Location
Online
Dates
Can be taken anytime
Course Type
Postgraduate Course
Accreditation
Yes (Details)
Language
English
Price
$27,300

Course Overview

The Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) provides graduates with the theoretical and practical skills required to work as a professional social worker, an occupation that the Australian government predicts will continue to experience very strong growth. This course is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and graduates are eligible to become a member of the AASW. Social workers typically work with disadvantaged and marginalised individuals, groups, and communities within a social justice and human rights framework in counselling, advocacy, and the enhancement of health and well-being. Social workers address the barriers, inequality and injustices faced by many groups in our community. UNE's social work program embraces a framework that examines the dynamic interaction of human behaviour, institutions and complex social interactions. Covering all the core requirements of an accredited professional social work degree, the MSW (Professional Qualifying) at UNE emphasises practice in rural and complex community environments, and focuses on rights-based practice, mental health, Indigenous peoples, child protection and the law. The course incorporates the mandatory 1000 hours of professional fieldwork placement supervised by experienced practitioners in diverse social work settings locally and overseas.

Who should take this course

Social work is an occupation that the Australian government predicts will continue to experience very strong growth. It has many fields of practice, providing a diverse and rewarding career path with multiple opportunities to make a real difference in people's lives. UNE's MSW(ProfQual) offers graduates highly sought after research skills. Career opportunities are found in hospitals, government agencies (such as justice, housing and youth and child protection services), community-based family support and welfare agencies, women's refuges and community legal centres, city councils, mental health, disability and aged care facilities, schools and for-profit human services (e.g. private practice counselling, employment services), to name just a few. Australian social work qualifications are portable and Australian graduates are highly regarded internationally.

Accreditation

This course is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and graduates are eligible to become a member of the AASW.

Course content

Students are required to complete the following core units and one directed elective:

  • HLTH510 Foundations for Mental Health Practice
  • HLTH554A Capstone Project
  • HSSW305 Social Work Through the Lifespan
  • HSSW400 Disadvantage and Service Provision
  • HSSW401 Social Work Direct Practice Skills
  • HSSW450 Fieldwork 1
  • HSSW504 Juvenile Justice and Child Protection
  • HSSW510 Social Work Intervention Models and Skills
  • HSSW511 Groups and Communities
  • HSSW513 Human Rights, the Law and Social Justice
  • HSSW550 Fieldwork 2

About Course Provider

Our aim is to offer you the most flexible study options without losing any of the rigour required in a quality tertiary education. You can study on campus for a traditional face-to-face education experience, or from wherever you are; our new generation of online study is making tertiary education more accessible than ever. Originally named New England University College, UNE was established as a college of the University of Sydney in 1938. It was the second university established in New South Wales and Australia’s first regional university. In 1954 the University became fully independent as the University of New England and pioneered teaching by correspondence to external students.

UNE offers a distinctive on-campus experience which is strengthened by one of Australia’s oldest residential systems. Living in any of the eight colleges offers students the best in modern on-campus living with superb academic support, pastoral care and the opportunity to partake in a wide range of social and sporting activities. UNE is internationally recognised for its innovative approach to online teaching and research excellence with 87% of its research fields rated world standard or above.

Research endeavours are supported through a number of flagship research centres:

  • The Animal and Genetics Breeding Unit (AGBU)
  • The Centre for Agriculture and Law (AgLaw)
  • Centre for Local Government
  • Institute for Rural Futures (IRF)
  • The Paleoscience Research Centre and
  • The National Centre of Science, Information and Communication Technology, and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR).

As the biggest regional employer and an externally engaged organisation, the University actively pursues effective partnerships and plays a significant role in Armidale and wider rural and regional communities.