Course Overview

About This Course

Social work is one of the most meaningful careers you can build, and Acknowledge Education's Bachelor of Social Work gives you the confidence, skills and AASW-accredited qualification to build a career in this rewarding profession. This four-year bachelor's degree in social work covers human rights, social justice, child protection, mental health, community development and 1,000 hours of supervised field placement in real practice settings. Graduates are eligible for full AASW membership and can work in hospitals, government agencies, schools, community health and beyond. If your passion is human rights and social justice, and changing lives for the better this course is for you. Our four-year BSW informed by trends in international and local contexts where social work takes place has a contemporary curriculum designed to develop your knowledge and skills for creating meaningful change with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organisations. Importantly, as you undertake your studies you will learn to critique and respond to social injustices, reflect on your practice, and develop yourself as a professional social worker. In addition, careers in social work are growing with Job Skills Australia suggesting that future job opportunities within the social work field will grow by 23.2% by 2026.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

166 Exhibition St, MELBOURNE, VIC 3000

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Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic Entry Requirements

1.1 Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 3 years)

Evidence of successful completion of a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education to Year 12 or equivalent, including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English and an ATAR of 68
Includes all Commonwealth, State and Territory final year secondary school certificates of education as well as an International Baccalaureate (IB)

1.2 Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET/TAFE) Study

Full or partial completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in any discipline
OR: Full completion of a Certificate IV in a related discipline

1.3 Applicants with Higher Education Study

Full or partial completion of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent)
OR: Completion of two units of Higher Education studies
OR: Completion of a bridging or enabling course, for example, Foundation course or equivalent

2. Applicants with Work & Life Experience

Five years (minimum) work/life experience in Human Services or similar
OR: Applicants that completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago
PLUS: Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent)

3. Special Admission

Covers a range of access and equity schemes for applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments
Categories include: recognition as an Indigenous Australian, applicants whose school or home location is in rural or isolated areas, applicants with non-English speaking background, applicants with difficult living circumstances, applicants with disadvantaged financial background, and applicants with a disability or medical condition affecting their education

4. Additional Requirements (prior to commencing fieldwork placements)

COVID-19 Vaccination Record – Student must complete all required doses and to be taken 2 weeks apart from the flu vaccination
Immunisation Record
National Police Record Check and/or Police clearance from country of residence
Working with Children Check
Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis – one documented dose of adult dTpa vaccine within the last 10 years
Measles, Mumps & Rubella – Student must be confirmed immune via serology report or supply documented evidence of 2 doses of MMR at least 28 days apart
Varicella – Student must be confirmed immune via serology report or have documented evidence of 2 doses of varicella given at least 28 days apart
Hepatitis A – Serology report shows evidence of Hep A antibodies or a course of 2 Hep A has commenced or been completed or a course of 3 Twinrix has commenced or been completed
Hepatitis B – Serology report shows a protective level of Hep B surface antibodies following completion of a primary course or a course of 3 Hep B or Twinrix has commenced
Flu vaccination – Annual vaccination required and to be taken at least 2 weeks apart from COVID-19 vaccination

International Entry Requirements (First Year)

Completed Year 12 or equivalent; minimum age is 18 years old
VCE or equivalent with a score of no less than 30 in EAL or other English course; OR
Successful completion of a Diploma (minimum 1 year) or an Advanced Diploma course taught in English in Australia AND have passed an AE internal English test; OR
Successful completion of 1 year of a Bachelor degree or higher taught in Australia AND have passed an AE internal English test; OR
Official Academic IELTS test scores with an overall score of 7.0 and a minimum of 7.0 in each band or equivalent

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Graduates are eligible for full AASW membership and can work in hospitals, government agencies, schools, community health and beyond. Careers in social work are growing with Job Skills Australia suggesting that future job opportunities within the social work field will grow by 23.2% by 2026.

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

AASW

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units32 units

BSWINT101

Introduction to Sociology

BSWINT102

Introduction to Social Work

BSWINT103

Working with Diversity

BSWINT104

Human Development Across the Lifespan

BSWINT105

Foundations of Psychology

BSWINT106

Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

BSWSPS101

Australian Society, Welfare Systems and Services

BSWSPS102

Human Rights and Social Justice

BSWSPS303

Developing Social Policy

BSWHLT201

Mental Health and Wellbeing

BSWHLT202

Health, Ageing and Disability

BSWPRP101

Social Work Theories for Practice 1

BSWPRP202

Skills for Social Work Practice 1

BSWPRP203

Social Work Theories for Practice 2

BSWPRP204

Skills for Social Work Practice 2

BSWPRP205

Social Workers and the Law

BSWPRP306

Skills for Social Work Practice 3

BSWPRP307

Transition to Professional Practice

BSWPRP309

Field Education 1

BSWPRP409

Field Education 2

BSWSWR301

Social Research Methods

BSWSWR402

Social Work Thesis/Project (elective)

BSWSWP201

Child Wellbeing and Protection

BSWSWP202

Group Work

BSWSWP203

Community Development

BSWSWP304

Working with Families

BSWSWP305

Domestic Violence (elective)

BSWSWP306

Young People and Crime (elective)

BSWSWP307

Alcohol and Other Drugs (elective)

BSWSWP308

Grief, Loss and Trauma (elective)

BSWSWP309

Working with Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants (elective)

BSWSWP310

Digital Technology in Social Work (elective)

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bachelor of Social Work accredited and what membership does it provide?

Yes, the Bachelor of Social Work is an AASW-accredited qualification. Graduates are eligible for full AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) membership upon completion of the degree.

How long does the Bachelor of Social Work take to complete and what does it involve?

The Bachelor of Social Work is a four-year degree conducted over eleven trimesters, with three trimesters in each academic year and three concurrent units in each trimester. Full-time students will complete the course in four years. The course requires completion of 420 credit points including 25 core units and 3 elective units, as well as two separate field education placements totalling 1,000 hours at approved field education agencies.

What are the intake dates and where is the course delivered?

The Bachelor of Social Work is available in Melbourne with intakes in March, July, and November for domestic students. It is delivered by the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC) on behalf of Acknowledge Education, and is available full-time, part-time, and in blended mode.

What additional requirements must be met before commencing field placements?

Prior to commencing fieldwork placements, students must provide a COVID-19 Vaccination Record, Immunisation Record, National Police Record Check and/or Police clearance from country of residence, and a Working with Children Check. Students must also have immunisations or confirmed immunity for Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis, Measles, Mumps & Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and an annual Flu vaccination.

What entry pathways are available for domestic applicants who do not have a recent Year 12 qualification?

Domestic applicants without a recent Year 12 qualification can apply via several pathways: through previous VET/TAFE study (full or partial completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or full completion of a Certificate IV in a related discipline); through prior higher education study (full or partial completion of an Australian Higher Education award, or completion of two units of Higher Education studies); or through work and life experience (a minimum of five years' work/life experience in Human Services or similar). A special admissions program is also available for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Upcoming Intakes

14 May 2026

14 September 2026

14 February 2027

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $60,000 to $77,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $77,000 to $90,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $90,000 to $105,000 per year

Career Paths

Child Protection Practitioner / CaseworkerHospital Social WorkerMental Health Social WorkerAged Care Social WorkerDisability Support Coordinator (NDIS)

Key Skills

Case management and client assessmentCrisis intervention and risk assessmentCounselling and active listening techniquesCommunity development and capacity buildingSocial policy analysis and advocacy

Full Course Overview

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