Bachelor of Social Work [Port Macquarie]

Become a Social Worker

CSU has developed an articulated program with TAFE NSW North Coast Institute for students who wish to complete the Bachelor of Social Work.

Articulated programs, which enable students to study and complete qualifications at TAFE first and then go on to complete their CSU study, are suited to current and graduate TAFE students, school leavers, those interested in changing careers, or those who work in the industry but have limited formal qualifications.

Course structure

If you hold a completed Diploma of Community Services Work, you will receive credit for your prior study towards the Bachelor of Social Work.

You will then complete a further twelve 8 point subjects and six 16 point subjects to graduate with the Bachelor of Social Work. The course can be completed in six years of part-time study, or you may be able to study full-time in years three and four to fast-track degree completion.

Cost of study

Commonwealth supported places are available for this course, so you can defer paying fees until you start earning an income above the specified threshold.

TAFE-specific scholarships are available for students in this course.

If you have not completed any TAFE study yet, consider the Bachelor of Social Work integrated program, which combines TAFE and CSU study from the first year of the course.

Find out more

Workplace learning

This course includes a practical component of 1,000 hours, satisfying the requirements for accreditation from the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Find out more

Graduation requirements

Students receive credit for eight 8-point subjects for successful completion of the Diploma of Community Services Work. They must then complete a further 192 points through CSU to graduate with the Bachelor of Social Work.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities for graduates of this course are diverse. Social workers work at the interface between people and their environments, so they are found in a wide range of settings from hospitals to local councils, and social welfare agencies to setting up their own businesses.

Graduates work professionally as social workers in government and non-government departments, with individuals, groups and communities, in emergency situations and long-term care.

You can work in areas such as:

• individual and group social counselling
• case management
• social administration and policy formation
• social action and program planning
• family work and rehabilitation
• health, community services and corrections

A growing number of social work graduates offer clinical services, education and consultation on a fee-for-service basis.

Workplace learning

Field education is a core element and a major part of the student's development of a professional identity. It provides an opportunity for students to observe, question and model social work behaviour. Each practicum is integrated with a subject covering social work theory and practice.

In order to meet the requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), students must complete 1,000 hours of supervised field education. This is undertaken in two practicums in approved agencies. Every attempt is made to accommodate students in placements close to their place of residence and to tailor the practicum to suit the schedules of individual students, but such placements cannot be guaranteed.

Residential School

Please note that the following subjects may have a residential school component.

HCS200 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 - Foundations of Practice
HCS202 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 - Micro Practice

Workplace Learning

Please note that the following subjects have a Workplace Learning component.

HCS303 Social Work Field Education 1
HCS402 Social Work Field Education 2

Course structure

The course consists of 26 subjects for the Pass degree (256 points) and 27 subjects including one 16 point Social Work Honours Project/Dissertation (272 points) for the Honours degree.

Pass Degree Subjects:

Foundation:

PSY111 Foundations of Psychology 1S
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
PSY113 Child and Adolescent Psychology
SOC102 Social Inequality
PSY216 Psychology of Ageing
LAW221 Law for the Human Services 2
SWK423 Ethics and Social Work Practice
SOC308 Community Analysis
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures Histories and Contemporary Realities
PHL 101 Applied Ethics

Social Work Theory and Practice Subjects

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
HCS111 Introduction to Social Welfare
HCS103 Fields of Practice
WEL218 Developing Cross Cultural Competencies
HCS200 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 - Foundations of Practice
HCS202 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 - Micro Pratice
HCS204 Research Methods
HCS300 Social Work Theory and Practice 3 - Mezzo Level Practice
HCS310 Mental Health Practice
HCS321 Child Welfare Practice
HCS406 Social Work and Human Rights
HCS400 Social Work Theory and Practice 4- Macro Practice and Professional Identity

Social Policy/Politics/Economics

SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy
SPE401 Social Work and Social Policy Practice

Field Education:

There are 980 hours of field education in this degree. This meets the requirement set by AASW.

Field education helps students to develop and consolidate practice skills under the supervision of a qualified social worker. It provides opportunities to observe, question and model social work behaviour. Each practicum is integrated with subjects covering social work theory and practice.

HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16)
HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16)

Restricted Electives

GER102 Gerontology Theory & Research
GER204 Aging & Professional Practice
HCS205 Child Abuse & Child Protection
HST310 Drugs & Alcohol: Historical Perspective
JST104 Foundations in Criminology
JST204 Crime Delinquency & Soc Welfare
JST212 Juvenile Justice 1 - Context
JST215 Juvenile Justice 2 - Practice
LES101 Introduction to Leisure & Health
LES110 Foundation of Leisure Activity
LES102 Leisure Programming with Diverse Populations
LES202 Community Leisure & Health Issue
LES302 Leisure and Social Relations
POL205 Political Ideas
SOC215 Gender, Family and Society
SOC108 Sociology of Health & Health Care
SOC217 Fame and Social Control
SOC218 Policy Power & Social Action
SOC226 Rurality in a Globalised World
SOC302 Environment and Society
SOC315 Immigration & Settlement Policy
WEL116 Drugs, Alcohol & Gambling 1
WEL229 Drugs, Alcohol & Gambling Studies 2
WEL217 Social Dimensions of Disability
WEL228 Disability Issues for Fam

Additional Honours component

In addition to the pass program, students in the Honours program complete a dissertation of 16 points (HCS408 Social Work Honours Project/Dissertation) in the final year of the program. Honours students may conduct an investigation in any area in which the Honours Committee can provide adequate supervision and for which written approval has been given. The following general areas provide a guide, but they are not prescriptive:

• Aboriginality
• Children and Families
• Community Work
• Corrections
• Disability
• Drug and Alcohol
• Hospital Social Work
• Ideology and Social Work
• Mental Health
• Rural Issues
• Rural Service Delivery
• Social Policy and Administration
• Women's Issues
• Social Work Theory and Practice

Enrolment pattern

Bachelor of Social Work

Proposed Enrolment Patterns

Full-time On Campus, Wagga Wagga

Year 1

Session 1

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
HCS111 Introduction to Human Services
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
PHL 101 Applied Ethics

Session 2

HCS103 Fields of Practice
SOC102 Social Inequality
JST108 Justice Studies Theories and Practice
PSY111 Foundations of Psychology 1

Year 2

Session 3

HCS204 Research Methods
HCS200 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 – Foundations of Practice
WEL218 Developing Cross Cultural Competencies
LAW221 Law for the Human Services

Session 4

HCS202 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 – Micro Practice
SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy
IKC 101 Indigenous Cultures Histories and Contemporary Realities
PSY216 Psychology of Ageing
or
PSY113 Child and Adolescent Welfare

Year 3

Session 5

HCS300 Social Work Theory and Practice 3 –Mezzo level Practice
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Commence)
HCS321 Child Welfare Practice
Elective 1

Session 6

SOC308 Community Analysis
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Complete)
HCS310 Mental Health Practice
[ ] Elective 2

Year 4

Session 7

SPE401 Social Work and Social Policy Practice
HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Commence)
[ ] Elective 3
[ ] Elective 4

Session 8

HCS400 Social Work Theory and Practice 4 – Macro Practice and Professional Identity
HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Complete)
HCS406 Social Work and Human Rights
SWK423 Ethics and Social Work Practice

Full-time On Campus, Dubbo and Port Macquarie

Year 1

Session 1

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
TAFE Studies (3 CSU subjects equivalent)

Session 2

SOC101 Introductory Sociology
PSY113 Child and Adolescent Psychology
TAFE Studies (2 CSU subjects equivalent)

Year 2

Session 3

HCS200 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 – Foundations of Practice
TAFE Studies (2 CSU subjects equivalent)

Session 4

HCS202 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 – Micro Practice
PSY113 Child and Adolescent Psychology
IKC101 Indigenous Culture, Histories and Realities
TAFE Studies (1 CSU subject equivalent)

Students may exit at the end of Year 2 with the TAFE awarded Diploma of Community Services Work

Year 3

Session 5

HCS300 Social Work Theory and Practice 3 –Mezzo level Practice
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Commence)
PSY216 Psychology of Ageing
WEL218 Cross Cultural Competencies

Session 6

SWK423 Ethics and Social Work Practice
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Complete)
HCS 310 Mental Health Practice
SPE211 Foundation sof Social Policy

Year 4

Session 7

LAW221 Law for the Human Services 2
WEL321 Child Welfare Practice
SPE401 Social Work and Social Policy Practice
HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Commence)

Session 8

HCS400 Social Work Theory and Practice 4 – Macro Practice and Professional Identity
HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Complete)
HCS406 Social Work and Human Rights
SOC308 Community Analysis

Part time/Distance Wagga Wagga Campus

Year 1

Session 1

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
HCS111 Introduction to Human Services

