Recommended; HR = Highly Recommended; M = Mandatory. To find out more about , visit the to view specific dates for your degree, or visit the .

Mandatory Residential Schools

• SWK1000 Landscape of Social Work and Human Services

• SWK2000 Application of Theories and Frameworks in Social Work Practice

• SWK2300 Health as a Social Idea

• SWK3100 Professional Practice 1: Building Relationships

• SWH3300 Critical Approaches to Mental Health, Mental Illness, and Psychosocial Disability  

• SWK4200  Professional Practice 2: Trauma-Informed Social Work

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Exit points

Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete the Bachelor of Social Work may be able to exit with a or the Diploma of Human Services and Development . However, it is imperative that they consult the Program Director of Social Work to explore options.

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Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

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Enrolment

Progression

Students are advised to consult with student support usq.support@usq.edu.au in situations where their progression is affected either by failure in pre-requisite courses, or where they choose a part-time study pattern.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

• Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Full-time
• Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Part-time

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Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Full-time

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Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Part-time