Bachelor of Human Services

During this course students will:

1. Apply acquired knowledge of key aspects of Australian society, including its history, social, political, environmental, legal, economic arrangements and its continuing effect on Indigenous Australians in human services settings.
2. Develop discipline specific intercultural skills that enable cultural responsiveness and effectiveness of practice with Indigenous Australian communities drawing from the paradigms, contexts, worldviews and culture of local, national and global communities to inform scholarship and professional practice.
3. Apply principles of social justice, human rights, and non-oppressive practices that effect change for and with disadvantaged groups in society.
4. Analyse and evaluate the situations, responses and intrinsic values of individuals, groups, communities and organisations using basic law, ethics and critical thinking.
5. Demonstrate capability as inquirers to locate, evaluate, manage and use information and research to develop and guide their professional practice and for further study.
6. Evaluate culturally sensitive practices with regards to scholarly and professional communication, taking into account power dynamics, context, gender, linguistic, spiritual, religious and Indigenous backgrounds.
7. Employ a variety of technology and media in scholarly and professional research, for sourcing, critiquing, applying, archiving and presentation of information in the human services context.
8. Demonstrate a coherent knowledge of sustainable practice and identify and apply strategies to promote and support sustainability in a variety of human services contexts including challenges of climate change.
9. Build a sense of the profession and their own professional identity through engaging in ongoing scholarship, research, and respectful and ethical participation with professional networks, online communities and communities of practice in a context of lifelong learning.

This course aims to produce graduates who will become workers in rural, regional and urban Australia with knowledge and skills to facilitate their successful and effective engagement in the human services industry. The online nature of the program offers flexible study options making it accessible to students wanting to enter the field or currently working in the field seeking a qualification.

Recommended study pattern

The course consists of sixteen (16) core subjects and one (1) major sequence OR eight (8) restricted elective subjects. Students are encouraged to view the website for specific information on study patterns available.

Choose your subjects

Majors

• Human Services
• Mental Health and Addiction
• Disability
• Multicultural Welfare
• Child, Youth and Family Practice
• Gerontology and Healthy Ageing
• Australian Indigenous welfare.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $29,556

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

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• Successful completion of a Tertiary Preparation Course from an Australian University or an accredited provider demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies, OR
• Successful completion of the CSU Connections Program, OR
• Successful application via the Schools Recommendation Scheme, OR
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) with an equivalent ranking to the currently listed ATAR.

Successful completion of two University level subjects (AQF level Associate Degree or higher) demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies

Minimum ATAR of 55 (including adjustment factors).

• A recognised diploma (or AQF equivalent) from a Registered Training Organisation with a work place learning component (refer to credit and pathways section for details),OR
• A completed AQF Certificate III or higher level qualification undertaken post-secondary schooling, OR
• 50% completion of an AQF Diploma level qualification.

Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements apply.

Students who have successfully completed one of the following with a recognised training provider, such as:

• Diploma of Community Services
• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and other Drugs)
• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and other Drugs and Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)
• Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counselling)
• Diploma of Community Services (Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services (Family Intervention)
• Diploma of Community Services Work Diploma of Community Development
• Diploma of Counselling Diploma of Disability
• Diploma of Youth Work.

May be awarded credit for the above recognised Diplomas as follows:

Students eligible for 88 points credit require a Diploma (refer to list above) that is accredited with the Australian Community Workers Association/or includes at least 200 hours of workplace learning. 

Credit will be awarded as (a total of 88 points):

• HCS103 Fields of Practice
• HCS111 Introduction to Human Services
• HCS221 Law for the Human Services
• LES202 Contemporary Issues and Practice in Community Development
• SOC102 Social Inequality
• WEL010 (16 points) Welfare Studies credit (substitute for WEL231 plus 1 Restricted Elective/Major subject)
• WEL218 Cross Cultural Competencies
• WEL232 Work Place Learning in Human Services 1
• WEL222 Case Management
• Plus one further Restricted Elective or Major subject.

OR

Students eligible for 80 points credit will require a Diploma (refer to list above) from a Registered Training Organisation. 

Credit will be awarded as (a total of 80 points):

• HCS103 Fields of Practice
• HCS111 Introduction to Human Services
• HCS221 Law for the Human Services
• LES202 Contemporary Issues and Practice in Community Development
• SOC102 Social Inequality
• WEL010 (16 points) Welfare Studies credit (substitute for WEL231 plus 1 Restricted Elective/Major subject)
• WEL218 Cross Cultural Competencies
• WEL222 Case Management
• Plus one further Restricted Elective or Major subject.

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

• WEL232 - Work Place Learning in Human Services 1
• WEL324 - Work Place Learning in Human Services 2.

Please note that the following subject has a 3-day Intensive School requirement:

• WEL325 - Counselling Skills for Human Services.