Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

What you will study

To earn the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), you must successfully complete units totalling 400 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 25 credit points. 

Core units

• Foundations for Social Work Practice
• Interpersonal and Group Communication Skills for Social Work Practice
• Social Work Practice in Child and Family Services
• Law, Rights and Ethics in Social Work Practice
• Community Development and Social Change
• Program Design and Evaluation
• Critical Reflection on Social Work Practice
• Social Policy Analysis and Advocacy
• Social Work Practices for Diversity and Inclusion
• Social Work Practices for Mental Health and Well-being
• Leadership in Social Work
• Professional Practice 1 (50 credit points)
• Professional Practice 2 (50 credit points)

Elective units

• Ethical Issues in Professional Life
• Philosophy of the Human Person

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for admission to this program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Successfully completed a relevant Australian Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification completed within the last 10 years with a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60% that contains at least one full-time year or equivalent (1FTE) of studies in the social and behavioural sciences. This may include studies in arts, social sciences, behavioural sciences, business, law, nursing and allied health.

Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another university that are relevant to the selected program of study may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

English language requirements

Evidence of English language proficiency either by satisfactory completion of previous secondary education or higher at a recognised institution where English is the sole language of instruction and assessment or by completing an English language test with a minimum score of 7.0 or higher in each component (listening, reading, writing and speaking) of the Academic International English Testing System (IELTS) test or equivalent upon application.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), graduates will be able to:

• Reflect critically on theory and social work practice, demonstrating mastery of theoretical knowledge.
• Articulate a professional social work identity, both independently and as a member or leader of a team in a multidisciplinary work environment.
• Demonstrate advanced interpersonal and communication skills for practice that are autonomous and accountable and demonstrate the capacity to make and justify ethical and socially responsible decisions.
• Investigate, analyse, consolidate and synthesise complex social work information, problems, concepts and theories and apply established theories and concepts to develop a sound professional practice that is inclusive and respectful of multiple worldviews, differences and diversity.
• Advocate for positive social change, including global political concerns around environmental and social challenges arising from inequities, cultural differences and diversity, particularly as they impact human rights and social and economic justice.
• Articulate and critically appraise Western and First Nations worldviews acknowledging ongoing impacts of colonisation and identifying the benefit of First Nations relational ways of knowing for all.
• Design, implement and critically evaluate consumer and community informed research, projects and programs and creatively influence innovative future practice, social reform and policy.
• Interpret and transmit knowledge, research and practice effectively to a wide variety of audiences using a variety of media and appropriate technologies.
• Respond creatively to new situations in social work practice and pursue professional learning in social work.

Career outcomes

Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public health and community sectors.

Career opportunities:

• Aged and Disability Officer
• Mental Health Social Worker
• Case Manager
• Community Organiser
• Policy and Advocacy Specialist
• Criminal Justice Social Worker
• Welfare Officer

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $9,314 (Commonwealth Supported Place).

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• The number of units studied.
• Choice of units.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

• Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
• Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
• Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.