Social work courses

Social workers provide support to people who are facing challenging circumstances or structural disadvantages.

For example, you may work with people who are experiencing mental health issues, family violence or homelessness. You could also work with people with disability or those from a refugee or asylum seeker background, or with First Nations communities.

Your role will be to connect people with the services they need and provide support to help them improve their lives. Social workers play a crucial role in making our society more equal, inclusive and just.

Your social work course will likely cover topics including:

• Sociology

• Mental health

• Human services

• Human rights

• Inequality

• Cross-cultural competency

• First Nations perspectives

• Interpersonal communication

• Ethics

• Social policy

• Law in relation to social work

While you can complete all your theory online, many online social work degrees also require practicum placements in a human services organisation. This workplace learning will help you gain the skills you need to succeed in the profession.

Entry requirements for social work courses vary depending on the level of study and the university offering the program. For undergraduate degrees, you’ll typically need to have completed Year 12 with a certain ATAR score or hold a relevant certificate or diploma qualification. Some universities may also consider previous tertiary study or work experience in a related field.

For postgraduate social work degrees, such as a Master of Social Work, you’ll usually need a recognised bachelor degree in any discipline, which includes at least one year of study in social or behavioural sciences like psychology, sociology, or human services. Some universities offer bridging qualifications, like a graduate certificate, to help you meet these academic requirements.

It’s always best to check the specific entry criteria for the course you’re interested in, or speak with a student advisor for personalised guidance.

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide: 

If you study a degree in social work through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

As social work is a career that has people at its heart, it’s important to gain in-person experience. Many online social work courses enable you to complete all your theory online, and pair this with a practical workplace component.

Courses accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) require you to complete two workplace placements of 500 hours each. In these supervised placements at a human services organisation, you’ll be able to put your learning into practice and gain vital professional skills.

Yes, if you're completing a bachelor or masters degree that features mandatory placements, you may be eligible to apply for a weekly Commonwealth Prac Payment. This is to help cover your living costs while you're on placement.

You can apply for this payment through your university.

Read more about how it works and whether you're eligible by visiting our Commonwealth Prac Payment page.

After graduating from your social work course, you can explore roles such as:

• Social worker

• Counsellor

• Case manager

• Mental health clinician

• Community worker

• Housing worker

• Policy development advisor

• Youth worker

• Child protection officer

• Outreach coordinator

• Community development coordinator

• Domestic violence advocate

Enrolling online is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your course

• Browse the options on this page.

• Use our comparison tool to explore the different choices.

• Need help? Book a free phone consultation with a student advisor for personalised guidance.

2. Start your enrolment

• When you’re ready, click ‘Start studying now’ on the course page.

• Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment.

• You’ll need to provide supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of identity

  • Your tax file number

  • A Unique Student Identifier (USI)

3. Wait for confirmation

Your chosen university will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course listing page.

For more details, check our online self-service enrolment guide. And if you need help at any stage, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Consider these related study options, which all require empathy, compassion and care:

• Community services and care courses

• Psychology and mental health courses

• Criminology courses

• Education and teaching courses

• Nursing courses