Session 2

PSY111 Foundations of Psychology 1
HCS103 Fields of Practice

Year 2

Session 3

SOC101 Introductory Sociology
PHL101 Applied Ethics

Session 4

JST108 Justice Studies - Theories and Practice
SOC102 Social Inequality

Year 3

Session 5

HCS204 Research Methods
WEL218 Developing Cross Cultural Competencies

Session 6

PSY216 Psychology of Ageing
or
PSY113 Child and Adolescent Psychology
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Year 4

Session 7

HCS200 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 – Foundations of Practice
LAW221 Law for the Human Services

Session 8

HCS202 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 – Micro Practice
SPE211 Foundations of Social Policy

Year 5

Session 9

Elective 1
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Commence)

Session 10

HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Complete)
SWK423 Ethics and Social Work Practice

Year 6

Session 11

HCS300 Social Work Theory and Practice 3 –Mezzo level Practice
HCS321 Child Welfare Practice

Session 12

SOC308 Community Analysis
[ ] Elective 2

Year 7

Session 13

[ ] Elective 3
[ ] Elective 4

Session 14

HCS400 Social Work Theory and Practice 4 – Macro Practice and Professional Identity
SWK423 Ethics and Social Work Practice

Year 8

Session 15

HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Commence)
SPE401 Social Work and Social Policy Practice

Session 16

HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Complete)
HCS406 Social Work and Human Rights

Articulated Program Part-time plus Fast Track Enrolment, Port Macquarie

Year 1

Session 1

HCS102 Communication and Human Services

Session 2

SOC101 Introductory Sociology
PSY111 Foundations of Psychology

Year 2

Session 3

HCS200 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 – Foundations of Practice
HCS204 Resaerch Methods

Session 4

HCS202 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 – Micro Practice
PSY113 Child and Adolescent Psychology
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Realities

Year 3

Session 5

HCS300 Social Work Theory and Practice 3 –Mezzo level Practice
WEL218 Developing Cross Cultural competencies
PSY216 Psychology of Ageing or PSY113
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (Commence)

Session 6

SPE211 Foundations of Social Policy
HCS310 Mental Health Practice
SWK423 Ethics and Social Work Practice
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (Complete)

Year 4

Session 7

LAW221 Law for the Human Services
WEL321 Child Welfare Practices
SPE401 Social Work and Social Policy Practice
HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (Commence)

Session 8

HCS400 Social Work Theory and Practice 4 – Macro Practice and Professional Identity
HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (Complete)
HCS406 Social Work and Human Rights
SOC308 Community Analysis

Bachelor of Social Work –Graduate/Advanced Entry

Students must have a three-year degree or its equivalent or have successfully completed two-thirds of a recognised degree including the successful completion of at least one session length subject in each of the following areas::
• Developmental psychology (or equivalent)
• Sociology
• Australian Government and politics and/or welfare politics, social policy and social philosophy, or Australian economic and social history

• Research methods
And
the successful completion of 12 other relevant session-length subjects..

Subjects that are not satisfied in these prerequisites will need to be completed prior to graduation.
Part-time Distance, Wagga Wagga

Year 1

Session 1

HCS200 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 – Foundations of Practice
WEL218 Cross cultural competencies
Year 1 Session 2
HCS202 Social Work Theory and Practice 2
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Realities



Year 2

Session 3

LAW221 Law for the Human Services 2
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Commence)

Session 4

HCS310 Mental Health Practice
HCS303 Professional Field Education 1 (16) (Complete)

Year 3

Session 5

HCS300 Social Work Theory and Practice 3 –Mezzo level Practice
HCS321 Child Welfare Practice

Session 6

SWK423 Ethics and Social Work Practice
HCS406 Social Work and Human Rights

Year 4

Session 7

SPE401 Social Work and Social Policy Practice

HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Commence)

Session 8

HCS402 Professional Field Education 2 (16) (Complete)

HCS400 Social Work Theory and Practice 4 – Macro Practice and Professional Identity (8 points)

Contact

Facilities and campus locations

This course is offered on campus at CSU in Port Macquarie.

Students have access to all the facilities at CSU's Port Macquarie Campus, including a Learning Commons open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday with a large networked computer laboratory, Student Central and Academic Support services. 

Admission requirements

Students applying for this course should have completed the TAFE Diploma of Community Services Work. Students without a relevant TAFE qualification should consider the Bachelor of Social Work TAFE integrated program.

Applications for this course are made direct to CSU.

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies, and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

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Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2