Course outline
Be an advocate for social justice and human rights. Make a real difference to the lives of people in need. Excel in your career in one of the fastest growing professions.
You might be a new graduate looking for a clear career path or an experienced social worker wanting to take the next step in your professional life. Or perhaps you are ready for a career change and want to step into social work.
Whatever your background, we'll prepare you to work across human and community services in government bodies, non-government organisations, community and health services and more. You'll become confident working with migrants, people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems and in palliative care, child protection, youth services and much more.
You'll be exposed to challenging real life situations through 140 days during your studies in social work settings, being mentored by experienced professionals in the field. Then, once you graduate, you can go on to be a qualified social worker, take up management positions or work in national or international policy development.
This is an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited qualification, and is an entry qualification into the social work profession. It has been deemed to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards.
This program does not follow the standard published academic calendar (Academic Calendar).
Hear from our students
"I chose to study social work to help other people within my field. Throughout the program, we undertake a lot of placement to prepare us for industry and we will be accredited upon graduation - I am excited to put the theory I have learned into practice. The university helped me to organise my placement experience, which made everything so easy."
Career opportunities
- Social worker
Professional social work positions in hospitals, community health care, child protection, justice, community development, local government, government policy, social research, advocacy and many more.
Sample structure
Sample structures are just one example of the many options available within your chosen course. Please contact Federation University for further information on available options.
Please note this is a sample structure only and is not to be used for enrolment purposes. To enrol, please refer to the information provided to you by Federation University for your individual course structure or view our enrolment information page.
To view current unit information and cost, click on the individual unit name below, or click here to view current unit information and cost for ALL units.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Year 2
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Contact hours
7 hours of seminar time per fortnight for one course. We require students to attend fortnightly face-to-face seminars (with supplementary online materials) for all scheduled courses in the program.
Work integrated learning
This program requires a total of 980 placement hours, across 104 weeks.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
Successful completion of a relevant* Bachelor degree with at least one year of study, or the equivalent of full time studies in social and behavioural sciences.
*Relevant Bachelor degrees should have at least one year of study in any of the following disciplines:
• Human welfare studies and services which includes social work, youth work, community work, welfare studies and counselling;
• Behavioural science which includes psychology or behavioural science;
• Studies in human society which includes sociology, anthropology, Indigenous studies or gender specific studies;
• Or other disciplines such as political science, policy studies, family law, justice administration, legal studies, family and consumer studies, education with a focus on welfare, public health, health promotion, community health, public health, mental health nursing or community nursing.
or:
Successful completion of a related Bachelor degree with four relevant courses (equal to 0.5 EFTSL) and successful completion of an Australian Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services https://study.federation.edu.au/search/?term=dgc4
English language requirement
Academic IELTS with an overall score of 7.0, with no band less than 7.0 in listening, reading, writing and speaking or equivalent.
Extra requirements
Essential requirements for enrolment or graduation:
Working with Children Check is compulsory. Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course.
Police record check is compulsory. Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course.
Students undertaking placement at some agencies will be required to undertake a NDIS Work Screening Check.
National Police Record Checks and NDIS Working Screen Checks are at the student’s own expense.
How to apply
The application method varies depending on your circumstances, please visit our How to apply page for further information.
Direct application: Yes
Federation University code: HW9
Fees and scholarships
2024 Indicative Fees
Fee Type: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
$8,948 student contribution amount
A Commonwealth Supported Place is subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees (student contribution amount) are set on an annual basis by the government and are determined by the discipline area and band of your individual units, not the overall course. Each unit falls into a band which determines the student contribution.
2024 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range between $4,445 Band 1 to $16,323 Band 4. To find the Band, EFTSL and contribution amount for each unit, check the Sample Structure or refer to the 2024 unit listing.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and the indicative amount should be used as a guide only. It is based on a typical enrolment for a student undertaking the first year of study in this course. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Total cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Other study costs
Travel for field placement during your studies, Working with Children Check, Police Check, books and materials.
Fee assistance
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution. You may also be eligible to defer payment of your SSAF through a SA-HELP loan.
Scholarships
Our scholarships and grants can help with your study costs. Explore our scholarships to find an opportunity that's right for you.
Recognition of prior learning
Can your studies count towards a degree with us? Use our online Credit Search to get the details on completing your studies sooner.
Pathways/alternate entry
Pathways into this program may include Bachelor of Community and Human Services and Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services
Federation University Bachelor of Community and Human Services graduates are eligible for direct entry to the Master of Social Work(Qualifying) and will receive credit for one semester of study, reducing the length of study from 2 years to 1.5 years.
Successful completion of a related Bachelor degree with four relevant* courses (equal to 0.5 EFTSL) AND successful completion of Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services are eligible for direct entry to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying).
*Relevant courses are typically two units in the study of human behaviour and two units in the study of society
Alternative Entry Pathway:
Domestic applicants only: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ can apply directly through the Aboriginal Education Centre
Professional recognition
Fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Additional information
Professional Experience
Professional experience field education placements take place at the end of both the first and second years. This professional experience provides the minimum supervised practice requirement (2 x 70 days = 140 days). However, some applicants may be able to apply for credit/RPL for some or the entire first field education placement if they have completed a 70 day supervised field placement during their undergraduate studies.
Credits/Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer will be in accordance with the AASW Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (2020). Further information about credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be found through contacting the Program Coordinator.
Delivery format
The program will be delivered sequentially, that is, one course at a time over a period of 6-8 weeks per course. Learning materials and activities will be available for each course online via the FedUni moodle and there will be fortnightly seminars on Fridays for each course. Seminars will be held on-campus from 9.30am - 3.30pm on Fridays (each course outline and moodle will set out the dates of seminars in advance).
To help you get the most from your online learning experience, it's important that you own or have frequent access to a fast and reliable computer that's ideally not more than two years old.
You will also need frequent access to a reliable high-speed internet connection. You should expect to use approximately 5GB of data each month, per unit, just for study use.
For further information, visit the Minimum IT requirements for studying online webpage.
A range of student services are available at most campuses. For further information on these services or for course information, please contact us on 1800 333 864.
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
All information contained in this course overview including the availability of courses and fees, is correct at the time of being published, however the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Students should check for any amendment prior to enrolment.
CRICOS Provider No.00103D
Please note: This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding to eligible individuals.
National RTO Code: 4909