Graduate Certificate in Advanced Social Work

What you will study

To gain the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Social Work, you must complete 50 points comprised of:

• One compulsory subject
• Three elective subjects

Core subject

• Practice-Based Research

Electives

Choose three of the following electives:

• Advanced Trauma Perspectives
• Implementation Science in Theory
• Implementation Science in Practice
• Ageing Health and Human Services
• Psychosocial Oncology
• Domestic and Family Violence
• Complex Child and Family Welfare
• Suicide Prevention
• Service Navigation Theory
• Disability in Context

Entry requirements

To be considered for entry into this course, you must have:

• An undergraduate or postgraduate qualification (typically a Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work) which provides eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (or equivalent) and
• At least two years of documented relevant work experience.

You must also:

• Submit a 500-word personal statement outlining why you wish to be considered for this course and
• Nominate a professional referee.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection. 

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in several ways, including a recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

• IELTS – 7.0, with no band less than 7.0
• TOEFL – 94+, with writing 27; speaking 24; reading 24; listening 24
• Pearson – 72+, with a written communicative skill of 75 and no other communicative skill below 72
• Cambridge – 185+, with no skill less than 185

Contact the university or visit their website for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Prior studies may be credited towards your degree and potentially reduce the duration of your course. This is known as Advanced Standing (also known as credit or recognition of prior learning).

Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Extensive knowledge and skills for working with individuals, families, communities and organisations
  You will develop extensive theoretical and practical skills that you can apply to your practice. This could include foundational knowledge of understanding domestic and family violence (DVF), theoretical frameworks and evidence involved in suicide prevention and the practice of assessment and intervention of human service workers in these settings.
• Policy and practice as it relates to psychosocial practice
  You will explore a range of approaches useful for researching health and human services practice, encompassing both policy, organisational practice, and practice with individuals, groups and communities.
• Critical reflection of your own practice
  You will improve your social work practice by undertaking critical reflection of your own practice and developing innovative strategies and responses that you can apply to a variety of social work contexts. You will also become adequately prepared for leadership and practice-based research.

Career outcomes

As a graduate of this course, you will have developed the ability to engage in a critical reflection of your own practice and be able to lead effectively in this sector, with the capabilities and skills to build important connections between people and organisations.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Indicative first-year and total course fee in 2026: $16,992 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Unless otherwise noted, the indicative total course fee shown above assumes a study load of 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) commencing semester one of the listed year, except for courses with a duration of less than 1 EFTSL.

Fees are subject to annual review by the University, with any new rates effective from the beginning of each calendar year.

A student’s fee may vary depending on:

• The number of subjects studied per term.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Choice of subjects.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.