Social work is a profession that seeks to improve the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities by addressing social challenges and promoting social justice and human rights.

Social workers support people experiencing a wide range of issues, including mental and physical health challenges, family violence, homelessness, disability and child protection. They work alongside individual, families, groups and communities to advocate for positive change, connect people with services and help address the social and environmental factors that influence wellbeing. This can include working in social policy and research fields.

Studying social work provides you with the knowledge and practical skills to support people through complex social challenges while making a meaningful difference in their lives and communities.

You’ll develop highly transferrable skills in communication, advocacy, critical thinking and ethical decision-making while learning to understand the social, cultural and environmental factors that shape people’s lives. Whether you aspire to work in healthcare, child protection, mental health, community services, policy or research and evaluation social work offers a rewarding and diverse career.

Entry requirements vary depending on the course you choose and your previous qualifications.

If you’re applying for an undergraduate social work course such as our Bachelor of Social Work, you will need to meet one of the following criteria: have completed a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (or equivalent), completed a Certificate IV or above (or equivalent), successfully gained admission to an undergraduate degree at an Australian University (or equivalent) or be 21 years or above at the date of commencement.

Postgraduate social work courses such as our Master of Social Work (Qualifying) typically require the successful completion of a related undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification. Visit the individual course page for detailed entry requirements.

A social work qualification can prepare you for careers across healthcare, community services, mental health and disability services, drug and alcohol, child protections, family law, local government, education and the not-for-profit sector.

Career opportunities may include working as a:

• Social Worker
• Child Protection Worker
• Mental Health Social Worker
• Hospital Social Worker
• Centrelink Social Worker
• Community Development Officer
• Disability Support Coordinator
• Youth Worker
• Family Court Social Worker
• Family Support Worker.
• Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (Post Graduation)

Visit our blog to learn more about where a social work degree could take you.

Undergraduate social work degrees such as our Bachelor of Social Work are typically completed over four years of full-time study (12 trimesters), while postgraduate qualifying courses such as our Master of Social Work (Qualifying) generally take around two years of full-time study (six trimesters).

A social work degree combines theory with practical learning (Field Education) to prepare you for professional practice.

You will explore topics such as social work theory and practice, human development, social policy, mental health, ethics, advocacy, cultural responsiveness and community development.

You’ll also learn how to support individuals, families, groups and communities while developing the professional skills needed to promote social justice and positive change. ACAP’s social work degrees include supervised placements, giving you valuable real-world experience in professional settings. Students in both our BSW and MSW(Q) complete two 500-hour placements.

Yes. Many social workers choose to develop expertise in a particular area throughout their careers through workplace experience, professional development and further study.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) recognises specialist skills through their credentialing program. Specialised areas of practice include child protection, mental health, disability, and clinical social work.

While both professions support people’s wellbeing, they have different areas of focus, training and career pathways.

Social work focuses on helping people navigate social, environmental and systemic challenges that affect their wellbeing. Social workers provide practical support, counselling, advocacy and case management while working with individuals, families and communities to create positive change.

Psychology is a scientific discipline that explores human behaviour, cognition and mental processes. Registered psychologists assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions using evidence-based psychological interventions.

To explore the similarities and differences between social work and psychology in more detail, read ACAP’s guide to the difference between psychology, counselling and social work.

Social work students develop a combination of interpersonal, analytical and professional skills that prepare them to work with people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances. At the end of the degree social work students have learnt how to work with individuals, families, groups and communities. They area also equipped to understand how social policy impacts on the lives of individuals and communities – and the role social workers can play in advocating for social change.

These skills may include communication, advocacy, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, cultural responsiveness, collaboration, reflective practice, case management and community engagement. You’ll also learn how to assess individual and community needs, navigate complex systems and advocate for positive outcomes.

A social work qualification can lead to opportunities across a wide range of fields of practice areas including:

• Child protection
• Mental health
• Healthcare
• Family and domestic violence
• Disability
• Community development
• Youth services
• Aged care
• Family Court
• Justice and corrections
• Policy and advocacy.

Many social workers also continue their professional development throughout their careers, allowing them to build expertise in specialised areas of practice.

Read our guide on how to become a social worker to learn more about the study pathway, professional requirements and career opportunities.